Mslexia Women’s Short Story Competition 2016
MslexiaStylish and lively site for quarterly UK literary magazine read by 12,000 'committed' women writers. Good range of quality writing, information and advice with news, reviews, competitions and interviews, all presented in a friendly fashion. Praised by Helen Dunmore as 'astute, invigorating and above all an excellent read.' www.mslexia.co.uk Women's Short Story Competition 2016 is for previously unpublished stories of up to 2,200 words by women writers.
Judge: Michèle Roberts
1st Prize: £2,000 plus two optional extras: a week's writing retreat at Anam Cara* and a day with a Virago editor**
2nd Prize: £500 3rd Prize: £250
Three other finalists win £100 each.
All six winning stories will be published in issue 70 of Mslexia, published in June 2016.
CLOSING DATE: 14 March 2016
Entry fee: £10 per story.
* The Anam Cara retreat is accommodation only, dates to be agreed between Anam Cara and the competition winner.
** The day with a Virago editor must be taken at a time that is suitable to both Virago and the competition winner.
The winner is responsible for any other expenses involved with attending the Anam Cara retreat and the day with a Virago editor, i.e travel, food, etc. The prizes are optional additions to the £2,000 first prize.
The prizes must be taken by 31 May 2017.
The second of three specially-commissioned short story writing workshops is now available on Mslexia's website. Devised by Vanessa Gebbie, this workshop is all about creating characters and offers some really practical writing advice and exercises to try out.
The third and final workshop will be live from the beginning of March.
Email shortstory@mslexia.co.uk