Skip to Content

BBC National Short Story Award 2015

Information
Closing date: 
25 February 2015
Entry: 
British nationals and residents aged 18 years or over, who have a prior record of publication in creative writing in the UK
Prize: 
£15,000 to the winner, £3,000 to the runner-up, and £500 each to three further shortlisted authors

The BBC National Short Story Award in partnership with Booktrust is now in its tenth year. It is one of the most prestigious Awards for a single short story, with the winning author receiving £15,000, the runner-up £3,000 and three further shortlisted authors £500 each.

The Award continues to serve as a reminder of the power of the short story and to celebrate a literary form that is proving ever more versatile in the 21st century. It can now be enjoyed not just on the page, on air and increasingly on every sort of screen as well as in flash fiction events, short story festivals and slams. The ambition of both the Award and Booktrust's short story content is to expand opportunities for British writers, readers and publishers of the short story. BBC Radio 4 is the world's biggest single commissioner of short stories with short stories broadcast every week attracting more than a million listeners.

BBC foreign correspondent Allan Little will chair the judging panel for the BBC National Short Story Award 2015 with Booktrust.

Little will be joined on the panel by novelist and short story writer Tash Aw; 2013 BBC NSSA award-winner Sarah Hall; the UK's best-selling crime novelist, Ian Rankin; and Di Speirs, Books Editor at BBC Radio.

The Award is celebrating its tenth birthday. It offers £15,000 to the winning author, £3,000 to the runner-up, and £500 each to three further shortlisted authors.

"The BBC National Short Story Award is now a decade old and has established itself as a powerful champion of outstanding new writing - both by established practitioners and emerging talent," said Little. "Good writing is at the heart of what the BBC does. I am delighted that the BBC's commitment to upholding that is undiminished, and excited to be chairing the judging for this increasingly prestigious Award."

The BBC and Booktrust will select 10 schools from across the UK to shadow judge the Award. Some 200 pupils aged 16-18 will read the five shortlisted stories and vote for their favourites. In September 2015, there will be readings of the five shortlisted stories read on BBC Radio 4, and Comma Press will again publish an Award anthology.

The 2015 Award is open to UK residents or nationals, aged 18 or over, who have a history of publication in creative writing. The deadline for receipt of entries is 5pm (GMT), Wednesday 25 February 2015. The shortlist will be announced on BBC Radio 4's Front Row on Wednesday 16 September 2015. The 2014 winner was Lionel Shriver, for "Kilifi Creek".

For further details

The BBC Young Writers' Award

There is also a new award for young people, closing on the same day.

Deadline: Wed 25 Feb 2015

In 2015, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the BBC National Short Story Award, we're excited to announce the brand new BBC Young Writers' Award with Booktrust to inspire and encourage the next generation of writers.


Young people aged 14 to 18, who live in the UK, are invited from today to submit short stories of up to 1000 words on any topic. A panel of three judges will select a shortlist of the top five stories, which will be announced in September 2015. The judges will be looking for high-quality writing, stories that demonstrate originality, imagination and creativity, and writers who can capture the reader and hold their attention.

The five shortlisted writers will be invited to attend the exclusive BBC National Short Story Award 2015 ceremony on 6 October 2015 at the BBC's Radio Theatre, when the winner of the BBC Young Writers' Award will be announced live on BBC Radio 4's Front Row. The young writers will be given a guided tour of BBC Broadcasting House and have the chance to meet high-profile authors, publishers, agents and broadcasters. The shortlist will also have their stories published on the Booktrust and BBC Arts websites and receive a copy of the BBC National Short Story Award 2015 with Booktrust anthology.

The talented winning writer of the inaugural BBC Young Writers' Award 2015 with Booktrust will have their story broadcast on the BBC and receive a set of personalised mentoring sessions with an adult author to help develop their writing skills.

For more information and to get involved

Closing date: 
25 February 2015
Entry: 
British nationals and residents aged 18 years or over, who have a prior record of publication in creative writing in the UK
Prize: 
£15,000 to the winner, £3,000 to the runner-up, and £500 each to three further shortlisted authors