[UPDATED 2/6] It’s that time again, when writers everywhere are filled with a fresh New Yearsy resolve to polish up those unfinished short stories and put work out into the world. Besides inspiration, determination and a decent supply of snacks, you also need some idea of where to aim for when ready. And so I… Read More Short story competitions 2023
[UPDATED 13/5/22] Happy New Year, happy new writing opportunities. January seems as good a time as any to plot world domnation through words. If nothing else, it can be useful to set deadlines in order to actually finish some the many drafts languishing in your files. And some competition organisers are so forward-thinking, you could… Read More Short story competitions 2022
[UPDATED 25/8/2021] It really does feel like we’re emerging from a collective hibernation, doesn’t it? Armed with a Covid vaccination, or at least the promise of one in the near future. For many people, writing has been on the back burner – it certainly has been here at Wordherding Towers. But I have set a… Read More Short story competitions April-December 2021
[UPDATED 2/3/21] It may feel a bit soon to be looking towards next year’s UK and Ireland short story awards, but there are quite a few currently open and waiting for your wonderful words. Of course, the Covid crisis has played havoc in terms of planning 2021 arts festivals, so there aren’t as many accompanying… Read More 2021 short story competition guide
[UPDATED 9/11] I generally update my competition listings as I see new opportunities pop up, but I thought I’d do a new post because the last one was a while back. Quite a few competions have extended their deadlines or amended their prizes due to the Covid-19 crisis, so there may be a few things… Read More Short story competitions April-December
[Updated 10/4/20 – please note that some deadlines have been extended due to the Covid-19 crisis] Can you believe we’re casually referring to 2020 as something imminent and not the setting for a sci-fi series where everyone dresses in tin foil smocks? How on earth did that happen? In this bold new world, there will… Read More Your 2020 short story competition guide
[Updated regularly] It may feel as if January is in its 95th day, but you have to trust me when I say it really is coming to an end. And if you’ve been struggling to get back to disciplined writing time after the lovely laziness of Christmas, this list of upcoming short story competitions might… Read More 2019 short story competitions
[UPDATED 6/12/18] The great thing about annual short story competitions is that they seem to loop back around in no time, so if you’ve had no luck one year you can soon try your hand again. Here’s a list of some interesting ones open for entries over the coming months. As ever, it isn’t a… Read More Winter-spring short story competition round-up
[UPDATED June 28] Keeping up with short story competition deadlines is a full-time occupation, and I don’t know how many things I’ve intended to enter only to forget about them until the day of/after. So I’ve decided to compile a calendar of everything I know so far that’s coming up this year. I will endeavour… Read More The unweekly herding: a list of short story competitions 2018
Word herding 