2026 Flash Fiction Competition Rules
General
Flash Fiction Rules
1: The start date for the Flash Fiction Competition will be 30th June.
2: All entries must be received by 23:59 (GMT+1) on 30th September.
3: Entries can be from anywhere in the world.
4: Maximum of three stories per entry form. Multiple entry forms may be submitted.
5: Online entries will generate an automatic confirmation of receipt at the time of submission.
6: There is no limit to the number of entries an individual may submit.
Eligibility
7: The competition is open to anyone aged 17 years and over.
8: If your story has been long-listed or shortlisted in other competitions, and provided it has not won a prize or been published, it is eligible.
9: Simultaneous submissions are allowed but will become ineligible should the story win a prize elsewhere or be published prior to it being judged.
10: You must inform us immediately should your story be published or win a prize elsewhere.
11: The members of the organising committee, patrons, the panel of readers and judges are not eligible to enter the competition.
Entry Fees
12: The standard entry fee is £8.50 per story; three stories entered on the same form £17.00.
13: For full time students, the entry fee is £6.00 per story; three stories entered on the same form £12.00.
Story format (all stories)
14: Stories must not have been published, self-published, published on a website, broadcast, been placed first, second or third, or been awarded a prize in any other competition.
15: Stories must be no more than 300 words. Title not included in the word count.
16: Stories must be written in English.
17: All stories must have a title.
18: Stories must be typed, double-spaced and in a readable, 12 point font.
19: Nothing must appear on any page which would identify the author.
20: The filename must be the title of the story, entered exactly as entered on the story submissions page.
- Do not include your name in the filename.
22: Stories will not be returned, so please retain a copy.
23: Stories cannot be altered once entered.
Story format
29: The following are acceptable electronic file formats: .doc .docm .docx .dot .dotm .dotx .odt .txt.
Judging
30: All entries will be considered anonymously by a panel of readers.
31: Judging is fair and unbiased. The Bedford Competition’s decision is final and no individual correspondence can be entered into.
Disqualification
32: If a story does not comply with the formatting rules, it will be disqualified.
33: If, before a story has been judged, it is published or wins a prize in another competition, it will be disqualified.
34: Any plagiarised work will be disqualified along with any other work submitted by the entrant.
35: Any story created with the aid of any AI application will be disqualified.
36: Entry fees will not be returned in the event that a story is disqualified.
Prize
37: There is single prize of £500 to the winner of the Flash Fiction Competition
38: The prizewinning entry will be published in an anthology after the results have been announced.
39: The copyright of the story belongs to the author.
40: The competition organisers reserve the right not to award a prizes if, in the judge’s opinion, such an action is justified.
Announcement of results
41: A timetable for the announcement of results will made public once the date of closure for entries has been passed.
42: If a story has won the Flash Fiction Prize and this has been made public, it cannot be withdrawn and publication will take precedence over the requirement of any other competitions the story may have been entered in.
43: The results of all the competitions will be announced at a Presentation of Awards Event.
Please Note: Entrants whose story has not won a prize, will not be notified of the result of their entry or entries.
