20 - 25 October 2026
Short Story Competition
THE ROBERT BUCKE SHORT STORY PRIZE
Each year, Frinton Literary Festival hosts its ‘Tendring Tales’ 1,000-word short story competition.
The prize is named in honour of Robert Bucke, a long-serving committee member and former Mayor of Frinton, who dedicated more than two decades to public service and to championing the arts within the community.
2026 competition theme 'Buried Secrets'
Write a story of up to 1,000 words inspired by the theme 'Buried Secrets'.
Explore a long-hidden family mystery, an unexpected relationship revelation, or the moment when
past and present collide – or take the theme wherever your imagination leads.
Whatever the annual theme, we're always looking for stories with a strong sense of place and a
distinctive Tendring flavour.
From our coastline and countryside to our towns, history and colourful characters, let the landscapes,
people and spirit of Tendring inspire your writing.
Deadline: 11 September 2026
Full submission details below.
The Judges
Entries are judged by a panel of five industry professionals with strong connections to the area, with prizes awarded in partnership with Caxton Books.
Robert Bucke Short Story Competition Winners
2025
2024
2023
2022
Winner
The Soul Carrier
Listen now
Terms and Conditions
Eligibility
-
The competition is open to writers resident in Essex only.
-
Entrants must be aged 18 or over.
-
Family members or close friends of the judges are not eligible to enter.
Entry Requirements
-
Entries must be original short fiction of up to 1,000 words (excluding the title).
-
By submitting an entry, authors confirm that their story is their own original work and has not been created, in whole or in part, using generative artificial intelligence (AI). Entries found to have been generated or substantially produced using AI will be disqualified.
-
Submissions exceeding the word limit or in other formats will not be accepted.
-
Stories must respond to the theme: “Buried Secrets”.
-
Entries must be written in English.
Formatting & Submission
-
Please format your story in a clear, black, readable font (e.g. Times New Roman), size 12, with 1.5 or double line spacing.
-
Submit your story as a Microsoft .doc or .docx file attachment.
-
Include your name, contact details and the title of your story in the body of the email only.
-
Do not include any identifying information within the document itself - entries are judged anonymously.
-
All entries must be submitted by email to: enquiries@flitfest.co.uk
-
Postal or hard copy submissions will not be accepted.
-
Multiple entries are permitted, but each must be submitted in a separate email.
Judging & Feedback
-
Entries will be judged anonymously by a panel of literary professionals.
-
Unfortunately, we are unable to provide individual feedback on submissions.
Key Dates
-
Closing date: 23:59 (GMT), Friday 11 September 2026.
-
Finalists announced: on or before Wednesday 14 October 2026 via the festival website.
-
Finalists will be invited to attend a festival event in October.
Publication
-
By entering, finalists agree to their shortlisted stories being published on the Frinton Literary Festival website.