Prizes | Deadlines | Entry fees | How to enter | T&Cs | Previous winners
Everyone has a story to tell. What’s yours? Authors are invited to share a unique life experience. Whether your memoir recounts a transformative journey, a poignant moment, or a life-altering event, we welcome your story.
The Anthology Personal Memoir Competition is open to original and previously unpublished memoirs in the English language by writers of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. In the spirit of authenticity, there are no constraints on themes or writing styles. Memoirs submitted must not exceed a maximum of 1,500 words. Writers can submit as many entries as they wish. Each submission will require a separate entry form and is subject to a separate entry fee.
It is not a requirement, but is advisable to refer to Anthology magazine or purchase a copy before submitting your work, so that you can see the type of material we publish. Subscriptions and single copies are available to purchase through our online shop.
Anthology is now available in digital format
Purchase Volume 25 Digital here to read the winning story from the Anthology Personal Memoir Competition 2025.
Purchase Volume 23 Digital here to read the winning story from the Anthology Personal Memoir Competition 2024.
Prizes
The winner will receive €500 and the chance to see their work published in a future issue of Anthology.
Anthology has partnered with Reedsy Learning to provide the following prizes:
- Winner: one-year Reedsy Learning membership (including all masterclasses and conferences)
- Shortlist: one live craft masterclass of choice
- All entrants: exclusive 10% membership discount
Submission deadlines and entry fees
Late Entry Fee €20 – Deadline extended until 15 Sept 2026
Contact admin@anthology-magazine.com for information on group entry fees.
How to enter
Click the button below to access the entry form. Fill in your details, upload your entry and complete the payment before clicking ‘submit’. Please refer to the Terms and Conditions below for competition rules.
If you experience any difficulties submitting your entry, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us: admin@anthology-magazine.com. We’re here to assist you.
Terms and conditions
- To enter, submit an original, non-fictional, unpublished personal memoir, written in English with a maximum of 1,500 words. Adapted, revised or otherwise reworked versions of previously published material are not eligible for entry.
- There is no limit to the number of entries you can submit. Each submission will require a separate entry form and will be subject to a separate entry fee.
- There is no age limit.
- In order to minimise administrative costs and maintain affordable fees, please note that entry fees are non-refundable.
- Submissions will be judged on their emotional impact, creativity, and the ability to captivate the reader.
- Once selected, the winner will be contacted by email or telephone.
- Copyright remains with the author but Anthology reserves the right to be the first to publish or arrange a broadcast of selected works.
- The winner and finalists grant Anthology the right to use their articles in electronic form or in print for the specific purpose of promoting Anthology and its Awards without restriction in any media.
- Submission of a written piece implies the author’s acceptance of the rules and conditions.
- Prize money will be paid on publication of the winning article in Anthology magazine.
- The use of Generative AI is not permitted for entries to the competition.
Formatting Guidelines (To avoid disqualification, these guidelines must be adhered to)
- File type: PDF or Microsoft Word (.doc/.docx).
- Font: Arial or Times New Roman, 12pt, 1.5 or double-spaced.
- No cover/title pages: Do not add cover/title pages to the document.
- Title: The title of the story is to be placed at the top of the first page.
- Word Count: Include word count on the top right of the first page.
- Anonymity: Do not include your name in the document, file name, or body of the story.
Previous Personal Memoir Competition winners
- 2024 Winner: ‘The Scale of Dreams’ by Alessandro Devillart
- 2025 Winner: ‘The Vanishing Years’ by Cecilia Maddison
The Anthology Personal Memoir Competition is listed with:
Duotrope | Study, Work, Grow | CAP Arts Centre | Fine Art New Zealand | Film Freeway | Arizona Arts Commission | Florida Department of State | Regional Arts & Culture Council | North Carolina Arts Council | NAWE | New Writers | Writers College | Australian Writers’ Resource | Sisters in Crime Australia | CreativeWriting.ie | Christopher Fielden | Almond Press | UK Writers College | SA Writers College | Reedsy | New Pages |