FRODSHAM FLASH FICTION PRIZE
Adult creative writing competition
Sponsored by RSK Group, Helsby
Judges: David Gaffney and Professor Sue Zlosnik
Word limit: 300 words (not including the title)
Prizes: 1st £300, 2nd £150, 3rd £50
Entry: £6.00 per entry. No limit on the number of entries
Deadline: Sunday 6th April, 2025
What is flash fiction?
Flash fiction is a bite-sized story for the sound bite age. It often contains the classic story elements: protagonist, conflict, obstacles, complications and resolution. However, unlike a traditional short story, this brief form often leaves some of these elements unmentioned. There is often a twist in the tale and stories which involve humour or surprise work particularly well.
Eligibility
The Frodsham Flash Fiction Prize is open to any UK resident except Frodsham Community Centre and Weaver Words committee members or volunteers.
Stories can be about any subject. Entries must be in English and must be entirely the work of the entrant.
Submission of an entry is taken as confirmation that the work is your own. Submissions must not have been previously published, self-published, published on a website, blog or online forum, broadcast or placed (1st,2nd or 3rd) in any competition.
Judging
The judges will be Prof Sue Zlosnik, Emeritus Professor of English at Manchester Metropolitan University, and David Gaffney, author of several collections of short stories and flash fiction.
The judges’ decision is final and no individual correspondence can be entered into. Judges are unable to comment on individual entries. Submission of entry implies acceptance of all the rules. Failure to comply with the rules may result in disqualification.
Prize winners
Writers of the best ten short-listed entries will be invited to attend the final Gala Celebration Event of the Weaver Words Festival on Sunday 4th May 2025 at 8.00pm.
The results will be announced at the event and a list of winners and the three best flash fiction pieces published afterwards on the Weaver Words website.
Finalists will be notified by Monday 21st April.
How to enter
All entries will be judged anonymously. Do not include your name, address or any identifying mark on the story document, other than the story title at the top of the first page. Please include a word count for the story next to the title.
Stories cannot be returned so please keep a copy. Amendments cannot be made to entries after they have been submitted. Each entry must be accompanied by a payment of £6.00 and you can enter as many times as you like.
Enter by post
Send entries to: Flash Fiction Prize, Weaver Words Festival, Frodsham Community Centre, Fluin Lane, Frodsham, Cheshire, WA6 7QN.
Stories should be typed, single sided and securely fastened together. Each entry should be accompanied by a separate sheet of paper giving:
- The entrant’s name
- Address
- Date of birth
- Contact telephone number
- Email address (if available).
- You should also include on this sheet, the title(s) of your story(s).
You can enter as many stories as you like but each flash fiction piece must be accompanied by an entry fee of £6. Please enclose a cheque for the total made out to Frodsham Community Association.
Enter Online
Please complete the form below. Each story should be saved as a Word document (or similar) and the file name should be the title of the story, please do not include your name or address on the story.