Aspiring authors can submit their short tales for the chance to win a £3,000 prize as Kingston University launches two new writing competitions this month.

The university is running two short story competitions, an international category judged by double Man Booker Prize-winning author Hilary Mantel, and a locally targeted contest judged by playwright and Kingston University chancellor Bonnie Greer.

In addition to the £3,000 and £1,000 respective prizes, the winning stories will be published by Kingston University Press, the university’s in-house independent publishing company.

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University chancellor Bonnie Greer will judge a 'unique' reading aloud competition

Kingston University’s writer in residence, Alan McCormick, says he is glad to have the opportunity to throw more light on an often overlooked form of literature.

He said: “With Hilary Mantel CBE judging the international competition, we’re hoping to attract interest from all over the world.”

The category judged by Bonnie Greer is named the “Stories to read aloud competition,” and Mr McCormick believes it is one of a kind.

He said: “The contest that Bonnie is judging will be unique – I can’t think of another major competition that has the reading aloud element.”

Closing date for both competitions is June 30.

For details on how to enter, please click here.