The Writers’College: Short Story Competition
Calling all emerging writers from around the world. Think you’ve got a story worth telling?
The Writers’ College Short Story Competition is your chance to prove it! They’re on the hunt for fresh, original voices in fiction. Open to unpublished writers or those with fewer than four publications, from any country. Win cash prizes, industry recognition, and a chance to impress our expert judges.
What to Submit
- Story length: Maximum 2000 words.
- Word count limit: If your story exceeds the word count by more than 50 words, it will not be considered.
- Theme for 2026: The End of the Line.
- Writers are free to interpret the theme in any way they choose. The exact phrase “The end of the line” must appear somewhere in the story. Writers must create their own title.
Genres accepted: All genres are welcome (literary, horror, sci-fi, fantasy, speculative fiction). However, literary fiction tends to perform best with our judges.
Entry Requirements:
- Only one story per entrant.
- Entries must be written in English.
- Stories must be original and unpublished (including online).
- Entrants must have written the story 100% themselves.
Prizes:
- First Place: NZ$ 1 000 and publication in an anthology of winning stories
- Second Place: NZ$ 500 and publication in an anthology of winning stories
- Third Place: NZ$ 250 and publication in an anthology of winning stories
* The top three winners receive editorial comments on their submitted works.
This competition is designed to support beginner writers aged 16 and up from any country. They accept entries from writers who have never been published or who have been published fewer than four times in any genre, in any publication. Journalists, copywriters, web writers, or content writers are not eligible. As well as writers who have ever earned a living from writing, even if it was decades ago.
There are expectations to unpaid articles for community or workplace newsletters or blogs with a circulation of under 5000. This does not count as published work.
Important Dates:
- Closing date for free earlybird entry: 31 May 2026
- Final closing date: 30 September 2026 (After 31 May, an £ 8 entry fee applies.)
- Longlist announced: 31 October 2026
- Winners Announced: 15 November 2026