Budding and experienced writers should sharpen their quills and hope inspiration strikes as Wimbledon BookFest’s short story competition is now open for entries.

Up for grabs this year is a wine lovers’ escape courtesy of Winerist and vouchers, with every entry published in a collection of short stories, which is available free for entrants.

The theme is The Anniversary, whether that is real or imagined, spiritual or temporal, and stories should be no more than 250 words.

Organisers are celebrating the tenth annual BookFest this year. 

As well as an adults competition, there is a Young Writers' Competition run in conjunction with schools in Merton and Wandsworth.

March 3: Wimbledon BookFest: Young Writers' Competition launched as hundreds of books promised to Merton schools

Entries for the adults competition will be whittled down by a panel of judges including Leone Ross, head of creative writing at the University of Roehampton, and Jane Thynne, author and patron of Wimbledon BookFest.

March 24: Applause as stellar line-up announced in Houses of Parliament for this year's tenth anniversary Wimbledon BookFest

If shortlisted, authors will be invited to read their work, or nominate someone else to, at an event as part of the festival in October.

The winners will be decided by audience votes on the night.

Writers of all abilities are welcome to enter.

The deadline will be July 31, with 12 finalists being notified in early September.

Email entries to shortstory@wimbledonbookfest.org. You will receive confirmation of receipt.

Entry costs £10 which can be paid via the website www.wimbledonbookfest.org