What you need to know
 

• There are two age categories: 14-19 years and 20 + 

• Submission is open to writers who live, work or study in Buckinghamshire (Milton Keynes' home county) or in the neighbouring counties of Northamptonshire or Bedfordshire.

• There will be cash prizes of £25 for the best story and the best poem in each of the two age categories.

• All entries must be written in English. Work should be original and not previously published.

• Stories and poems must reflect the theme: Green Spaces in the City. You are free to interpret that as creatively as you wish.

• Flash fiction must be no longer than 500 words. There is no minimum word limit. Only one entry per writer. Any genre is acceptable, e.g. mystery, romance, science fiction, history.

• Poems must be no more than 30 lines. All types of poem are welcoming: free verse, rhyming, haiku, sonnet, etc. You can submit a maximum of three poems, which should be in a single document.

• Entries should be submitted in Microsoft Word, RTF or Plain Text formats, as an attachment to an email

• All work should be typed in Arial size 12 font and should include a word or line count.

• Writers should not include their name on any part of the attachment, as entries will be judged anonymously.

• We aim to select at least 20 stories and 20 poems for publication in an anthology that will be available in paperback and e-reader format. We may also highlight some entries on the MK Lit Fest website and social media. 

• Please do not submit material that would not receive a cinematic rating of 15 or less (i.e. no 18 / R-rated submissions).

• Judges cannot correspond with entrants or give feedback on submissions.