For our 2025 annual Creative Writing Competition, MK Lit Fest has adopted the theme of Home.  

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. Writers must be aged 14 or older: those aged 14 - 19 do not need to pay an entry fee. For writers aged 20+ we have introduced a small submission fee to enable us to continue to operate the competition and produce anthologies.

Eligible applicants are invited to write a piece of flash fiction writing of up to 500 words in any genre you choose: sci-fi, thriller, romance, journalism, social record, historical fiction… all styles are welcome. Or to send us up to 500 words of creative non-fiction: a story of homecoming or migration, perhaps, or of home-making or -breaking. Or you can put pen to paper and send us up to three poems of up to 40 lines inspired by the theme.

NB: once you have paid your entry fee, you will receive a confirmation email with an attached invoice. You need to quote the Invoice Number in your cover email when submitting your writing.

There will be cash prizes of £25 for the best entries in each of the two age categories: 14-19 and 20+. In addition, we aim to select the best pieces from your submissions for publication in an anthology that will be available in paperback and e-reader formats. Writers of selected pieces may also be invited to read their work at future Lit Fest events, either in person or online.

Be bold, be original, and interpret the idea of Home in ways that entertain, enthral, shock, amuse, confound or surprise: we look forward to reading your writing!

MK Lit Fest Team