Welcome to Inkspot Publishing’s Inaugural Short Story Competition
Full details
iving entries from writers from far and wide.
Submission form will populate AFTER payment is received
Details
- Judge: Kate Nash, Literary Agent
- Sponsor: World Privilege Plus
- Entry fee: £10 for stories up to 2,500 words. £15 for stories up to 5,000 words
- Word Limit: 2,500 (£10), 5,000 (£15)
- Deadline (Closing Date): 12 Midnight GMT, Sunday 30th November 2025
- The shortlist will be announced on Friday 27th March 2026
- Winners will be announced on Friday 10th April 2026.
Writers on low incomes are encouraged to email hello@inkspotpublishing.com and will be able to enter their stories for free. Proof of status may be required.
About the Sponsor - World Privilege Plus
This year’s short story competition is proudly sponsored by World Privilege Plus, a global leader in customer and employee engagement through tailored rewards and exclusive discounts. With access to over 300,000 offers across 185 countries—from travel and lifestyle to retail and entertainment—World Privilege Plus helps businesses build loyalty and inspire their communities through unforgettable perks and experiences. We’re delighted to partner with them in celebrating creativity and rewarding great storytelling.
About the Judge - Kate Nash
As a former author, publisher, publicist and marketer, Kate has seen every side of publishing and set up her own literary agency, Kate Nash Literary Agency, so she could do “the best job in publishing”. Kate’s reading tastes – from crime fiction to rom coms – are highly commercial.
Kate has a degree in History (BA Hons.) from the University of York and later garnered two undergraduate modules in Creative Writing and Literature from the Open University (both with Distinction!). She also holds a postgraduate certificate from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM).
Kate Nash is listed in the Top 20 in UK Fiction by Publishers Marketplace, based on number of deals made. Kate was named a Bookseller Rising Star in 2018 and was awarded Agent of the Year by the Romantic Novelists’ Association in 2019. She was also shortlisted for both Literary Agent of the Year by the British Book Awards and Literary Agent of the Year by the Romantic Novelists’ Association in 2022. Kate enjoys travel, wine, the theatre and fine art.
Prizes
First Prize: £1000
Second Prize: £250
Third Prize: £100
The authors of the Top 12 stories will have an opportunity to feature on FictionJunkies.com, a website which publishes short stories of all genres online. The Top 3 stories will be published on Inkspot Publishing’s website.
Who Can Submit?
We promote and encourage quality writing from amateurs and professionals alike, so the competition is open to anyone, as long as the work submitted is the author’s own original work and is written in English. There is no lower age limit, but young authors should note that we are not seeking to attract writing for children.
Submission Requirements
Applicants are encouraged to make their submission as early as possible before the deadline. Entries may be submitted online or via the post.
First, read the Competition Rules thoroughly. Submission of an entry is taken as acceptance of the Competition Rules and the Terms and Conditions.
Formatting guidelines:
- Your submission must be written in English or be your own work translated into English
- Add the title and word count on the front page. A cover page is only required for submissions by post.
- Your submission can be in any font, black 12pt preferred. Handwritten entries will not be accepted.
- 1.5 or double spaced.
- Please number your pages.
- Please attach your document as word docs or PDFs. Maximum file size 2MB.
- Please name attachments with your exact story title. If untitled, with the exact first line.
- Please ensure your submission does not include your name or any other identifying marks.
Submission form will populate AFTER payment is received
IMPORTANT: NO IDENTIFYING INFORMATION
Your details should be included on a cover letter only (for mail-in submissions), and not on your submission. Your submission should feature:
- The title of the story
- Word count
- The story
The story itself should have no other identifying marks, such as author’s name, contact information, etc in the document or its name. Failure to delete identifying marks will result in disqualification.
Multiple entries are acceptable and may be posted together, but remember to adjust payment accordingly. Each entry should be on a new sheet.
If you require acknowledgement of receipt, please enclose a self-addressed postcard with ‘Acknowledgement’ written on it.
Submit Online
- Here you can enter your submissions online using either PayPal or with a debit or credit card.
- Please ensure your attachments do not include your name or any other identifying marks.
- Multiple entries are accepted, but please amend your payment accordingly, i.e. £10 for stories up to 2,500 words, or £15 for stories up to 5,000 words.
- Once payment has been received you will receive email acknowledgements from both PayPal and Inkspot.
Submission form will populate AFTER payment is received
Submit by Post
Submissions by post should be sent to:
IPSSC
Cleevestones
Main Street
Chipping Norton
OX7 5PH
and should include the following:
- A cover letter including your name, address and telephone number, plus email address (if you have one) and the title of your story(ies).
- Your submission, featuring only the title of the story and the wordcount on the front page with no other identifying marks whatsoever.
- Please pay by BACS: Inkspot Publishing Acc: 19373215 Sort Code: 04-06-05.
- Or, enclose a cheque or postal order for £10 per submission up to 2,500 words, or £15 per submission up to 5,000 words.
Cheques and postal orders are to be made payable to ‘Inkspot Publishing’. Please include your name and address on the back.
Report Submission Issues
If you run into any problems during the submission process, please contact taryn@inkspotpublishing.com.
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