Calling all writers – Submissions open for short story competitions

Submissions are now open for the Frome Festival Short Story Competition and a short story competition for young writers.

Organiser Brenda Bannister said, “The Frome Festival Short Story Competition began in 2004 and is now in its 20th year. The 2023 competition is underway and accepting stories of 1,000 to 2,200 words on any theme. Entry costs £8 and there are first, second and third prizes of £400, £200 and £100 respectively, plus a local prize for the best entry from a writer living within 25 miles of Frome.

“Every year, the competition invites a successful writer to judge the competition short list, and this year’s judge is Frome-based best-selling novelist, Libby Page. The closing date is 31st May so there is plenty of time to enter. Libby will announce the results and award the prizes during the Frome Festival in July.”

Entry is by post or online. Full details of how to submit a story can be found at www.fromeshortstorycompetition.co.uk .

Brenda added, “To complement the annual Frome Festival Short Story Competition, a new competition for young writers was set up in 2021 by Frome Writers’ Collective and Frome Festival, thanks to the sponsorship of two authors with Frome connections, Kerry Wilkinson and Keith Stuart.

“This year’s theme is ‘different’. Entries are free. They should be submitted in English, be no more than 2,000 words in length and are welcome from any young writer aged 13 to 21 years old by 31st May living in, or attending school or college in the BA11 postcode or nearby.

“Entries will be judged in two categories: those by writers aged 12 to 15 years old on 31st May, and by those aged 16 to 21 years old on the same date. The first prize for the winning story in both age groups is £50, with runner-up prizes of a £15 book voucher from Winstone’s Hunting Raven Bookshop.

“Entries should be emailed to, fromewriterscollective@gmail.com by 31st May and can be sent as a Word attachment or in the body of the email. Please include your name, school or college (if in full-time education), contact details and date of birth.”