Craft Chat Writing Short Story Thread

[Pamela Jo]

Most people on here concentrate on novels tho we do work on FF, short stories and poetry esp for competitions. So I thought a thread where people can bring competitions or what they use in writing short stories.

 

[Pamela Jo]

Here's two. What's in your toolbox?

 

[Sedayne]

Great idea for a thread!

I'd never written a short story until last year, and now I've done quite a few and had some published. I'm useless at flash, but somewhere between 2,000 and 5,000 words is about right for me.

My best resource for writing is reading, and I read a lot of short stories now. I've got anthologies by some of my favourite novelists - they don't all make good short fiction writers, but some of them do. I've got print subs to three lit mags, and I pick up others if I'm in cities with the kind of bookshops that stock them. And there are loads of online short story magazines and Substacks.

The other day I did an exercise where I looked at the openings of fourteen short stories by different writers and decided what I liked or disliked about them. I hadn't read any of the stories previously. I ranked them on things like character, event, language, imagery and interest to read on. Totally subjective of course, but it helped me see what was important to get right in my own openings. A useful exercise which I'd recommend.

 

[Pamela Jo]

Great idea for a thread!

I'd never written a short story until last year, and now I've done quite a few and had some published. I'm useless at flash, but somewhere between 2,000 and 5,000 words is about right for me.

My best resource for writing is reading, and I read a lot of short stories now. I've got anthologies by some of my favourite novelists - they don't all make good short fiction writers, but some of them do. I've got print subs to three lit mags, and I pick up others if I'm in cities with the kind of bookshops that stock them. And there are loads of online short story magazines and Substacks.

The other day I did an exercise where I looked at the openings of fourteen short stories by different writers and decided what I liked or disliked about them. I hadn't read any of the stories previously. I ranked them on things like character, event, language, imagery and interest to read on. Totally subjective of course, but it helped me see what was important to get right in my own openings. A useful exercise which I'd recommend.

I do think a collection of short stories might be something ready to trend in publishing.. Often before bed that is all I want.

Congrats on your success. I saw your special rejection letter too. When he and King say that new writers jump into novels too soon I think he has a point. Writers used to train w magazine editors on magazine stories. I have thought of selling stories on the soon to be writers page on here. 5 for 3 euro ?

 

[Sedayne]

I do think a collection of short stories might be something ready to trend in publishing.. Often before bed that is all I want.

It's certainly trending online. There's a massive thriving scene. No money to be made by anyone of course - editors barely cover their costs - but there's definitely demand.

As you say, a twenty minute satisfying read at bedtime is good for us.

Strange then, that the short story sections in bookshops are such a tiny proportion of their stock. And it's bewildering why so many agents specifically state on the submission pages that they do not want short story collections. Maybe they fear more inundation than they already have, or maybe they just don't see them selling when there's so much available for free online.

 

[Pamela Jo]

It's certainly trending online. There's a massive thriving scene. No money to be made by anyone of course - editors barely cover their costs - but there's definitely demand.

As you say, a twenty minute satisfying read at bedtime is good for us.

Strange then, that the short story sections in bookshops are such a tiny proportion of their stock. And it's bewildering why so many agents specifically state on the submission pages that they do not want short story collections. Maybe they fear more inundation than they already have, or maybe they just don't see them selling when there's so much available for free online.

Could be, but I just saw a very successful writer of short stories was picked up for his 2nd book. If you can somehow hit that zeitgeist full on.

Here's a contest that might interest you. I like the ones that admit they are fundraisers. And this is a good cause.

Henshaw Story Competitions

Henshaw's creative writing competition for short stories on any topic. A four times a year writing competition with prizes for first, second and third of £100, £50 and £25 in each competition.

www.henshawpress.co.uk

 

[Pamela Jo]

In fact the whole kit and caboodle.

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Short Story Competitions​

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• January 2026​

• SAT31
  
  
  
  

  Parracombe Prize 2026 ​

  31 January
  

  Deadline: 31 January 2026​

  • Entry Fee: £6 per entry (additional fee of £14 for a critique)
  • Prizes: First prize: £200; second prize: £150; third prize: £50
  • Word Limit: 2,000 words
  • Category: Short Story Competitions
  • Competition Website: henshawpress.co.uk
• SAT31
  
  
  
  

  Bristol Short Story Prize 2026 ​

  31 January
  

  Deadline: Midnight (UK time) on 31 January 2026​

  • Entry Fee: £14 per entry
  • Prizes: 1st prize £1,500, 2nd prize £500, 3rd prize £250; each of the 12 remaining shortlisted writers will receive £50
  • Word Limit: 4,000 words (no minimum, title not included in the word count)
  • Category: Short Story Competitions
  • Judges: Jan Carson, Kate Johnson, and Peace Adzo Medie
  • Competition Website: bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk

• February 2026​

• SUN1
  
  
  
  

  Claret Press Short Story Competition ​

  1 February
  

  Deadline: 1st February 2026​

  • Entry Fee: £5 per entry
  • Prizes: 1st Place: £50, 2nd Place: £30, 3rd Place: £20
  • Publication: Claret Press website and Sip of Claret News Newsletter
  • Theme: Today's Politics
  • Word Limit: 5,000 words
  • Category: Short Story Competitions
  • Judges: Tessa Glover, Katie Isbester and Ann Whitehead
  • Competition Website: claretpress.com/short-story-competition
• SAT28
  
  
  
  

  Canterbury Tales Writing Competition 2025/26 ​

  28 February
  

  Deadline: Midnight (UK time) on 28 February 2026​

  • Entry Fee: FREE
  • Prizes: For entrant: 1st £300, 2nd £150, 3rd £100 (Prizes for entrant's school library: 1st £1000, 2nd £500, 3rd £250)
  • Word Limit: 500 words
  • Theme/Genre: Happily ever after?
  • Eligibility: The three age groups are: Junior – 5-10 years old, Intermediate – 11-14 years old, Senior – 15-18 years old
  • Category: Story/Poetry Competitions
  • Competition Website: chaucer.org.uk/canterbury-tales-writing-competition-2025-26-happily-ever-after

• March 2026​

• SUN1
  
  
  
  

  New2theScene Winter Short Story Competition 2026 ​

  1 March
  

  Deadline: 1st March 2026 (opens 1st January 2026)​

  • Prizes: First prize: Interview for the New2theScene podcast; £50 New2theScene vouchers; ‘Spotlight author’ and winner’s blog, with the story featured on the New2theScene website (and possibly an anthology); Notable mentions: £15 New2theScene vouchers; possible publication in anthology
  • Word Limit: 4,000 words
  • Theme/Genre: Any - let your imagination free!
  • Judge: Guest author
  • Category: Short Story Competitions
  • Competition Website: new2thescene.co.uk/new2thecomp
• MON2
  
  
  
  

  Brick Lane Bookshop Short Story Prize 2026 ​

  2 March
  

  Deadline: 5 pm (UK time) on 2nd March 2026​

  • Entry Fee: £10 per entry
  • Prizes: 1st Place: £1,000; 2nd: £500; 3rd: £250
  • Word Limit: 1,000 to 5,000 words
  • Eligibility: Stories can be submitted from writers based in the UK and Ireland
  • Judges: Andrew Porter (author of The Imagined Life), Shani Akilah (author of For Such a Time as This) and Ludo Cinelli (agent at Eve White Agency)
  • Category: Short Story Competitions
  • Competition Website: bricklanebookshop.org/2026-short-story-prize
• FRI27
  
  

  Julia and Martin Wilson Short Story Prize ​

  27 March
  

  Deadline: 6 pm (UK time) on 27th March 2026​

  • Entry Fee: £12 per entry for adults; under-16s free
  • Prizes: Main prize (adults): £800; Ages 11-16yrs: £100; Age 10 and under: £100
  • Word Limit: 2,000 words
  • Category: Short Story Competitions
  • Competition Website: broadwayartsfestival.com/2026-short-story-competition-entry-form
• TUE31
  
  

  Cats Protection Cat Tales Short Story Competition ​

  31 March
  

  Deadline: 31st March 2026​

  • Entry Fee: £10
  • Prizes: An exclusive prize bundle from Cult Pens, worth up to £350 plus publication in The Cat magazine
  • Word Limit: 250 to 1,000 words
  • Judges: Gail Porter, Matt Richardson, Jane Fallon, Anne Twist
  • Category: Short Story Competitions
  • Competition Website: cats.org.uk/shortstory

• July 2026​

• FRI31
  
  

  Anthology Short Story Competition 2026 ​

  31 July
  

  Deadline: Midnight (UK time) on 31 July 2026​

  • Entry Fee: Early Bird fee – €15 (November 2025 - January 2026), Standard fee – €18 (February - July 2026)
  • Prizes: 1st Place: €1,000 plus publication in Anthology magazine and a one-year subscription; 2nd: €250; 3rd: €150
  • Word Limit: 1,500 words
  • Category: Short Story Competitions
  • Competition Website: anthology-magazine.com/awards/short-story-competition

• September 2026​

• SUN6
  
  

  New2theScene Summer Short Story Competition 2026 ​

  6 September
  

  Deadline: 6th September 2026​

  • Entry Fee: £5
  • Prizes: Interview for the New2theScene podcast; £50 New2theScene vouchers; ‘Origins’ blog’; author bio and work featured on the New2theScene website; social media promotion; publication in an anthology; possible future projects not advertised on the site. Notable mentions: £15 New2theScene vouchers; possible publication in anthology
  • Word Limit: 4,000 words
  • Theme/Genre: Any - let your imagination free!
  • Category: Short Story Competitions
  • Competition Website: new2thescene.co.uk/new2thecomp

 

[Pamela Jo]

And of course... It would be nice to have a calendar where we could deadlines for contests that we find.

Oxford Flash Fiction Prize

Greats in Flash

oxfordflashfictionprize.com

 

[Sedayne]

Could be, but I just saw a very successful writer of short stories was picked up for his 2nd book. If you can somehow hit that zeitgeist full on.

Here's a contest that might interest you. I like the ones that admit they are fundraisers. And this is a good cause.

Henshaw Story Competitions

Henshaw's creative writing competition for short stories on any topic. A four times a year writing competition with prizes for first, second and third of £100, £50 and £25 in each competition.

www.henshawpress.co.uk

I swore I'd stop wasting money on writing competitions, but this a modest fee for a good cause so maybe...
(and I recently got a longlisting for the 'last ever' paid competition I entered, so the pricey raffle ticket pays out once in a while.)

Thanks for sharing these. I agree a calendar function would be nice. Don't I remember something like that on Litopia a few years back?