Writers of all stripes have until 30 June 2025 to submit their work for this year's Wells Festival of Literature competitions.

With entries already pouring in from across the globe, the contest is drawing everyone from creative writing students to young rappers and poets.

There are four categories this year, each judged by a respected figure in the literary world: Open Poetry (Camille Ralphs), Short Story (Judith Heneghan), Book for Children (Fleur Hitchcock), and Young Poets (Sanah Ahsan).

Each category comes with its own rules, forms and prize pots, with a total of £5,000 in awards up for grabs. Shortlisted entrants will be announced by 30 September, and winners will be celebrated at a prize-giving and poetry reading on Monday 20 October at 2pm during the festival.

To enter, head to the Festival website, choose your category under the Competitions tab, upload your entry and pay the fee via PayPal. Organisers are urging anyone thinking of entering not to leave it too late.

And for those who'd like to get more involved, becoming a Festival Friend brings perks including discounted tickets, priority booking, and access to a special Friends Event on 8 July.