After a year's break, our writing competitions are back! And we had some fantastic entries for our first flash competition, making it - as ever - very difficult to decide. But our judges have finally managed to do so, and we're delighted to announce the winners and shortlist today. So – congratulations to the following … Continue reading November 2023 – Flash shortlist and winners
THE DAY A STRANGER FOLLOWED ME HOME by Angela Fitzpatrick (1st place, Flash, Nov23)
I was on my way home from school and it spooked me when he ducked behind a hedge as I turned to cross the road. Then, when I stopped to read the text from Mum - Can you get milk, please? - he walked past and turned into Parsley Close, so I relaxed and shook … Continue reading THE DAY A STRANGER FOLLOWED ME HOME by Angela Fitzpatrick (1st place, Flash, Nov23)
THE ONE THING THEY COULD ALL AGREE ON WAS THE HAT by Mandy Wheeler (2nd place, Flash, Nov23)
The Hat Woman (as she became known) chose the counter in the far corner of the bank where the squinting CCTV could only produce a distorted picture of the tall, or possibly average height, figure in an orange coat that might have been yellow or maybe a greenish brown with gold buttons. As she pulled … Continue reading THE ONE THING THEY COULD ALL AGREE ON WAS THE HAT by Mandy Wheeler (2nd place, Flash, Nov23)
November 2023 – Flash Long List
After a year-long wait, our Flash Fiction competition has finally returned! And we've had a bumper crop of entries this quarter, which have delighted, amused and thoroughly entertained our judges. So you'll be pleased to know we'll be continuing our competitions for the forseeable future!... BUT - if you're entering, PLEASE read the rules of … Continue reading November 2023 – Flash Long List
FUEL anthology donates another £750 to charity
Just over a year ago we reported on our collaboration with Manchester-based writer and editor of the Shortstops UK website and twitter, Tania Hershman, on her anthology of short stories entitled FUEL, in aid of fuel poverty organisations. It was published in February, and by May this year Tania had made the first donation from … Continue reading FUEL anthology donates another £750 to charity
Flash Fiction – Finding The Rhythm
Have you heard? Our competitions are now open again! If you're thinking of entering our flash fiction competiton - the deadline for which is the end of this month - then this guest blog, which was written for us by Jo Gatford from Writers HQ and published on our website last year, may be just … Continue reading Flash Fiction – Finding The Rhythm
Our competitions are OPEN!
Yes, it's true. After a break of almost a year, and after a number of requests and enquiries, WE HAVE ONCE AGAIN OPENED UP our Short Story and Flash Fiction Competitions. We've missed reading and publishing your stories, so after a bit of a break (during which time our EIC Paul got married to his … Continue reading Our competitions are OPEN!
November 2022 – Flash shortlist and winners
Our last writing competition for 2022 draws to a close today, as we announce the November flash fiction shortlist and three winning entries. We've taken great pleasure in running all our competitions over the past four years - and we may well bring them back at a future date. But for now, it's time to … Continue reading November 2022 – Flash shortlist and winners
Cranked Anvil 