When ever you are entering a competition, it is important that you follow whatever layout , word count, guidance etc. that is provided. Failure to comply gives a panel of busy judges every excuse to simply bin your entry.

At Perthshire Writers we have simple guidelines for competition entries that everyone should follow. Their primary purpose is to ensure competitions are fair, competition entries have a consistent format, and finally, entries are easy for a judge to read and annotate etc.

If questions arise then reach out to our competition secretary or simply ask a fellow member and they will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.

1. Use a Pseudonym : This part is crucial! When you email your entry to the competition secretary they will add you and your pseudonym to a list that only they see. The judge(s) will only see your Pseudonym and thus cannot be influenced by who the actual author is.
2. Word/Line Limits
   • Flash Fiction : Maximum 250 words
   • Poetry : Maximum 40 lines
3. Layout and How to Enter
   • Submit your entry as an attachment in Word or a format readable in Word.
   • Lines should be double spaced, though poetry can be single spaced.
   • Second and subsequent paragraphs should be indented.
   • Choose a generic font e.g. Times New Roman, Ariel, size 12pt.
   • All entries should have a title page containing:
     • The title of the piece
     • Your chosen pseudonym (but NOT your real name!)
     • The word count or line number for poetry
     • The competition name.
   • Send the entire Word document to the competition secretary in an email. In the body of your email inform the competition secretary of your pseudonym and real name, this will then be noted for the adjudication night.

In effect your competition entry should look similar to this:

Good luck!