Competition Rules
The Circle runs internal competitions, where members read their own work, which is then judged by the other members and also external competitions where members submit their work for an external adjudicator to judge. There are points awarded for success in these competitions and two cups awarded at the end of each year. The scoring system is explained below.
The word limits for these competitions are given below. Please note that these are the maximum allowed.
Internal Competitions
Flash Fiction - 400 words
Short Story - 800 words
Article - 800 words
Poem - 40 lines
The reader should declare the word count at the start of reading the item at the competition.
External Competitions
Short Story - 2000 words
Article - 1500 words
Poem - 40 lines, NB from 2020 only one entry is allowed
All prose submissions for the Main Competitions with external adjudicators must be typed on A4 paper, in double spacing and wide margins all round, as it would be for submission to an external publication.
The word count for stories and articles should be included.
Pages to be numbered.
When using a typewriter, try and retype a changed page before submission.
The entries to all competitions must not have been published at the time of submission.
Entries for external competitions should not include the author’s name.
The word limits for these competitions are given below. Please note that these are the maximum allowed.
Internal Competitions
Flash Fiction - 400 words
Short Story - 800 words
Article - 800 words
Poem - 40 lines
The reader should declare the word count at the start of reading the item at the competition.
External Competitions
Short Story - 2000 words
Article - 1500 words
Poem - 40 lines, NB from 2020 only one entry is allowed
All prose submissions for the Main Competitions with external adjudicators must be typed on A4 paper, in double spacing and wide margins all round, as it would be for submission to an external publication.
The word count for stories and articles should be included.
Pages to be numbered.
When using a typewriter, try and retype a changed page before submission.
The entries to all competitions must not have been published at the time of submission.
Entries for external competitions should not include the author’s name.
Scoring System for Competitions
Scoring system is 6 points for a win and 4 points for a second plus one point for everybody who enters. i.e. first gets 6+1 and second 4+1 All other entries get one point for entering. As from 2017 there is no third place allocated.
The prize money is currently £20 for a win and £10 for a second place.
Internal competitions are decided by a secret ballot. In the event of a two way tie for first place then a joint first place is declared with each member receiving £15 and 5 points, plus one point for entering. There is no second place declared.
If there is a clear first place and a two way tie for second place then the first place member receives £20 and 6 points (plus one point for entering) and each of the second place members receive £5 and 2 points (plus one for entering)
The prize money is currently £20 for a win and £10 for a second place.
Internal competitions are decided by a secret ballot. In the event of a two way tie for first place then a joint first place is declared with each member receiving £15 and 5 points, plus one point for entering. There is no second place declared.
If there is a clear first place and a two way tie for second place then the first place member receives £20 and 6 points (plus one point for entering) and each of the second place members receive £5 and 2 points (plus one for entering)