About the opportunity
What this programme is offering
The Val Wood Prize 2026 is a short fiction writing competition for writers who want to create an original story inspired by the title of one of Val Wood’s published books.The competition encourages writers to explore how a title can shape a story’s idea, mood, character, setting and direction.
Benefits of Val Wood Prize for Creative Writing
Prizes
• First Prize: £100 and a signed copy of Val Wood’s upcoming novel.
• Two Runners-up: Each will receive a signed copy of Val Wood’s novel.
• Publication: The winning entry will be published on www.valwood.co.uk and promoted via Val Wood’s social media channels
Val Wood Prize for Creative Writing Requirements
THE VAL WOOD PRIZE 2026: TITLES
Entry Rules
• Theme: Titles.
• Word count: Maximum 1,500 words.
• Genre: Any, except poetry or brutality/graphic/violent content.
• Eligibility: Open to writers aged 16 and over.
• Limit: One entry per person.
• Originality: Entries must be original, unpublished, and not submitted to any other competition.
• Story requirement: Entries must be based on the title of one of Val Wood’s books, and the story must clearly reflect the chosen title.
• AI-generated work: AI-generated work will not be accepted.
How to apply