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26 April 2017

Could your short story be printed in idea magazine?

The Evangelical Alliance is launching its first short story writing competition, and it's open to everyone. Whether you've been writing for years or you haven't written creatively since you left school, we want to hear from you. We hope this edition has encouraged you to explore your creativity. Could writing be the way to do this?

We're looking for the Bible stories we all know and love to be dramatically retold in just 1,000 words.

The more creative your story is, the better. We are looking for all genres and styles. Your stories should be original, unpublished and not even a single word longer than 1,000 words (not including your title). There is no lower word limit. We are looking for exciting, dynamic, interesting and well- ritten parables for 21st century readers.

There are two age groups and winners will be selected from each. Not only are we welcoming entries from over-18s, but we are also opening the competition up to children and teenagers by offering an under-18 category.

The winners will have their short story published in idea magazine, and the over- 18 winner will receive a £50 commission. Two over-18 runners-up will receive a £25 book voucher. The winner of the under-18 category will also win a children's book bundle.

To enter, email your story to idea@eauk.org on or before Sunday, 4 June 2017. Entries will be shortlisted by the Alliance's editorial team, and then the two age groups will be judged by industry professionals, including a commissioning editor from a Christian publisher.

Entry is open only to residents of the UK.

What you need to know:
1. Submissions must be a short story of 1,000 words in length or less, written in English. It must be a retelling of a biblical story or parable.

2. Your story must be original and unpublished.

3. Work must be entirely your own.

4. Submissions must be accompanied by a bio including your full name, address and age if entering the under-18 category. You must state which category you are entering.

5. Please submit your short story with your name, bio, and short story title on a separate page to the story. Insert page numbers plus the name of the story as a footnote on each page. Don't write your name on your short story. Each short story will be sent anonymously to the judging panel. 

6. Submissions can only be accepted via email.

7. Multiple submissions are permitted - there are no limits on the number of entries.

8. By entering the competition, you are agreeing to have your story published in both electronic and paper format. Authors will retain worldwide copyright on their work with the Evangelical Alliance having publication rights. Should your fiction win a prize or be published elsewhere, please let us know so we can remove it from the current award.

9. Closing date is (Midnight BST) 4 June 2017.

10. The longlist will be announced on the Evangelical Alliance website on 20 June 2017. The shortlist will be announced on 27 June 2017. 

11. Winners will be notified via email by 4 July 2017.

12. Entrants will be judged by the Alliance judging panel. The judges' decisions are final and no individual correspondence will be entered into. 

13. Entry is confirmation of your acceptance of all rules and conditions.

Permissions: Articles published in idea may be reproduced only with permission from the Editor and must carry a credit line indicating first publication in idea. About idea Magazine
For advertising details please contact Candy O'Donovan - info@eauk.org or 020 7520 3846