Get writing and enter our short story competition

The city has a strong literary heritage and now you can join the ranks of Portsmouth writers like Dickens & Conan Doyle with the Portsmouth Short Story Competition which opens on Friday 26 July.

If you're a budding writer (aged 16+), or want to try your hand at story writing for the first time, enter the short story competition and you could win £500 and see your story posted online.  Submit your entry by Friday 8 November to a Portsmouth Library or by post, with your completed entry form and £5 entry fee (cheques should be made payable to Portsmouth City Council).

Cllr Steve Pitt, Cabinet Member for Culture Leisure and Sport said: "The Short Story competition is great for anyone who's ever wanted to try their hand at story writing. The pictures from the archive should help to inspire some creative entries which I look forward to judging later in the year."

Check at your local library for an entry form, email libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk  or call 023 9268 8064.

To help you to get inspired and get writing we've got a series of free short story writing taster sessions throughout the summer:

• Saturday 27 July Southsea Library cafe 3.30pm-5.30pm with Judy Waite
• Wednesday 7 August Beddow Library 7-9pm with Amanda Garrie
• Tuesday 13 August Southsea Library café 7-9pm with Amanda Garrie
• Wednesday 14 August Carnegie Library with 2pm-4pm Christine Lawrence
• Tuesday 20 August Central Library 4-6pm with Christine Lawrence

To book your place at one of the writing taster sessions at your local library or call 023 9268 8064 or emailing libraries@portsmouthcc.gov.uk