Write a short story for Waitrose Weekend

To mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Dickens we're running a short story competition that offers one reader the chance to see their work published in Waitrose Weekend. We're looking for modern-day morality tales inspired by the work of Charles Dickens.

The competition will be judged by literary critic Professor John Carey, Professor of English Literature at the University of Oxford, and Waitrose columnist, television and radio personality Fi Glover.

To enter, email your short story, which should be no more than 1000 words, to dickenscompetition@waitrose.co.uk. The closing date is Thursday 12 April. Terms and conditions apply.

Terms & conditions

1. The competition is open to UK residents aged 18 and over excluding all John Lewis Partnership employees, their families or any other parties involved in the competition. Entry signifies acceptance of these terms and conditions.

2. To enter the competition you must send a short story of no more than 1000 words to dickenscompetition@waitrose.co.uk The theme is 'modern-day morality tales inspired by Charles Dickens', and the story must be the entrant’s own work and be previously unpublished, joint entries are not accepted. Please include your name, contact email address and phone number with your entry. You own the copyright to your competition entry as its author. By submitting an entry to the competition you give Waitrose permission to publish your entry royalty-free on Waitrose.com and in Waitrose Weekend, republish your competition entry in electronic format and hard copy for the purposes connected with the competition and agree to participate in reasonable publicity.

3. The competition ends at midnight on 12 April 2012. Entries after that time will not be considered. No responsibility will be accepted for entries that are incomplete, invalid, illegible, lost or delayed in transit or which fail to be properly submitted. Proof of sending will not be accepted as proof of receipt. Only one entry per person, no automated, third party or bulk entries permitted.

4. Two independent judges, Professor John Carey and Fi Glover, will choose one winning entry. The Judges’ decision is final, no correspondence will be entered into. The winner will have their short story published in Waitrose Weekend during summer 2012. The winner will be notified by e-mail and/or telephone within 28 days of the closing date. Details of the winner will be published in Waitrose Weekend and may also be requested by sending a SAE to Waitrose Weekend, Waitrose Marketing, Doncastle Road, Bracknell RG12 8YA for a period of six weeks after the closing date.

5. There is no cash or any alternative prize available. The prize is redeemable only by the named winner and may not be sold on to any other party.

6. The Promoter reserves the right to alter, amend or withdraw the competition or the prize in the event of any unforeseen circumstances or technical reason outside its reasonable control. The Promoter cannot be held responsible for the failure of any third parties to fulfil their obligations associated with this competition.

7. This competition and these terms and conditions are governed by English law and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.

8. Promoter: Waitrose Limited, Bracknell, Berkshire. RG12 8YA.