Creative Writing Competition FAQ

Payment Queries

General Queries

Submission Queries

How much is it to enter?

It is £10 (pounds sterling) for one entry. If you are based in the UK, you will have to pay VAT on top of this, which is £2. Overseas entrants do not have to pay VAT. One £10 entry fee allows you to submit up to two poems or two short stories. If you would like to enter 4 poems, for example, you would have to pay £20.

How can I pay my entry fee?

You can pay online using Paypal or your credit/debit card. The only credit card we do not accept is Bank of Japan. To pay online please press the back button and go to ‘How to Enter’. Alternatively you can pay over the phone. Please call +44 (0) 1904 629 137.   You can also pay by cheque. Please note cheques must be payable to pounds sterling, we cannot accept cheques in other currencies. Please make cheques payable to ‘Aesthetica Magazine Ltd’ and post to:   Creative Writing Competition  Aesthetica Magazine  PO Box 371  York  YO23 1WL  UK   Write “Creative Writing Competition” on the back of your cheque and enclose your name and your contact telephone number or email address. We will then confirm receipt of your cheque and give you an Order Reference number for you to then send your submissions through.

What is an Order Reference number?

An Order Reference Number confirms that you have made your entry payment. You must attach it to your submissions in order to qualify you for entry to the competition. If you have paid online, your Order Reference number will be automatically emailed to you from the ‘Aesthetica Magazine Shop’ once you have completed your online payment. This reference will start with “RC” and please ensure you include this when sending your submissions. To see an example of the confirmation email click here. If you paid through another method you will be contacted with your Order Reference Number.

I haven’t received my Order Reference number, what should I do?

Your Order Reference number will be automatically sent to you in your confirmation email after your payment has been authorised by your bank / Paypal account. This process is usually authorised instantly, however on some occasions, there can be delays. Please initially try searching your email account for an email from orders@aestheticamagazine.com. If your confirmation email hasn’t arrived within 48 hours, please email Sophie at: sophie@aestheticamagazine.com who will investigate further.

I’m having difficulty with Verified by Visa. What should I do? 

Verified by Visa is an additional security measure introduced by Visa in association with some card issuers to further protect you from unauthorised card use when shopping online. If you are experiencing difficulties with Verified by Visa,
please click here to find out more.

Is there a theme to the competition?

No, there is no theme to the Aesthetica Creative Writing Competition. It is an open call for entries and you are welcome to submit work on any subject.

Who can enter the competition?

Anyone can enter the Aesthetica Creative Writing Competition. This is an international competition and there is no age limit; we welcome work from entrants of all ages and nationalities.

Do I retain the rights to my work?

Yes, all entrants retain the copyright to all work submitted.

Can I get feedback on my work?

Due to the number of entries received, the judges unfortunately cannot offer any feedback on unsuccessful entries.

How do I send my submissions to you?

Please attach your submissions to an email and send them through to writing@aestheticamagazine.com. Make sure that you include your Order Reference Number and the category that you are entering in the subject line. Please include your name and contact details and the title of the works in the body of the email. If you do not have email you can send your submissions on a CD to Creative Works Competition, Aesthetica Magazine, PO Box 371, York, YO23 1WL, UK.

Do I need to fill out an entry form?

No, there is no entry form for this competition. Once you have made the payment and received your Order Reference number, please attach your submissions to an email and send them through to writing@aestheticamagazine.com. Make sure that you include your Order Reference Number and the category that you are entering in the subject line. Please include your name and contact details and the title of the works in the body of the email. If you do not have email you can send your submissions on a CD to Creative Writing Competition, Aesthetica Magazine, PO Box 371, York, YO23 1WL, UK.

Can I enter more than one category?

The £10 entry fee only permits entry of two works into one category. However, if you wish to submit to two categories you are welcome to pay for another entry, which will then allow you to submit two more works into another category.

Can I enter more than two pieces of work?

 Each £10 fee allows the submission of two pieces of work. You can pay the entry fee as many times as you wish and enter two pieces for each entry; so for £10 you can enter two works, for £20, four, for £30, six and so on.

Should I write my name on my entry?

 Due to the volume of submissions we receive, we would recommend that you write your name on your submissions. This will help us to keep track of your work but it is not essential.

Can I enter images with my writing?

 Due to layout restrictions in the Creative Writing Annual, we cannot consider entries that are accompanied by images. However, we do have a separate competition for artists: the Aesthetica Art Prize

Can I submit work that has been previously published elsewhere?

Entries can be sent that have been previously published elsewhere, but please include information on previous publications with your submissions. This will not affect the judging process. In the event that you are successful, it is good-practice for competitions and magazines to credit previously published works.

Can I alter my entry once it has been submitted?

No alterations can be made to submissions once they have been received.

What is the word limit for short fiction entries?

 Short Fiction entries must be no longer than 2,000 words. Stories that exceed this limit will not be considered for publication.

Can I submit screenplays, scripts or non-fiction?

 No. We do not have a category for screenplays or scripts and cannot accept non-fiction entries.

Writing Annual