Murder Sqaud Short Story Competiton

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 Full details 

In 2025, Murder Squad celebrates its 25th Anniversary. Yes, astonishingly, it’s twenty-five years since seven unknown, mid-list crime writers joined forces to publicise our work. Four of the original founders remain, plus two (relative) newbies. The squad has garnered many accolades and awards during that time – and now boasts not one, but TWO Diamond Dagger winners!

To mark this special year, we are running a short story competition with the theme ‘Anniversary’.

    • Submissions should be crime-themed in the broadest sense.
    • The competition is open to new/emerging writers (aged over 18) who have not had a full-length novel or story collection published. For clarity, this includes self-published novels.
    • We are looking for original stories up to 1500 words in length that grip us and make us eager to find out what happens.

Deadline: This is a one-off 25th anniversary short story competition: entries will close on Saturday, 15th February 2025

Entry fee: £8 per story (up to 3 entries per writer, entered separately)

A longlist of 7, selected by the Judges, will be considered by the full squad and narrowed to 3 finalists. The 3 final shortlisted writers will receive feedback and an invitation to attend a special Murder Squad Anniversary Event on Wednesday 21st May 2025. The winner will be announced at the event, and the winner’s story will be published on Murder Squad’s website.

Prize Winners:

1st Place: £100 cash prize and winner certificate

2nd Place: £50 cash prize and 2nd place certificate

3rd Place: £25 cash prize and 3rd place certificate

Short Story Rules

Short Story Judges
Margaret Murphy, Cath Staincliffe & Chris Simms

Short Story Entry
Submit your Short Story/ies here

 

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