Summer Solstice 2023 Prompts

Competition closing date is wednesday 21st june 2023

Eating an apple, discovering a bruise and drinking tea: the everyday subject prompts for the next competition. Simple subjects give us space to work wonders with our craft and to imbue the words with emotion. So, write (or perform and send us the film), a maximum of 1000 words, in fiction or non-fiction prose or poetry, inspired (in your own unique style) by one of the following quotes:

“Plump apple, smooth banana, melon, peach, gooseberry…

What miracle is happening in your mouth?”

-Rilke, from The Sonnets to Orpheus

"With an apple I will astonish Paris"

-Paul Cezanne (French impressionist painter)

"the bruise will stop by later.

For now, the pain pauses in its round,

notes the time of day, the patient’s temperature,

leaves a memo for the surrogate: What the hell

did you think you were doing?”

-John Ashbery, from Anticipated Stranger

"Sitting in a sunny cafe, I call my parents

because I can’t stand to hear

bad news at home.

So I call from here, on my cell,

armed with chai”

-Megan Willome, from Valentine’s Chai

“No matter what news breaks,

it's impossible to think straight

until the kettle has boiled”

-Dennis O’Driscoll, from Calling the Kettle

 
Image courtesy of PeteR REid

Image courtesy of PeteR REid

 

Guidance for Wordsmiths

  • The piece can be oral or written, fiction or non-fiction, prose or poetry, in any genre. It can be on any subject, as long as the prompt quote has clearly inspired the work.

  • The more unique your take on your subject, the better, but your submission should be in the spirit of the Wild Words Philosophy.

  • Before entering, please browse the website to familiarise yourself with our approach. You may also find The Blog a useful source of ideas.

  • If your entry is a film of a spoken word/storytelling performance, please also send us a document with the text of the piece.

  • Remember that there are as many kinds of wild words as there as creatures on this earth. They vary as much in looks as the elephant and the mouse, and behave in as many different ways. Wild Words are not necessarily big and loud and emotional. They might cause a stampede when they arrive. But it’s equally likely that they’ll slide in quietly, flutter their way on to your page, or jostle at your elbow :-)

The Closing Date

  • Entries must be received by midnight GMT on Wednesday 21st June 2023.

  • The competition will be judged by Wild Words founder Bridget Holding, along with other members of the Wild Words team.

  • The winner will be announced in the Wild Words Autumn Newsletter in September 2023, and in the Facebook Group

The Prize

  • Three entries will be shortlisted. From that shortlist, one overall winner of the competition will be chosen.

  • The shortlisted entrants and the overall winner will be personally notified and then publicly announced in September 2023.

  • The overall winner will receive a one hour 1-1 mentoring session with Bridget, via Skype, telephone or in person.

  • The winning entry will also be published on the Wild Words website, and on social media platforms.

  • The two other shortlisted entries may also be published on the Wild Words website.

Formatting Your Entry

  • Double space your work and submit it in 12 point, in any font.

  • Submit it as a '.docx' attachment, separate to the email.

  • Please ensure that your name is not on any page of the entry itself.

  • Number each page of your work.

  • In a covering email, please state: your name and contact information, the title of your work, whether it is fiction or non-fiction, and the prompt that you used.

Where to Send Your Entry

  • Entries are only accepted via email.

  • Please send your entry to the following address: hello@wildwords.org

  • Audio recordings should be sent as an MP3 file. If you find the file is too big to send, we recommend using the software Audacity to reduce its size.

Entry Fee

  • There is an entry fee of £7.00 for this competition.

  • Please pay before submitting your work. Your details will be taken at the time of payment.

  • Entries will only be accepted after receipt of payment.

Competition Fee
£7.00
Quantity:
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Other Rules

  • The Wild Words Competition is open to anyone of any age.

  • The work you submit must not have been previously published anywhere in the world, either in print, or online.

What The Judges Are Looking For

The winning entry will demonstrate the following characteristics:

  • Whether fiction or non-fiction, poetry or prose, the words will be wild i.e. they will be vivid and alive, passionate and powerful. They will be a cohesive animal that jumps off the page/tongue, fully engaging the reader/listener. They will take the receiver on a riveting, spellbinding journey.

  • Optionally, the winning entry may make reference to fictional or non-fictional experiences of nature, psychology or spirituality.

    So now what’s stopping you? Just get out there! Good luck!!