Now that our winners have been announced and Volume 18 has launched, we would like to take the time to thank everyone who has made Bristol Short Story Prize possible this year! Purchase your copy of Volume 18 at www.tangentbooks.co.uk

The Winner of the 2026 Bristol Short Story Prize is 'Green Green Grass' by William Weightman, a story that renders, through the unlikely medium of one man's minute-by-minute diary, the tensions coiled within the routines of a long marriage.

Second Prize goes to Laura Kyle for 'Cailín Cróga', a coming-of-age story told in the voice of an Irish girl sent away from home for a summer that turns out to be far from what was advertised.

We are honoured to announce 3rd, 2nd, and 1st place winners for Bristol Short Story Prize 2026! Third Prize goes to Avantika Chilkoti for 'Demolitions', a story set in a Mumbai apartment block which unfolds the uneasy relationship between a domestic worker and the woman who employs her.

Writers Spotlight number 3: Last but not least, we have our excellent writers: @jonathanpage-bw.bsky.social, Eliza Robertson, Shabnam Shokoohi, and William Weightman. First, second and third place will be announced tomorrow at the University of Bristol Writers Day! www.tangentbooks.co.uk

Shortlisted Author spotlight number 2! We can’t wait to announce the winners and launch our anthology on the 6th June! In the meantime, check out some more of our shortlisted authors and pre-order your copy here: www.tangentbooks.co.uk/shop/p/pre-o...

Spotlight: 2026 shortlisted writers In the run up to our winners announcement on the 6th June, have a closer look at our amazing shortlisted writers for 2026! More spotlights will be coming out later this week. @hussani14.bsky.social

Illustration spotlight! 4. Felix Swift @gkweezy uses mixed media collage that made us want to pick up the book and feel the change in texture. The use of colour and shape suggests landscapes, city skylines and characters waiting to tell their stories.

Illustration spotlight! 3. Holley Ayers-Durbin @ha.illustrates has really considered what a short story is in this design. Each door can open up to a new story, while the silhouetted figures invite us to ask questions about the characters to be found within.

Illustration spotlight! 2. Holly Honeyfield @hollyhoneyfield shows incredible illustrations and composition in a cover that is as unique as each short story. We could spend hours finding new details in each character.

Illustration spotlight! 1. Zsuzsanna Vingh @bluewolfey goes back to the origins of stories with the figures around the campfire. We loved the bold figures and their rapt expressions, and the fire at the centre that seems to leap off the cover.

BSSP Anthology Vol 18 cover shortlist

We are delighted to announce the 2026 Bristol Short Story Prize shortlist! These 15 writers are in the running for this year’s top prize and their shortlisted stories will all be published in our volume 18 anthology.

We are excited to announce the BSSP 2026 longlist! As our awards are judged blind, authors’ names will be kept under wraps until judging is complete.  In the meantime, congratulations to the authors of the 2026 Bristol Short Story Prize longlist!

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