Hunt out those writing drafts pushed to the back of a drawer, finish that poem you were inspired to start in lockdown and polish off your novel - the Bridport Prize is waiting to read your words.

The international creative writing competition's deadline is midnight on May 31 and there's £20,000 in prizes to be won across poetry, short story, flash fiction and novel categories.

You can write as much or as little as you want - flash fiction needs 250 words or less and for the novel, the competition only asks for 8,000 words initially. There's also a £500 Young Writer award.

The competition has helped launch many careers including best-selling novelist Kate Atkinson, who said: "I have enormously fond memories of the Bridport Prize. It gave me one of the first affirmations that I could write. The story I wrote for the competition was the first time I felt I found that elusive thing - my 'voice'."

The Bridport Prize began back in 1973 to help fund the new arts centre and almost 50 years later, still maintains that vital role.

During the pandemic, income from the Bridport Prize has been more important than ever.

Kate Wilson, programme manager at the Bridport Prize, said: "Last year we had entries from over 82 countries.

"We really want to uplift people, especially now.

"All our winning short stories are entered into the Sunday Times short story award and Rachael Fulton has just been longlisted for their £30k prize.

"We Keep in touch with winners, we don't just walk away when the competition closes.

"Kit de Waal - shortlisted for the Costa Book Award - won twice with us and returned as a judge. People really do become part of our Bridport Prize family."

To enter, visit bridportprize.org.uk

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