Public and Commercial Services Union

Seventh annual short story competition - 2011

The PCS/Words magazine short story competition is the idea of PCS learning rep Shaun Peare. 

Shaun got the idea when a colleague told him about a question posed by the poet laureate Andrew Motion: “Was enough being done to encourage creative writing throughout the UK?”. Shaun decided the answer was ‘no’ and the idea to hold the competition as a trial venture was born in 2004. 

This year's competition has an open theme:

Who is eligible to enter the competition?

The competition is open to any trade union member in the UK.

What can I win?

There is an "entry fee divide" which means the more people enter the greater the reward will be:

1st prize - 50% entry fee 2nd prize - 30% 3rd prize - 20%

How do I enter?

Guidelines and entry forms are available on the Words website - or send a SAE to PCS-WORDS Competition, PO Box 13574, London W9 3FX asking for the forms.

Will entries be published?

The winning story and commended entries will be published in an anthology (available in both hard-copy and online versions) during December 2011. All other entries will be considered for later publication either in the quarterly magazine or on the website.

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2010 Competition winners:

1st - £100 – Alfred Nolan,
2nd - £50 – David Merrifield,
3rd - £25 each; Sally Warren, Victoria Stapleton, Greg Horsfield

There were 217 entries this year across 19 UK trade unions. The full results are available on the Words Magazine website.