Dig out those writing drafts at the back of a drawer, finish that poem and polish off your novel, as the deadline fast approaches for the 50th Bridport Prize writing competition.

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 novel entries, the competition initially asks for 5,000 to 8,000 words, plus a 300 word synopsis.

There's also a £500 Young Writer award and £100 Dorset Award.

Entries start at £11 and the competition also offers bursaries for under-represented writers.

'I found that elusive thing - my voice' – Kate Atkinson

The competition has helped launch many careers in writing, 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."

'If I hadn't won, my book may never have seen the light of day' – Fiona Williams, Faber's 2024 superlead debut

Former winner Fiona Williams is Faber & Faber's superlead debut next year with her novel The House of Broken Bricks. She said: "If I hadn't won the Bridport Prize, my book may never have seen the light of day."

The Bridport Prize was started back in 1973 by legendary Bridport resident Peggy Chapman-Andrews to help fund the new Arts Centre.

Fifty years later, it still maintains that vital role. During the cost of living crisis, income from the Bridport Prize has been vital.

"Last year we had entries from over 100 countries," said programme manager Kate Wilson.

"We are dedicated to discovering new writers from all walks of life and love to read a new voice that jumps off the page.

"We always keep in touch with our winners, we never just walk away when the competition closes.

"Kit de Waal (shortlisted for the Costa Book Award with her novel My Name is Leon) won twice with us, returned as a judge and mentored our Black Writer Residencies. People really do become part of our Bridport Prize family."

Winners are published in an anthology, which is submitted to literary agents. They are also eligible for competitions not open to the general public, like the BBC Short Story Award, Forward Poetry Prize and flash fiction's Best Small Fictions in the US.

For more details and to enter, visit www.bridportprize.org.uk