Writers, rappers and rhymers are being reminded that entries for the Wells Festival of Literature annual prose and poetry competitions are closing soon. The 2026 festival will take place from Friday, 16 October to Saturday, 24 October, with winners announced during the event in Wells.

Entries for the Open Poetry, Short Story and Book for Children categories must be submitted by midnight on Tuesday, 30 June BST. The Young Poets competition has a later deadline of midnight on Friday, 31 July BST, to allow for exams taking place in schools and colleges.

Prizes totalling £5,000 are on offer across the competition categories. There will also be special awards for local writers, giving Wells-area entrants another reason to get their work polished and submitted.

The four categories are Open Poetry, Short Story, Book for Children and Young Poets. Full details of how to enter are available through the individual category pages on the festival website.

Winners will be announced at a poetry and prize-giving celebration at 2 pm on Monday, 19 October. The event will be held at Cedars Hall, the festival venue in Wells.

The festival said the competitions are open to writers across different forms, from poetry to prose for children. With the first deadline coming up fast, entrants are being urged not to leave submissions sitting in drafts until the final minute.

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Wells writers, rappers and rhymers, this is your nudge. The Festival of Literature competition deadlines are creeping up, so maybe rescue that brilliant draft from the notes app before it starts judging you.