Creative writing competition: Comedy Women in Print Prize 2022/2023

Now in its fourth year, the Comedy Women in Print Prize is the brainchild of Helen Lederer, and the UK and Ireland's first writing contest dedicated to celebrating comic writing by women.

This year's international competition is in three categories: Published Novel, Unpublished Novel and Short Story.

• Published Novel: Published authors and publishers can enter witty novels by women writers published between 29 May 2021 and 14 October 2022. The winner will receive £3,000. There is a £20 entry fee for each book.

• Unpublished Novel: For completed comedy novel manuscripts of at least 80,000 words by unpublished fiction writers. Enter the first 5,000 words and a synopsis. The first prize is a publishing contract with HarperCollins and a £5,000 advance. The runner-up will receive a place on the Hertfordshire MA in Creative Writing or writing mentorship from a professionally published author from the Creative Writing Team. A second runner up will receive a place on the online MA in Comedy Writing from Falmouth University.

• Short Stories. The new category in this year's prize is for funny short stories between 5,000 and 15,000 words. The winner will receive £1,000 and each shortlisted entrant will receive £100. All shortlisted and winning stories will be included in Funny Shorts! Fifteen best new stories by witty women, which will be published by Farrago in association with CWIP. Stories may be either unpublished or recently published (in magazines, blogs, anthologies etc) within 18 months prior to the closing date. Each writer may submit up to two stories. Entry is free.

All entries must be original work by any writer who identifies a woman writing in the English language.

The closing date is 14 October.

For full details see the website.

For more writing inspiration, subscribe to our bestselling monthly magazine and receive your first 3 issues for just £3. Claim this offer here