Most of the NZ writing competitions are over for the year now, but there's still plenty of inspiration out there for aspiring / practicing writers, if you're up for a spot of virtual globetrotting.

Nanowrimo is starting next Wednesday 1st November of course - National Novel Writing Month (as featured here last year). It's really full-on now - there's even Wrimo Radio to keep you inspired and as silly as possible. I wonder if anyone from NZ does this? I think we should.

If Nanowrimo is too whatever for you, or you're a poet, there's the important (and lucrative) UK Poetry Society National Poetry Competition 2006 - the deadline for this however, is 31 October, so possibly even more adrenaline-pumped I'm afraid, unless you happen to have something handy which you've prepared earlier. This competition is open to non-UK residents; you get five grand (that's sterling, people) if you win and you'll be published in the Independent on Sunday, Poetry Review and on the Poetry Society website in Spring 2007. Phwoar eh?

However, if you really think you need to have your creative whatsits tickled up before you go there, Victoria University's legendary MA in Creative Writing requires your applications by November 1. Dither not if you've been thinking about it. Full information can be found here. Just do it.