SWC Annual Open Short Story Competition 2024
First Prize £200 Second prize: £100 Third prize: £50
Closing date: 31st October 2024
£3 per story, or £10 for 4
WE ENCOURAGE ONLINE ENTRY, AVAILABLE HERE
Chief Judge: Jessica Meade
Full Rules: Please Read Carefully
- Your entry should be an unpublished, original story on any theme of up to 2000 words. A story counts as having been previously published if it has been on an internet site or in an independent publication, as well as other traditional forms of publishing.
- Do not put your name or any other identifying information on your story (including in headers/footers).
- It must have a suitable title, which should be both appropriate and interesting.
- There is no set theme or style for the competition.
- Entries in English, please (dialect is allowed).
- You DO NOT need an entry form. Send us a separate cover sheet with each story’s title and word count. Include your name, postal address, telephone number and e-mail address.
- No individual correspondence will be entered into regarding receipt of works/payments. Please do not send any material to confirm delivery, or use Recorded Delivery. Please ensure you attach correct postage and use correct stamps (see Royal Mail information https://www.royalmail.com/sending/barcoded-stamps. Southport Writers’ Circle will not retrieve mail held at the Sorting Office for want of correct postage.
- For internet entries: Put the above cover sheet details in the body of the email. Include PayPal ref. number OR put the names of all entered stories in the Comments box on PayPal when paying.
- Please use basic formatting in your files. Any sidebars, headers, footers, inset images, illegible fonts or unusual layouts may result in your electronic entry being rejected.
- Submissions should be in any of .doc, .docx, rich text or .odf file types ONLY when attaching your entry file(s) to the email. Please do not use .pages or .pdf files unless you have no other alternative.
- Once your entry has been submitted, any entrant contacting the judges for any reason that is deemed to be an attempt to circumvent the judging process is likely to be disqualified.
- Winners will be informed in Dec 2024/ Jan 2025, results will be published on this site thereafter. There may be a delay publishing results and/or winning stories depending on circumstances and permissions. We will have an Awards Evening in the new year where winning entries may be read out, and successful writers will be invited to join.
- Winning stories may be published on this site for 12 months with permission of original author(s).
- The organiser’s decision is final.
- Optional – Paper saving single-spaced entries encouraged.
- The fee is £3 for each story, or £10 for 4
- (electronic entries have an additional processing fee due to PayPal fees).
- Postal entries must be accompanied by cheque or postal order for the correct amount, made out to Southport Writers’ Circle.
Send postal entries to:
SWC Short Story Competition
5 Carrwood Park
Southport,
Merseyside,
PR8 5FA
WE ENCOURAGE ONLINE ENTRY, AVAILABLE HERE
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