Core to the Pen to Print programme are our free to enter competitions.
The Book Challenge is our premier competition with the fabulous prize of becoming part of our free mentoring programme with support to write and publish your own book! We have already seen Challengers publish and win awards for their books, so if you have a story that you have always wanted to turn into a book why wait, have a go!
If you don’t have a book idea but love to tell stories or are more poetic, why not enter the Poetry, Audio Play or Short Story Competitions? Each year we will feature an additional competition which could be playwriting, screenwriting, photography or film making; so you can explore other forms of telling your story.
We are sure you will find inspiration to put pen to paper which you may be lucky enough to see in print, good luck!
Each competition has outline details and links to its specific Terms and Conditions, to make sure you are eligible please read these carefully before you enter.
Please NOTE by entering a Pen to Print competition the author is giving permission for Pen to Print to publish and/or broadcast their work, if it chooses, digitally or in print. For these Terms & Conditions please CLICK HERE.
Any online and social media competitions may have different closing dates.
Always check the full Terms and Conditions of each competition for closing dates and entry requirements.
CLICK HERE for our How To Guide for entering competitions
- Please do not post or hand deliver your entries.
- Please note that our competition are open to UK residents only, unless specified otherwise.
- We only accept entries sent by email.
If you have any questions please connect with us by email: pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk or by phone 020 8227 2267
Discover who won our competitions in 2026 visit: pentoprint.org/winners-2026/
All competitions are FREE to enter.
(All Competitions are open to entries from UK Residents only)
The Pen to Print Poetry Competition 2027
Win a Tablet PC and your piece published by Write On!
Closing Date: 12 Noon, Monday 22 March 2027.
The winner will be announced at the Pen to Print Awards on Thursday 22 July 2027.
CLICK here for how to enter and terms & conditions.
You can write a poem in any form you like and on any subject but it should not be no more than 2 A4 pages long.
Have a question?
E: pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk
T: 020 8227 2267
NB: We reserve the right to reject entries on the grounds of taste and decency and where the legality or morality of the content is in question.
Discover who won in 2026!
The Pen to Print Short Story Competition 2027
Win a Tablet PC and your piece published by Write On!
Closing Date: 12 Noon, Monday 22 March 2027.
Winner will be announced at the Pen to Print Awards on Thursday 22 July 2027.
CLICK here for how to enter and terms & conditions.
You can write a short story on any subject but it should not be no more than 2,000 words long.
Have a question?
E: pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk
T: 020 8227 2267
NB: We reserve the right to reject entries on the grounds of taste and decency and where the legality or morality of the content is in question.
Discover who won in 2026!
The Barking & Dagenham Staff Writing Competition 2027
For LB of Barking & Dagenham Employees and their families.
Win a Tablet PC and your piece published by Write On!
Closing Date: 12 Noon, Monday 7 June 2027.
Winner will be announced at the Pen to Print Awards on Thursday 22 July 2027.
CLICK here for how to enter and terms & conditions.
You can write a poem or short story on any subject. Pomes should not be longer than two A4 pages and short stories but it should not be no more than 1,000 words long.
Have a question?
E: pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk
T: 020 8227 2267
NB: We reserve the right to reject entries on the grounds of taste and decency and where the legality or morality of the content is in question.
Discover who won in 2026!
The Pen to Print Audio Play Competition 2027 in Partnership with Alternative Stories
Win a Tablet PC and your work fully produced as an audio play by Alternative Stories and broadcast on Alternative Stories and Fake Realities podcast channel and on Write On! Audio.
Closing Date: 12 Noon, Monday 22 March 2027.
Winner will be announced at the Pen to Print Awards on Thursday 22 July 2027.
This Competition is not yet open to entries.
Details on how to enter will be published on
shortly.
Write an audio play on any subject. Your audio play should have a running time of around 30 minutes (a word count of between 3,000 to 4,000 words). Send us a synopsis of no more than 250 words along with your script. it should feature at least 2 characters but preferably 4 or 5.
Have a question?
E: pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk
T: 020 8227 2267
NB: We reserve the right to reject entries on the grounds of taste and decency and where the legality or morality of the content is in question.
Discover who won in 2026!
The Challenge is to write a novel in a year!
Win a Tablet PC.
All selected finalists will receive a year of fee mentoring and have the opportunity to get their completed book published, a package worth over £5,000.
This Competition is now CLOSED
The shortlist will be announced at The Pen to Print Awards Thursday 22 July 2027.
The overall winner will be announced at The Pen to Print Awards summer 2028.
CLICK here to see who has been published so far.
Have a question?
E: pentoprint@lbbd.gov.uk
T: 020 8227 2267
Discover who won in 2026!
