Submissions for the 2026 prize year are now closed. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to everyone who entered this year’s competition. We are extremely grateful for the time, care, and creativity that went into each story. Keep an eye on our website and socials for announcements!

The Bristol Short Story Prize 2026 closes for submissions on 31st January at 22:59. You have 1 day, 8 hours (And counting) left to Submit your short story here: bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/entry-form/ Best of luck to all the writers who’ve entered!

The Bristol Short Story prize anthology has had some spectacular covers over the years. Here’s just a small selection! Which one is your favourite? There are 4 days left to enter your short story into the competition. Shortlisted stories will be published in our 2026 anthology!

There’s one week left to enter the Bristol Short Story Prize! The competition closes on 31st January at 11:59PM GMT Here is the link to enter: bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/entry-form/

Success stories: Stephen Narain. A huge congratulations to Stephen Narain, whose novel, The Church of Mastery, was recently awarded the 2025 Restless Books Kellman Prize! The Church of Mastery will be published in 2027. Read more about Stephen’s writer journey here: news.miami.edu/as/stories/2...

Two weeks until the BSSP 2026 closes! With two weeks left until the Bristol Short Story Prize 2026 closes for submissions, let’s look back at the first lines of some winners from previous years. Do you have a great first line?

Happy new year writers! There is still time to enter into the Bristol Short Story Competition! We have a number of free entry options available for those on low income or without paid employment. Here is the link to enter: bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/entry-form/

Agent and competition news: Redfern Jon Barrett! Congratulations @redfernjon.bsky.social on 1st runner up in the Leapfrog Prize and on your agent representation!

Writer success: Anne Wilkins! Read more about Anne’s story in this interview with Kandisha Press: kandishapress.com/2025/10/11/a...

Meet our 2026 judges: Michael Kalisch! www.bristol.ac.uk/people/perso...

Meet our 2026 Judges: Zakiya McKenzie!

Meet our 2026 judges: Claire Carroll!

Meet our 2026 Judges: Celeste Mohammed!

Meet the first of our 2026 Judges, Daisy Johnson! Read about all our judges here: bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/judges/

We’re open for submissions! Closing date 31st January. Visit our website to read our submission rules, register your entry, and check out our amazing judges: bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk/rules/

The Bristol Short Story Prize will officially re-open next week! Writers, get ready - you can submit your short stories from the 19th November. All info on our website (link in bio).

The Bristol Short Story Prize will officially re-open next week! Writers, get ready - you can submit your short stories from the 19th November. All info on our website (link in bio).

We've been sitting on a very special announcement, and we can't wait to share it with you. Writers - get ready, and stay tuned for updates!

Are you working on the next big story? Don't miss out on The Novelry's latest competition. Submit 3 pages of your manuscript for the chance to win £75,000. Details here: bit.ly/3IikrqN #writingcomps #novels #iamwriting

Congratulations to this year's winners and to all the writers featured in the Volume 17 anthology. Read all their stories: bit.ly/4l0zhk8 @zoemeager.bsky.social @morrislau78.bsky.social #writing #shortstories #writingcompetitions

Local to Bristol? Don't miss the 2025 Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology Launch and Winners' Reception tomorrow, June 28th, at Waterstones, Bristol - Galleries. Get your free ticket here: bit.ly/3TIoQFU #writingprize #shortstoryprize

Hurt from tragedy and haunted by bullies, ‘Washing Instructions for Delicate Fabric’ follows a young girl as she tries to fit into a life that wasn't made for her. 📚 @annewilkins.bsky.social's story features in our upcoming anthology. Learn more and meet all our shortlisted writers: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

It wasn’t part of the plan. In fact, you didn’t even think it was possible… not at your age. But it happened and now an impossible decision sits before you. 📚 Catch Debra's affecting story in our 2025 anthology & meet all our shortlisted writers: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

They’re back! They might not look the same, but that doesn’t matter. All that matters is the chance for more time. A compelling story about loss, reincarnation and letting go. 📚 Read Becky’s story in our anthology and meet all our shortlisted writers: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

In the aftermath of a devastating fire, rescue crews search for survivors, while a young girl searches for hope in the darkness. 📚 Jillian’s story joins our next anthology. Learn more and meet all our shortlisted authors: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

It’s the morning of the Olympic 100m sprint, a historic day in the making, and yet life goes on. ‘1992’ immerses us in the daily lives of a family just doing their best. 📚 Look for S-L’s story in our upcoming anthology and meet all our shortlisted writers: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

Fran seems destined to a life running the family business – Dikes’ Gas & Goods – until a late-night customer makes her question everything. 📚 Louis’s mysterious story features in our upcoming anthology. Learn more and meet all our shortlisted authors: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

‘How to Lose a Sister’ is a deeply emotional story about grief, learning to live with it and learning that life can still be beautiful. 📚 Read Issie’s story in our new anthology. Find out more and meet all our shortlisted writers: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

Stuck. Trapped. Flattened. ‘The Weight of a Man’ is an exploration of family, love and the search to escape pressures outside our control. 📚 Read @morrislau78.bsky.social's story in our upcoming anthology. Learn more and meet all our shortlisted authors: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

What if you had to let go of the things you love, one at a time, until you had nothing left? Could you do it? What if you didn’t have a choice? 📚 @zoemeager.bsky.social's story joins our next anthology. Learn more and meet all our shortlisted authors: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

In this multi-POV story, we follow a mother and her daughter as they are forced to confront what it means to belong. 📚 @kerrymead.bsky.social‬’s heart-breaking story will feature in our new anthology. Learn more and meet all our shortlisted writers: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

Accidentally sharing a bed with a friend is one thing, but doing it with a coworker you hardly know... that's a disaster waiting to happen. Or is it? 📚 Check out @phoebhamiltonjones.bsky.social's laugh out loud story in our upcoming anthology and meet all 15 shortlisted writers: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

‘Eggshell White’ brings us face to face with the oppressive darkness that lives beneath the walls, beneath the skin, beneath society’s façade. 📚 Catch @demimondaine.bsky.social's work in our upcoming anthology and meet all our shortlisted writers: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

‘Memory Box’ paints a heart-wrenching portrait of life after earth and explores the beauty and sadness that comes with clinging to memories of things long lost. 📚 JR’s story features in our upcoming anthology. Learn more & meet all the shortlisted authors: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

This compelling and visceral vignette gives us a glimpse into the life of a teenager trying to live and love as the world crumbles around them. 📚 Emma’s story will appear in our upcoming anthology along with the other shortlisted writers. Learn more: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

‘Borderline’ takes us on a journey of self-exploration. In a divided Berlin, the main character must face the dangers of embracing all aspects of their identity or forever feel incomplete. 📚 Catch @redfernjon.bsky.social's story in our anthology and meet all our shortlisted writers: bit.ly/4dZRhIB

Check out the Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology Volume 17 cover design and learn more about the artist at bit.ly/4kNjC78

The 2025 Bristol Short Story Prize shortlist is now live: bit.ly/4k7rSio A huge thank you to our incredible judging panel: @jancarsonwrites.bsky.social, Kate Johnson and @peacemedie.bsky.social for their time, commitment and enthusiasm. Congratulations to this year’s shortlisted authors!

Attention all: Only one more day until we announce this year's shortlist!

Congratulations to Jane Healey on her new novel, Crescendo, which was pre-empted by Harvill Secker and will reach bookshelves in spring 2026! We are elated for Jane, whose story 'Pool Boy' was shortlisted for the 2013 Bristol Short Story Prize.

Thank you to everyone who has signed the petition which now stands at 40,000+! You can #DoTheWriteThing & stop #MetaBookThieves by adding your signature here ✒️ authr.uk/sp40

You can make a change 📢 Protect authors’ livelihoods from the unlicensed use of their work in AI training by signing this open letter ✒️ authr.uk/sp40 #MakeitFair #MetaBookThieves #DoTheWriteThing

Congratulations to the authors of the 2025 Bristol Short Story Prize longlist! Now live on our website: bit.ly/4bNzJi5

Update on Longlist After thorough consideration we have decided to push the longlist announcement back one week. We apologise for any frustration or disappointment this causes. Please visit our website for more details: bit.ly/4iHKKn8

Happy publication day to Kasia Jaronczyk, whose new novel, Voices in the Air, was published by Palimpsest Press last week! We are over the moon for Kasia, whose short story, Lemons, was shortlisted for the 2016 Bristol Short Story Prize.

Congratulations to Maureen Cullen on her debut novel 'Kitten Heels', published by Ringwood Publishing in Oct '24, and on her short story collection, 'Havoc Shore', coming out this June. We are elated for Maureen, whose story, Havoc Shore, was shortlisted for the 2018 Bristol Short Story Prize.

A big thank you to everyone who submitted to the 2025 Bristol Short Story Prize! We were thrilled to receive entries from over 40 countries! The longlist will be announced on our website bit.ly/40MOdcW & socials by 15 March. Stay tuned and keep up the writing!

OMG there are 19 minutes left to purchase an entry to the prize, then you have till Friday 5 p.m. to upload your work! GET IN: bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk

T-minus 1 hour! If you want your story to be considered for the 2025 Bristol Short Story Prize, make sure you submit before 11:59 pm BST! Shortlisted entries get prize money and publication! Submit your short stories now: buff.ly/4gqxWA6 📣 Spread the word

You've got less than an hour to get your story in for the Bristol Short Story Prize--go, go, go! bssp.blogs.bristol.ac.uk