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About The Bedford Competition

The Bedford Competition is an established international writing competition and non-profit organisation dedicated to discovering and supporting new literary talent. First established in 2012 as The Bedford Writing Competition, we run annual short story competitions and poetry competitions, attracting writers from around the world.

Recognised globally, The Bedford Competition is known for its fairness, credibility, and high standards. All entries are judged anonymously with the longlist, shortlist and winners being compiled by a carefully curated panel of acclaimed authors and literary agents. This ensures a level playing field and gives every writer an equal opportunity to succeed.

As a non-profit writing contest, all net proceeds are reinvested into supporting aspiring local writers and contributing to literacy-focused local charities. Our mission is not only to recognise excellence in creative writing, but also to help writers develop their skills and reach new audiences. 

Reasons to enter the competition

  • We are a prestigious international competition founded in 2012
  • All entries are judged anonymously
  • The names of entrants, along with the title of their work, which are longlisted, shortlisted or winners are published on our website.
  • All winning and shortlisted entries are published in a paperback anthology with global distribution
  • Net proceeds go to helping local writers with support to advance their creative writing skills and to provide funds to literacy supporting charities 
  • Your work will be judged by acclaimed writers or literary agents
  • Your success will be celebrated at a special Presentation Event.

Short Story & Poetry Competitions

The Bedford Competition hosts annual short story contests and poetry contests designed to showcase emerging and established writers alike. Our competitions provide a valuable platform for writers seeking recognition, publication, and career development. Whether you are entering your first creative writing competition or building your portfolio, The Bedford Competition offers a trusted and respected route to getting your work noticed.

Supporting Writers & Literacy

As a non-profit organisation, The Bedford Competition is committed to giving back. Funds raised through our writing competitions help support local writers in developing their craft, while also contributing to local charities that promote literacy and creative writing.

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Fran Lock

Poetry Main Prize Judge

Fran Lock is the author of numerous chapbooks and fourteen poetry collections. Her most recent collections are Hyena! (Poetry Bus Press, 2023), shortlisted for the T.S. Eliot Prize 2023 and for the PEN Heaney Prize 2024, and ‘a disgusting lie’: further adventures through the neoliberal hell-mouth (Pamenar Press, 2023). Spectres // Defectors /// No Respecters, an omnibus of three previous titles, with selected new material was published by Culture Matters in late 2024.Her most recent pamphlet is The New Herbal (Blueprint Press, 2024), and Vulgar Errors/ Feral Subjects, a collection of essays exploring feral subjectivity through the lens of the medieval bestiary, was published by Out-Spoken Press last year. Fran was the Judith E. Wilson Poetry Fellow at Cambridge University 2022-2023 and is a Commissioning Editor at the radical arts and culture cooperative Culture Matters. She lives in Kent with her sassy American bully, Luna.