Not got much time for writing? Fancy trying something short and sharp? Have a look at these competitions for 500
word stories. But beware, just because they’re short it doesn’t mean they’re easy. It’s very difficult to get a beginning, middle and end, plus a bit of character development into 500 words.
- The Flash 500 Competition is a quarterly competition with an open theme, the next closing date is the 31st March and there is the option of receiving a critique on your story. Entry fee is £5 and there is a £250 first prize plus publication in Words with Jam
- Emerald Writing Workshops also run a quarterly competition with the next closing date being 28th February. The theme varies and the for the current competition the story must be set in an airport. Previous winning entries plus the judge’s comments are available on the website. Entry fee is 5 second class stamps for a total prize fund of £75.
- Spilling Ink Review have a flash fiction competition for stories up to 500 words in length. The closing date is 1st April 2011 and it is an open theme. Prizes are £250, £125 and £50 plus a free copy of their annual print anthology. Entry fee is £5
But if they all sound like too much hard work then take the easy option and enter my free prize draw instead.
Good Luck!
Sally Jenkins 
#1 by Celia K Andrew on January 31, 2011 - 7:55 pm
Hi Sally,
Found you on TB and shall be a’followin’ you, blogistics being my latest craze and there being a distinct lack of womagstories in my brain at present. I am not quite sure why I started blogging but it’s sort of like chatting away to a friend I’ve not seen for years, not a sensible one like yours …
Am going to have a go at some of the competitions – and I note at least one of them wants to know where we heard about the comp, so that’ll be a little plug for you as well!
TTFN
#2 by Sally Jenkins on January 31, 2011 - 8:25 pm
Celia – thanks for taking the time to comment so kindly! Good Luck with the comps and I shall come over and have a look at your blog now.