top of page
Sappho and Erinn in a Garden at Mytilene by Simeon Solomon (Tate Gallery)

Contest Rules & Info

The rules for the Bulwer Lytton Fiction Contest are childishly simple:

  • Each entry must consist of a single sentence.
     

  • Sentences may be of any length but we strongly recommend that entries not go beyond 50 or 60 words.

  • Entries must be “original” (as it were) and previously unpublished.

  • Due to the volume of submissions, if your entry is more than one sentence or is missing a name or location it won't be considered.

  • Our contest year runs from one summer to the next. All entries submitted by June 30th are eligible for the winners announced that  August.

  • We post the winners in mid August, give or take a natural disaster or mild inconvenience. To receive an announcement email, sign up for our mailing list down there in the footer.

  • In keeping with the gravitas, high seriousness, and general bignitude of the contest, the grand prize winner will receive … a cheap certificate (and bragging rights).

Inflict Your Sentence

Please check out our note above regarding the 2024/2025 contest.

Merci! We've got your sentence.

Form
bottom of page