Aesthetica is looking for the best new writing talent. The £5,000 international literary prize is open to poetry and short fiction entries on any theme, celebrating innovation in content and form.
Poetry entries should be no more than 40 lines.
Fiction entries should be no more than 2,000 words.
Works published or entered elsewhere are accepted.
We accept works on any theme.
Prizes:
£5,000 prize money
(£2,500 for the Poetry Winner, £2,500 for the Short Fiction Winner)
Publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual
One-year print subscription to Granta (Poetry & Fiction Winners)
One-year digital subscription to Mslexia (Poetry & Fiction Winners)
Six-week writing poetry course from Curtis Brown Creative (Poetry Winner)
Full membership to The Poetry Society (Poetry Winner)
A course from?the Poetry School (Poetry Winner)
Two Online Masterclasses from Arvon (Poetry Winner)
One 5-Day Arvon at Home online writing or evening course (Fiction Winner)
Consultation with Redhammer Management (Fiction Winner)
Six-week writing short stories course from Curtis Brown Creative (Fiction Winner)
Full membership to Litopia (Poetry & Fiction Winners)
One-year Deluxe Subscription to The London Magazine (Poetry & Fiction Winners)
Entry Fees:
1 December 2024 – 31 August 2025: £12 (Poetry) £18 (Short Fiction)
1 – 8 September 2025: £18 (Poetry) £24 (Short Fiction)
Find out more
here
Deadline: 8 September 2025