The Crashaw Poetry Prize, an international annual prize for a first collection of poetry, is now open for submissions. Entrants must not have been published before and must permanently reside in the UK, Ireland, the USA, Australia or New Zealand. Winners will be issued with a standard publishing contract from Salt Publishing. The deadline for submissions is 31 October.

In politics, what can laws do without morals? Benjamin Franklin

Each year a question or quote exploring Franklin’s relevance in our time is open for interpretation in 1000-1500 words by two groups: young people and professional writers.  The winner of the Young Writers Prize will receive £500 while the winner of the Professional Writers Prize will receive £1000 with publication of their essays in the British Daily Telegraph, and at www.BenjaminFranklinHouse.org. Entries for 2010 must be received before 15 October.

For more information click here.

Head of Literature and Spoken Word at Southbank Centre, Rachel Holmes, provides detail about the mass of literary events taking place by the Thames this summer.

The 2010 National Poetry Competition is now open for entries.The first poem you submit costs £6.00. Subsequent entries in the same submission cost £3.00 per poem.The closing date for the competition is 31 October 2010.

First Prize: £5,000

Second Prize: £2,000

Third Prize: £1,000

Seven Commendations: £100