About this episode

The episode discusses the value of writing competitions and features insights from past winners and literary agents.

Writing competitions. Clearly they’re not all made the same. Some are free, some are costly, some are actually impossible for mere mortals to enter due to their criteria. The prizes vary too. From small cash prizes, to publishing deals. Today, we’re asking the question… on the whole, if you’re serious about being a writer… are they actually worth it? Are they worth the money, the - let’s face it – likely disappointment, the effort and most importantly of all… the time? And the biggest question of all - are there any quantifiable things you can do to help nudge your entry to the top of the pile? We consider such things as: Where’s the best place to send your piece? Maybe a competition isn’t the right destination? Maybe it’s a literary journal instead? We get some top notch insider insight, from Bath Flash Fiction Award past winner and judge - Kathryn Aldridge-Morris to get the skinny on what works and what doesn’t. What will wow the judges, what will make them spit their tea out and what will make them slide you into their shortlist. https://www.kamwords.com   Plus we hear from fabulous literary agent Joanna Swainson from Hardman & Swainson, for an agent’s eye-view…

More episodes of The Failing Writers Podcast

• S6 ep10: Quit your job and become a full-time author · July 19, 2026 · 1h 3m
• S6 Ep9: Poetry Competition - with Rowan McCabe · July 6, 2026 · 46 min
• S6 Ep8: Hollie McNish - Poetry · July 5, 2026 · 50 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Failing Writers Podcast podcast page.