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Sat 19 Aug 2023 - Sat 30 Sep 2023

If you write short stories then you are a writer. Competitions are a great way to move from being a writer to being a published writer. I read once that there are more than 3,000 writing competitions offered across the world every year. This is just a small selection of those available with deadlines in September 2023. Enter something you’ve already written or pen something new. Remember though, not winning might not mean your work isn’t good; some of these competitions attract more than a thousand entries, but if you would want to analyse what you might do better, take a look at the article ‘Why Didn’t My Story Win?’


Before you send off you story, I recommend you go through this checklist. I cannot understate the importance of these key considerations and so I will always include them as a precursor to the competition list.
a) The following listings are summaries only and it is imperative that you always check the rules and terms and conditions on the competition website to ensure both you and your story are eligible to enter. For example, most competitions exclude previously published or awarded stories and some have regional or age limits.
b) Make sure you follow all the entry instructions including those for formatting.
c) Proof read and edit your story before entering it. Make sure you check spelling and grammar.
d) Reading your work aloud is a helpful editing tool. Perhaps even have a friend or family member read it through; a second pair of eyes often sees what the first misses. Modern versions of Microsoft Word have a read aloud function.


e) Some competitions publish non-winning entries on their websites or in anthologies without remuneration. You may be quite happy to just have your story out there, there is nothing wrong with that, but be aware that story is then ‘published’ which precludes entry into most other competitions.
f) Read previous winning entries if they are available. They will give some insight into what is sought, although many competitions have different judges with each passing year and each will have their own likes and dislikes.
g) Prices are correct at the time of writing but may change throughout the year. Ensure you check the websites.
h) If you want to brush up on your writing skills you find there are a plethora of free courses on almost any writing topic. You can check these out in the article 73 Free Writing Courses You Can Do at Home.
All that remains to be said is have a go and good luck.


1. Manchester Writing Competition 2023
Full Details: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/writingcompetition/fiction-prize
Country of Origin: UK
Open to: Anyone over 16 years old and writing in English
Theme: Open
Word Count: Up to 2,500 words (no minimum)
Open for submissions: Currently Open
Submission Deadline: 1st September 2023
Expected Results Date: 31st December 2023
Prizes: £10,000
Publication: Selected entries may be printed in publications and journals hosted by Manchester Met and may appear in electronic format on the Manchester Met website, or in other electronic forms.
Entry Fees: £18 (reduced price entry available)
Critique Offered: No

2. Writers Advice Flash Contest
Full Details: https://writeradvice.com/latest-contest-information/
Country of Origin: USA
Open to:
Theme: Open
Word Count: 750 words or less
Open for submissions: 16th June 2023
Submission Deadline: 2nd September 2023
Expected Results Date: Not noted check website Contest Winners tab
Prizes: 1st USD$150, 2nd USD$75, 3rd USD $40
Publication: Website
Entry Fees: USD $5
Critique Offered: USD $10

3. Mslexia Womens Short Story Competition 2023
Full Details: https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/short-story/
Country of Origin: UK
Open to: People who self-identify as a woman
Theme: Open
Word Count: Up to 3,000 words
Open for submissions: Currently open
Submission Deadline: 18th September 2023
Expected Results Date: Unknown
Prizes: 1st £3,000 and three finalists will receive £100 each.
Publication: The winner and finalists will be published in Issue 100 of Mslexia, with eight additional finalists, along with the four winners, appearing in our ebook anthology Best Women's Fiction 2023
Entry Fees: £12.
Critique Offered: No


4. Mslexia Womens Flash Fiction Competition 2023
Full Details: https://mslexia.co.uk/competitions/short-story/
Country of Origin: UK
Open to: People who self-identify as a woman
Theme: Open
Word Count: Up to 500 words
Open for submissions: Currently open
Submission Deadline: 18th September 2023
Expected Results Date: Unknown
Prizes: 1st £500 and three finalists will receive £50 each.
Publication: The winner and finalists will be published in Issue 100 of Mslexia, with eight additional finalists, along with the four winners, appearing in our ebook anthology Best Women's Fiction 2023
Entry Fees: £6
Critique Offered: No

5. Shooter Literary Magazine 2023 Shooter Short Story Competition
Full Details: https://shooterlitmag.com/competition/
Country of Origin: UK
Open to: Anyone writing in English
Theme: Open
Word Count: to 5,000 words (no minimum)
Open for submissions: Currently Open
Submission Deadline: 24th September 2023
Expected Results Date:
Prizes: 1st £400, 2nd £100
Publication: Online magazine
Entry Fees: £7 (or £10 for two stories)
Critique Offered: No

6. Crowvus Christmas Ghost Story Competition
Full Details: https://www.crowvus.com/competition
Country of Origin: USA
Open to: Adults writing in English
Theme: Christmas Ghost Story
Word Count: to 4,000 words (no lower limit)
Open for submissions: Currently Open
Submission Deadline: 30th September 2023
Expected Results Date: 31st October 2023
Prizes: 1st £100, 2nd £75, 3rd £50
Publication: Anthology
Entry Fees: £3 per story or 2 stories are £5
Critique Offered: No


7. Flash500
Full Details: https://flash500.com/
Country of Origin: UK
Open to: International Entries
Theme: Open
Word Count: to 500 words
Open for submissions: 1st August 2023
Submission Deadline: 30th September 2023
Expected Results Date: 6 weeks – Mid November 2023
Prizes: 1st £300, 2nd £200, 3rd £100
Publication: On their website
Entry Fees: £5 for (1), £8 for (2), £11 for (3), £14 for (4)
Critique Offered: £15

8. The Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize 2023/24
Full Details: https://www.galleybeggar.co.uk/prize
Country of Origin: UK
Open to: Anyone in the world writing in English
Theme: Open
Word Count: Up to 6,000 words
Open for submissions: Currently open
Submission Deadline: 30th September 2023
Expected Results Date: Longlist 26th Jan 2024, Shortlist 16th Feb 2024, Winner 8th Mar 2024
Prizes: 1st £2,500, 2nd £200 and for longlisted entrants a £50 book voucher
Publication: Website for a minimum of 6 months
Entry Fees: £10
Critique Offered: No

9. The Henshaw Short Story Competition
Full Details: https://www.henshawpress.co.uk/
Country of Origin: UK
Open to: International entries
Theme: Open
Word Count: to 2,000 words
Open for submissions: Currently open
Submission Deadline: 30th September 2023
Expected Results Date: Possibly 31st October 2023
Prizes: 1st £200, 2nd £100, 3rd £50
Publication: Website and maybe an anthology
Entry Fees: £6
Critique Offered: £14


10. Shooter Flash Monthly Rolling Flash Fiction Competition
Full Details: https://shooterlitmag.com/shooter-flash/
Country of Origin: UK
Open to: People writing in English
Theme: Open
Word Count: to 1,000
Open for entries: 1st September 2023
Submission Deadline: 30th September 2023
Expected Results Date: 31st October 2023
Prizes: £50 and publication
Publication: Website
Entry Fees: £3.50
Critique Offered: No

11. Short Story Substack - Palisatrium
Full Details: https://shortstory.substack.com/
Country of Origin: USA
Open to: Anybody writing in English
Theme: Open
Word Count: 6 words to 10,000 words
Open for entries: Ongoing
Submission Deadline: 30th September 2023
Expected Results Date: Mid October 2023
Prizes: USD $100 plus 50% subscriptions
Publication: On the website
Entry Fees: No entry fee
Critique Offered: No

12. Write Time Over 60's Short Story Award
Full Details: https://writetime.org/competition-rules/
Country of Origin: UK
Open to: People over 60 years old internationally
Theme: Open
Word Count: to 1,500 words
Open for submissions: 1st July 2023
Submission Deadline: 30th September 2023
Expected Results Date: Mid-November 2023
Prizes: 1st £50, 2nd £25, 3rd £25
Publication: On the website and perhaps in an anthology
Entry Fees: £3 for (1), £5 for (2)
Critique Offered: No

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!date 19/08/2023 -- 30/09/2023