We are delighted to announce that the 2023 Bristol Short Story Prize is open for entries.

The closing date for our 16th competition is midnight (BST), April 26th 2023.

20 stories will be shortlisted and published in Bristol Short Story Prize Anthology Volume 16 by Tangent Books. The winner and 2 runners up will be selected from the shortlist and announced at an awards ceremony in October 2023.

1st prize is £1,000, 2nd prize is £500, 3rd prize is £250. 17 further prizes of £100 will be presented to the remaining shortlisted writers. All shortlisted writers will receive 2 free copies of the anthology. Prizes will be sent to any writer on the shortlist who is unable to attend the awards ceremony.

The Sansom Award, in recognition of the contribution to Bristol publishing of John and Angela Sansom at Redcliffe Press, will be presented to the highest placed story by a Bristol writer. The Sansom Award winner will receive £100,

The 2023 judging panel is: literary agent, Abi Fellows; writer, editor and creative producer, Heather Marks; writer and independent bookshop manager, Daniel Ross.

The competition is open to all published and unpublished writers. There is no geographical restriction on entry – the 2023 Bristol Short Story Prize is open to everyone, whether they are based in the UK or outside the UK. Entries can be made online or by post. Entries must be previously unpublished with a maximum word count of 4,000 words, there is no minimum word count. Stories can be on any theme or subject and are welcome in any style or genre. Entry fee is £9.

There are 250 free online entries available to those for whom the entry fee is a barrier to submitting to the 2023 Bristol Short Story Prize; for instance, those on low income or without paid employment. The free entries will be offered on a 50 per month basis with any remaining carried over to the following month. Those wishing to enter using the free entry option may do so via our online entry facility. There is one free entry available per person. No email request or any other method of application is necessary to use the free entry option.

For full details and rules, please visit: https://www.bristolprize.co.uk/rules

The latest Bristol Short Story Prize anthology is available from Tangent Books and can be ordered direct from Tangent or from your favourite bookshop: https://www.tangentbooks.co.uk/shop/bristol-short-story-prize-anthology-volume-15