The Writers' College Annual Short Story Competition
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Got a story to tell? Submit an original, unpublished short (max 2,000 words) to an international themed competition that showcases fresh voices and strong characterisation. Write to the prompt, sharpen your craft and get your work noticed by the writing community.
The Writers' College Annual Short Story Competition is an international fiction competition for emerging writers. It welcomes original short stories from beginners around the world and is designed to showcase fresh voices, strong characterisation, and inventive storytelling.
The competition is themed each year, and entrants must write to the set prompt while creating their own unique title. Entries must be original, unpublished, written in English, and no longer than 2,000 words.
Writers may enter only one story, and the competition rules exclude professional writers such as journalists, copywriters, web writers, and content writers, as well as anyone who has earned a living from writing. Generative AI is not allowed.
The competition offers cash prizes and publication in an anthology of winning stories. The top three winners also receive editorial comments from the judges. It is free to enter during the earlybird period, with a paid entry fee applying afterwards.
30 September 2026
Free entry deadline: 2026-05-31 (midnight UTC). Paid entry period applies after 31 May 2026 (£8.00 entry fee). Longlist announced 2026-10-31. Winners announced 2026-11-15. Page also says the 2026 competition will open in February (no year specified).
Dates from the previous cycle. New dates are announced when applications reopen.
2026 competition (opens in February 2026; entry window runs to 30 September 2026)
Location
- Open to beginner writers aged 16 and up from any country.
- Entrants must have never been published, or have been published fewer than four times in any genre and in any publication (paid or unpaid).
- Journalists, copywriters, web writers, and content writers are not eligible.
- Writers who have ever earned a living from writing are not eligible.
- Only one story per entrant is allowed.
- Entries must be written in English.
- Stories must be original and unpublished, including online.
- The story must be written 100% by the entrant without assistance.
- No generative AI may be used.
Free to enter during the earlybird period. After the earlybird deadline, an £8 fee applies per entry.
Checked 17 September 2026
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