To celebrate 150 years since the first ever telephone call made by
Alexander Graham Bell, SaveAs Writers invite you to submit poetry or
short stories with this theme: 'Lines of Communication'.
Methods
of communication have developed rapidly since that first phone call in
1876. Therefore, the theme can be interpreted widely. Submissions might
focus on communication in relationships • in the age of the Internet,
the mobile phone and AI • between human beings and aliens or robots •
between nations or different cultures.
What are the limits and
difficulties of communication? Perhaps you want to explore if better
communication means better understanding. Or if it is always used for
the best reasons. These are just some of the possibilities.
Go ahead and communicate your creative ideas by submitting to the competition. We welcome national and international entries. Good luck!
Prizes
Poetry: The Canterbury Christ Church University Poetry Prize
First: £200 Second: £100 Third: £50
Judged by Derek Sellen and Mary Anne Smith Sellen
Prose: The Canterbury Festival Fiction Prize sponsored by Canterbury Festival
First: £200 Second: £100 Third: £50 Judged by Emma May Cruickshank
DEADLINE: 30 September 2026
1. To celebrate 150 years since the first ever telephone call made by Alexander Graham Bell, SaveAs
Writers invites you to submit poetry or short stories with the theme: Lines of Communication.
Methods of communication have developed rapidly since that first phone call in 1876. Therefore, the
theme can be interpreted widely. What are the limits and difficulties of communication? Perhaps
you want to explore if better communication means better understanding. Or if it is always used for
the best reasons. These are just some of the possibilities.
National and International entries are welcome.
2.The closing date for the competition is midnight, 30th September 2026. Entries may be emailed to
saveas@hotmail.co.uk or posted to: Luigi Marchini, c/o Save As Writers, 35 Spillett Close,
Faversham, Kent, ME 13 8QP.
3.No entry form is required but the correct payment must accompany each entry: Entry fee for each
poem is £4 or £10 for three. Entry fee for each story is £5 or £12 for 3. Payment may be made online
through PayPal to SaveAs Writers and sent to the email address above (please add a 75p
administration charge to each online entry), or by post with a cheque made out to ‘SaveAs Writers’.
Non-payment of the administration charge will invalidate the entry.
4.Poems must not exceed 60 lines in length. Prose must not exceed 3500 words. Entries are judged
anonymously, and the author’s name and address should not appear on the poem or short story
itself.
5. Work that does not fit the conditions outlined in number 4 above will not be accepted. Also, play
scripts are not eligible for the competition.
6.Handwritten entries cannot be accepted. Although electronic entries are preferred, paper entries
should be typed on one side of A4 paper. Please do not staple entries. A separate sheet of paper
should have the title/s of the entry, your name, address and contact email or telephone.
7.Emailed entries should be attached as a Word doc or PDF, and the PayPal ID code inserted into the
email heading as proof of payment. Your name, address, contact email or telephone, and title/s of
submission/s should be stated in the body of the email.
8.Entries must be an original, unpublished work (including on any website, public blog, online forum,
or broadcast medium) and not accepted for publication at the time of entry. Please note all entries
will be checked. Ownership remains with the author always. SaveAs Writers will not assume any
share in copyright.
9.Entries should be written principally in English; incidental foreign words/phrases and the use of
regional variants are permitted. No alterations may be made to a poem or short story once it has
been submitted.
10. All entrants must be over 16 years of age at time of submission.
11. Poems will be judged by Derek and Mary-Anne Sellen. Short stories will be judged by Emma
Cruickshank. The judges’ decision is final.
12. Winners will be announced at the online Awards Evening on Saturday, 5th December 2026.
13.The Canterbury Christchurch Poetry Prize of £200 is awarded to the poetry winner with the
additional prizes of £100 for second place and £50 for third. The Canterbury Festival Fiction Prize of
£200 will be awarded for the winning story with the additional prizes of £100 for second and £50 for
third.
14.All shortlisted pieces will be published on the SaveAs website.
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