Win a spot at the Iceland Writers Retreat 2020!

We have partnered with the Radisson Blu Saga Hotel to offer one person a free spot at the Iceland Writers Retreat in April-May 2020. The winner will receive admission to all events for the Iceland Writers Retreat, as well as four nights accommodation at the Radisson Blu Saga Hotel.*

The deadline to submit an entry is 23:59 (GMT) Monday, December 16, 2019. There is no fee to enter. Click here to enter.



Submit a 350 word story, essay or poem inspired by this photo, which we’ve captioned: “Iceland: ethereal, exhilarating, sublime.” Given that our competition is to attend the Iceland Writers Retreat, we recommend that you mention Iceland somewhere in your entry.

Our judging panel will select one winning entry. Judges will be looking for creativity, originality, and style.

People who have already registered to attend the Iceland Writers Retreat are also welcome to apply. If the winner has already registered, his or her payment will be refunded.
Deadline: 23:59 (GMT) Monday, December 16, 2019
Entries will be judged anonymously.
Questions? Email iwr@icelandwritersretreat.com.

Note that this prize is to attend the Iceland Writers Retreat and not the Iceland Readers Retreat.

All the fine print:
– The author of the winning entry will receive one delegate spot at the Iceland Writers Retreat 2020, as well as four nights’ accommodation (if based outside of the Reykjavík Capital Area) at the Radisson Blu Saga Hotel and all other items listed on the registration page
– *The prize does NOT include airfare to Iceland, airport transfers, or any expenses not itemized in the delegate description.
– The prize is valid for one participant on a standard single room (if based outside of the Reykjavík Capital Area) basis. If the participant wishes to purchase a room upgrade or attend with an accompanying person, the standard additional fees apply.
– The prize does not include attendance at the Relax & Write extension.
– The entry must be submitted in English and must be your own original work.
– The entry must not have been published elsewhere, either in print or online. (If your entry does not win, you are welcome to publish it elsewhere after the contest winner is announced.)
– The winner grants Radisson Blu Saga Hotel and Iceland Writers Retreat the right to publish their submission (with credit) in conjunction with the promotion.
– Submissions that do not win will not be published. (We will publish second and third place entries with permission.)
– The judging panel is made up of representatives from the Radisson Blu Saga Hotel and previous volunteers of the Iceland Writers Retreat.
– The judges’ decision is final. Unfortunately we are unable to provide feedback on submissions.
– Only one entry per person.
– You must be 18 years old or older on the day the retreat begins (April 29, 2020) to enter.
– There is no entry fee.
– Contest closes at 23:59 (GMT) on Monday, December 16, 2019. The winner will be announced on January 13, 2020.
– Second or third place entries will be selected in the event that the first place winner cannot attend.
The photo in this piece is by Roman Gerasymenko and used with permission.

About the Iceland Writers Retreat
Held for the first time in April 2014, the Iceland Writers Retreat is an event comprised of a series of small-group writing workshops and cultural tours designed to introduce participants to Iceland’s rich literary heritage. Faculty in 2020 include Maria Semple, Elnathan John, Patrick Gale and David Chariandy. The Iceland Writers Retreat was named one of the world’s best writers’ retreats by the Sydney Morning Herald, and one of the top 10 “Events to travel for in 2014” by Four Seasons Magazine.