Writing your first novel? Have an adventure story up your sleeve? Kickstart your 2017 with one of these! We’ve collected some of the best writing opportunities around to get your minds ticking and hands typing.

The Next Great Travel Writer 2017
Tell us about a travel experience unlike any other. Travelex has teamed up with Penguin for this new short story competition – there’s also a special prize for the best student piece.
Closing date: 5 February 2017

University of Chester’s National Flash Fiction Youth Competition
Students aged 16 to 19 are invited to submit their flash fiction stories of 360 words or less. Winners will have their story featured in print and online, and will receive a prize of up to £100 in Waterstones vouchers (that’s a lot of books!).
Closing date: 10 February 2017

The Lucy Cavendish College Fiction Prize
The Prize is for novels written by women of 21 years or over, welcoming both genre and literary fiction. The judges will be looking for that all-important quality: unputdownability.
Closing date: 10 February 2017

Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook Short Story Competition
This year Writers and Artists have not prescribed a theme, so let your imagination take free reign! Submit your short story of 2000 words or less for the chance to win a place on a residential writing course and have your story published on the Writers and Artists website.
Closing date: 13 February 2017

Spotlight First Novel Competition
Adventures in Fiction want to put a Spotlight on your first novel! Submit your winning synopsis and win invaluable mentoring and a major showcase.
Closing date: 14 February 2017

The Jane Austen 200 Short Story Competition
“Selfishness must always be forgiven you know because there is no hope of a cure” – Mansfield Park
Follow in Austen’s footsteps and write a short story responding to this quote in 2017 words or less.
Closing date: 28 February 2017

The Rialto’s Nature and Place Poetry Competition
The Rialto, in collaboration with the RSPB, BirdLife International and the Cambridge Conservation Initiative, invites you to submit poems that deal with any aspect of nature and place.
Closing date: 1 March 2017

Hourglass Magazine International Writing Competition
Submit a short story, poem or essay for the chance to win $5000, and have your work recognised internationally!
Closing date: 30 April 2017

Poetry on the Lake Competition
The 17th annual poetry competition will include a category judged by poet laureate Carol Ann Duffy.
Closing date: 30 April 2017

Gladstone’s Library Writers in Residence 2018
Gladstone’s library offers writers an opportunity to spend a month as a Writer in Residence at their historic library. They are seeking writers whose work engages with liberal values, whether through fiction or non-fiction.
Closing date: 31 May 2017

The Bridport Prize 2017
With prizes for novels, poetry, short stories and flash fiction, the Bridport Prize is a versatile and prestigious opportunity.
Closing date: 31 May 2017