Bare Fiction Boost for Low Income Writers
Bare Fiction, a print magazine that publishes and promotes new writing in poetry, fiction, short stories and theatre, put out a call via an email newsletter, Facebook and Twitter for low income writers to apply for free competition entry. They were overwhelmed with the response.
The Bare Fiction Prize launched 5 years ago and was part of Bare Fiction founder and editor, Robert Harper's, vision for promoting exciting new writing by undiscovered and emerging authors. Robert, who runs the magazine single-handedly whilst having completed an MA and now moving into his second year of a PhD in Creative Writing at University of Birmingham, said, "As a low income writer myself, I know just how hard it is to be able to afford to enter writing competitions like the Bare Fiction Prize. You wonder how you can justify spending £5, £10 or £25 on a competition entry when each month you are struggling to pay your household bills. So this year I decided to include an allocation for 50 free entries for those who regarded themselves as being low income writers. The idea to ask others if they could support the fund, and increase the number of free entries available, came to me as I was writing an email newsletter opening up the fund for applications. It was a last minute decision. And the response has been utterly overwhelming."
100% of donations go directly to supporting a UK (& Ireland) Low Income writer in placing an entry into the Bare Fiction Prize 2018 for Poetry, Flash Fiction & Short Story. Completely covering the cost of a single entry for each writer that applies, on a first come first served basis, whilst there are enough funds. This year's prizes are judged by Deborah Alma (the Emergency Poet) judging the poetry competition, C.G. Menon (the 2016 winner of the Short Story competition) judging flash fiction, and Luke Kennard judging the short story competition.
As of Thursday morning, 19th July, Bare Fiction has received support for 129 free entries which, alongside their initial starting point of 50 places means that Bare Fiction can currently offer 179 low income writers the opportunity of getting their work read by these amazing judges. Of course, should they be selected by the judges they could also win a share of over £2500 in prize money plus publication in the Spring 2019 edition of the magazine.
If you would like to read more about Bare Fiction, discover how to support another entrant or find out how to apply for a low income entry visit their website here. Deadline for applying for free entry is July 31st 2018 but the final closing date is not until October 31st this year.
