Competitions

Enter essays, poems and short stories. Readers upvote to pick the favourites — we feature the winners.

Featured winners

Winner #1 Autumn Short Story Prize 2025

The Return Ticket

by Fatima Al-Rashid · 5 votes

Winner #2 Autumn Short Story Prize 2025

Late Shift Librarian

by Tom Hughes · 4 votes

Winner #3 Autumn Short Story Prize 2025

Ink Stain

by Amara Okonkwo · 3 votes

Open now

Summer Essay Prize 2026

Essay

Non-fiction essays up to 2,000 words on any theme connected to books, reading or writing. Opens next month — bookmark this page and come back to enter.

29 Sep 2026 – 1 Nov 2026 · 0 entries

Open

Past competitions

Spring Poetry Challenge 2026

Poem

Write a poem inspired by reading — a line that stayed with you, a character you couldn't forget, or the quiet joy of turning a page. One entry per person. Readers upvote their favourites until the closing date.

12 Sep 2026 – 5 Oct 2026 · 5 entries

Ended

Autumn Short Story Prize 2025

Short story

Our autumn short-fiction contest — complete stories in 1,500 words or fewer. Voting has closed; featured winners are shown below.

17 May 2026 – 17 Jul 2026 · 3 entries

Ended