We are pleased to announce our theme for the 2024 Frinton Literary Festival Robert Bucke Short Story Prize:

 

The theme for this year’s competition is WHAT IF?

Deadline for submissions is 11:59pm on 30th September 2024

1,000 words or fewer

FREE to enter

Residents of Essex

​

This year we want to hear about stories that are seemingly impossible (and are probably slightly unnerving!) with the theme WHAT IF? Imagine one thing we take for granted as everyday reality is suddenly different. What would happen?

 

Whatever your what if?, just make sure you tell us in up to 1000 words or fewer, (excluding title) and email it to us by the deadline of 30th September 2024.

 

Guest judges:

Anita Belli, author and creative writing tutor

Clive Brill, radio and theatre producer and bookshop owner

Barbara Erskine, internationally-acclaimed author and storyteller

Deborah Klée, author

Gordon Wise, literary agent 

 

Prizes:

The winner (in the opinion of the judges) will receive a £50 Caxton Books and Gallery gift token.

Two runners up will each be awarded a £25 gift token (for Caxton Books and Gallery.)

Prizes will be awarded at the Afternoon Tea event, Sunday 27th October by William Hanson.

 

See the terms and conditions below for further information about how to submit your entry.

 

Terms and conditions of entry

• The Frinton Literary Festival Robert Bucke Short Story Prize 2024 is only open to writers who reside in Essex.

• Entrants must be over 18 years old.

• Family members or close friends of the judges will not be eligible.

• There is no limit to the number of entries any one entrant is allowed to make. Each entry must be sent in a separate email.

• Only short fiction pieces of up to 1000 words, excluding the title, are eligible for entry. Entries over this length, or in other formats, will not be eligible.

• Each entry must relate to the central theme (WHAT IF?).

• All submissions must be written in English.

• Format your story in Times New Roman or similar font, Size 12, 2.0/1.5 spacing, using black font colour.

• Please supply your name and the name of your story in the body of the email and attach the story as a Microsoft Word .doc or .docx file.

• Stories must be submitted anonymously, without any identifying information on the attachment. Attachments that include names or contact information will not be eligible.

• We are unable to offer personalised feedback for entries.

• All entries must be submitted via email only to: enquiries@flitfest.co.uk

• We are unable to accept postal entries or hard copy entries.

• The closing deadline is Midnight, GMT (23:59pm) on Monday 30th September 2024.

• Winners will be announced on or before Saturday 12th October 2024 on the Frinton Literary Festival website, and invites will be issued to the Afternoon Tea with William Hanson on Sunday 27th October.

• Winners will also be notified by email, by 12th October, with details of how to collect their prize.

Our competitions are run and judged internally. Our judging team is comprised of five professionals from the literary world.