Blue Pencil Agency BPA Short Story Award 2026
Blue Pencil Agency
Applications for this cycle have closed
This programme usually runs again each year — keep an eye out for the next round, or explore what's live now.
Got a sharp short story? Submit up to 2,500 words to be judged by an agent and author—get professional feedback, industry exposure and a chance to launch your writing career. Enter online and be discovered.
The BPA Short Story Award is a literary competition created to discover emerging voices and showcase strong short fiction. Entrants submit an original short story of up to 2,500 words for the chance to be judged by literary professionals, including an agent and a writer.
The competition is open internationally, but the work must be written in English and submitted online.
15 Jun 2026
13 Sept 2026
Dates from the previous cycle — new dates are announced when applications reopen.
15 Jun 2026 – 13 Sept 2026
BPA Short Story Award 2026 submission window
Location
- Authors must be over 18 years old at the time of entry.
- Open to unrepresented and unpublished authors of fiction at the closing date.
- Self-published authors are accepted.
- Entrants who have had other books published, such as non-fiction, memoir or poetry, are also eligible.
- The short story must be completed at the closing date.
- Previously published or prize-winning short stories are accepted, provided no magazine, journal, or competition retains exclusive publication rights.
- Entries must be written in English.
- Entries must be submitted electronically online via the BPA website and payment made via PayPal.
- Writers must advise the organisers if they accept representation during the judging period or win any other prizes.
£22
£22 entry fee per short story. A minimum of 20 free entries is available for UK-based writers on low incomes or from under-represented backgrounds, subject to review by the BPA team and supporting evidence of financial eligibility.
Checked 1 September 2026
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