Short Story Competition 2023

Enter anytime between 5th June to 30th September 2023

To celebrate and support the launch of their new app, REP (which stands for Re-Engage & Perspectives), Perspective Books is inviting all aspiring writers to take part in a short-story competition for students aged 16-21.The first two winners will be offered a paid internship to work on Perspective Books upcoming AI (Artificial Intelligence) literature project. The internships will be eight weeks in total, one week at Christmas, one week next Easter (2024) and up to six weeks during the summer of (2024).

Why should you be involved? Perspective Books understands the pressure of student life and the struggles to maintain a positive mental state in education. With the company’s unique ambition to create a platform to alleviate, understand, and support mental health and general wellbeing through literature, their internship gives two individuals the chance to gain valuable insight into the production and expansion of the company, and to be involved in the construction of a revolutionary self-help app. REP currently offers a short-story writing programme as well as access to an online library of all their titles, all designed to increase the understanding of mental health.

In addition to Perspective Books AI internship, the top forty entrants will be rewarded with a free copy of the memoir Mental as Anything by Grant Budge, author and founder of Integrity Media. In addition, the top ten will also receive a copy of Fay Granville-Hitchman’s memoir The Scorpion House, Mark Zanzibar Boyde’s novel Not All Flowers Face the Sun, and Grant Budge’s debut novel A Pact for Life. All of these books embrace Perspective Books vision. 

In addition to Perspective Books AI internship, the top forty entrants will be rewarded with a free copy of the memoir Mental as Anything by Grant Budge, author and founder of Perspective Books. In addition, the top ten will also receive a copy of Fay Granville-Hitchman’s memoir The Scorpion House, Mark Zanzibar Boyde’s novel Not All Flowers Face the Sun, and Grant Budge’s debut novel A Pact for Life. All of these books embrace Perspective Books vision. 

All applicants must be between the age of 16 and 21 years old, and should submit a short story of up to 8,000 words about real-life challenges affecting young people today. All submissions should be written in prose and can be a work of fiction, non-fiction or a mix of both. 

Submissions should be sent to contact@persepctivesbooks.com before 30th September 2023, along with a completed entry form (see link below). They will then be reviewed by the publishing team and the winners will be announced in September.

https://www.integrity-media.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/TERMS-AND-CONDITIONS_SSC_062023-1.pdf

Short Story Competitions 2021 

[CLOSED]

RECONNECT – short story is a competition programme that we will be running twice a year targeted at 16 to 24 years old.

With the number of children at school suffering mental health issues of some sort, having risen from 1:10 to 1:6 since 2004 (source NHS), the issue has rapidly become a matter that requires understanding, consideration, support and proactive engagement. And that is what ‘Reconnect’ is offered as tool to achieve.

Through ‘Reconnect’ we offer the opportunity for students to submit a short story, fictional or autobiographical, that is aligned to our key theme of ‘rediscover, rebuild, relaunch’. With the best shortlisted submissions being published in a collection of one or more works. In addition, the author of the top submission will be given the opportunity to be supported and have a novel published.

Two competitions for young persons will be run in parallel. One for 16 to 18 year olds in school years 11, 12 and 13. And a separate one for 19 to 24 years olds. Terms and conditions for entry are detailed below.

  • Submit an electronic copy of your short story in Word file format (no more than 8,000 words, which is around 12 to 24 pages at 1.5 spacing), by email.
  • Font must be Calibri, point size 12 (no less). Line spacing 1.5.
  • Completed and signed application form – see link below.

Submissions should be emailed to us at ssc@integrity-media.co.uk by 5pm on 31st December 2021.

RRSSC Application Form & T&C’s

Short Story Writing – Guidance

Below you will find five presentations that will help you craft your short story.

Lyric Competitions 2021

[CLOSED]

Reconnect – lyric is a competition programme that we will also be running twice a year, again targeted at 16 to 24 years old.

The motivations for the lyric competition are the same as for the short story programme, but we acknowledge that music is a fantastic medium to share ideas and thoughts; and while we hope many will engage in the short story competitions, we know there will be numerous individuals who may be more gifted toward crafting lyrics to express their thoughts. The key theme will be the same, namely ‘rediscover, rebuild, relaunch’. With the best shortlisted submissions being recorded in a studio.

Two competitions for young persons will be run in parallel. One for 16 to 18 year olds in school years 11, 12 and 13. And a separate one for 19 to 24 years olds. Terms and conditions for entry are:

  • Submit an electronic copy of your lyrics in Word file format by email. A link to the instrumental version of the song may be found below.
  • Lyrics should be able to substitute the verses from the song Hands Held High by Linkin Park.
  • Printed lyrics submission font must be Calibri, point size 12 (no less). Line spacing 1.5.
  • Completed and signed application form – see link below.

Submissions should be emailed to us at lyr@integrity-media.co.uk by 5pm on 31st December 2021.