THE WRITERS COLLEGE
Short Story Competition

COMPETITION RULES:

• We aim to support beginner writers only. We accept stories from writers who have never been published, or who have been published fewer than four times in any genre. This includes fiction and non-fiction, in any publication (for payment or otherwise). Journal articles (sciences of any kind) count as being published. Journalists, copywriters, web writers or content writers must please not enter. People who made a living from writing at any point (e.g. decades earlier) are also not eligible for entry. We make an exception for unpaid articles for community or work newsletters or blogs where the circulation is under 5000 readers.
• We accept stories in any genre (literary/horror/sci-fi/fantasy/spec fic). However, literary fiction tends to fare best with our judges. Please read past winning entries (scroll down this page) to get a sense of the kind of writing that we like.
• All submissions and enquiries can be sent to Nichola Meyer: Nichola@nzwriterscollege.co.nz
• The competition is open to anyone, from any country aged 16 and over.
• Entrants must submit a story of maximum word count: 2000 words. Any entries exceeding the word count by 50 words will not be considered.
• The 2024 theme is ‘It didn’t have to be this way’. Writers can interpret and represent the theme in any way they choose. Each story must include the phrase ‘It didn’t have to be this way’ somewhere in the story. Writers must produce their own title.
• Only one story per entrant is allowed.
• We only accept entries written in English.
• The competition closes at midnight on 30 September 2024. The longlist will be published by 31 October 2024, and the winners announced and displayed on our website on 15 November 2024.
• Prizewinners will be notified via email as well as on our website; please ensure you supply a valid email address with your entry.
• Prize money will be paid via electronic transfer or PayPal.
• Stories must not have been previously published. Entrants must own the copyright to the story submitted.
• Writers retain copyright, but give permission for their work to be published on our website and in an anthology.
• The judges’ decision is final; no disputes will be entered into.
• If your entry has not been acknowledged within three working days, please contact us as your email may have got lost in transit.
• The Writers College reserves the right to extend the competition deadline or cancel the competition should the entries not be of publishable quality or up to the required standard.
• Absolutely no generative AI to be used (ChatGPT etc.). If we deem stories were not written by a human they will be excluded, and the author banned from entering all further competitions with us.