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Our current competition: New Writers Flash Fiction Competition 2026

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Short Story Competitions

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Today

  • Globe Soup Open Short Story Competition 2025
    Featured

    Globe Soup 2025 Open Short Story Competition

    Deadline: 23:59 (UK time) on 16 December 2025

    • Entry Fee: EARLY FEE: £8 one story, £12 two stories, £15 three stories; General Fee: £16 one story, £24 two stories, £30 three stories
    • Prizes: Winner: £2,000; Second: £1,000; Third: £500; Additional £1,500 prize draw (available to all)
    • Word Limit: Up to 8,000 words (no minimum)
    • Category: Short Story Competitions
    • Competition Website:  globesoup.net/2025-open-short-story-competition
  • Letter Review

    Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction

    Deadline: 23.59 (ET) 29th December 2025

    • Entry Fee: $20; Additional entries $10
    • Prizes: Two to four winners share in the $1,000 USD total prize pool. 10-20 writers Shortlisted. All entries considered for publication, and for submission to the Pushcart.
    • Word Limit: 5,000 words
    • Category: Short Story Competitions
    • Competition Website: letterreview.com/information/
  • Henshaw Press Short Story

    Henshaw Press Short Story Competition

    Deadline: 31 December 2025

    • 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

  • Parracombe Prize

    Parracombe Prize 2026

    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

  • Novels and books

    Canterbury Tales Writing Competition 2025/26

    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

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