Competition

Our 2025 Short Story Competition is now closed. Thank you to everyone who's entered. We've had a bumper number of stories submitted this year and we are very much enjoying reading them. You can find the shortlist and longlist below, together with the remainder of the judging and results schedule.



The full timetable for this year's competition is as follows:

  • 2nd May 2025: longlist is announced (see below)
  • 19th May 2025: shortlist is announced
  • 6th June 2025: winners are announced
Shortlist

There are 13 stories on this year's shortlist, which is the highest number to date and is, once again, a reflection on the very high standard of entries.  If your story is still in the running, many congratulations. Feel free to celebrate your success on your social media channels but please do not identify which is your story, as the judging is still in process and it is done anonymously. We will publish all the author's names once the winners have been announced.

A list of some of the times I cried on my mother's shoulder

Broken Boats

Isabel Ravenscroft

Its own reward

Je ne compte sur personne

Kalpa

Malachy Doyle

Military Man of Instagram

Our Blind Date

Salt

The Botanist's Tale

The Revenge of the Ducks of Bharatpur

Wait Until the Sea is Calm

 

Longlist

There are 31 stories on this year's longlist, a reflection on the very high standard of entries.  If your story is on the list, congratulations on getting this far. Feel free to celebrate your success on your social media channels but please do not identify which is your story, as the judging is still in process and it is done anonymously. We will publish all the author's names once the winners have been announced.

A Haunting 

A list of some of the times I cried on my mother's shoulder

Broken Boats

Club Legend

Confession

 Dry

Genesis

Isabel Ravenscroft

Its own reward

Je ne compte sur personne

Kalpa

Kettlewell or bust

Malachy Doyle

Me and Marie

Military Man of Instagram

Not a Haunting

Our Blind Date

Playing God

Playmate

Rewriting History

Salt

Skin

Slice

 Something about Monsters

Special Facility

The Botanist's Tale

The Clockmaker's Apprentice

The Revenge of the Ducks of Bharatpur

The Wayfinder's Tale

Wait Until the Sea is Calm

 Wood Pigeon's Whistle