We are two Brighton-based English writers, who live in Centurion Road and Montpelier Terrace. We have recently set up our own website, called the Brighton COW, (Community of Writers). We are aiming to promote new writers and writing through a range of competitions. We will run four short story competitions in 2011. The deadlines will be the end of February, May, August and November. We are planning some fun, free-to-enter contests too.

We are currently reading the 129 entries for our first ever competition. We received entries from all over the United Kingdom as well as stories from Canada, Cyprus, France, Australia and Spain.

Our main writing competitions have an open theme with a 3,000 word limit. There are three prizes to the top three winning writers of £100, £50 and £25. There will also be the opportunity for the stories to be published on our website as well as being recorded for broadcast on Brighton’s Coastway Hospital Radio, which provides music and entertainment to a network of Brighton hospitals.

The competition is just £4 (four pounds) to enter, via PayPal or cheque, and it is open to writers worldwide. Stories can be submitted online along with payment or by post with a cheque. We will notify all entrants of receipt of their story. Each entry will be judged impartially and be read at least twice in full before judging decisions are made.

We also offer a range of other services, such as editing, proofreading and critiques. Hopefully we have covered most queries on the FAQ section of the site. Please take a look for more details. We welcome feedback on the site and are keen to link with other related writing websites.

Andrew Campbell-Kearsey and Steve Myers

[If you enter one of the competitions because you read about it in The Whistler, do mention it to Andrew and Steve and let us know as well – and, of course, how you get on – Ed.]