Applications call for the HG Wells Fiction Short Story Competition. There are two different competitions in 2020: one for those 21 and under, and one for those over 21. The competition for those 21 and under is free to enter and has a prize of £1,000 for the winning entry. All shortlisted entries will also be published in quality, professionally published paperback anthology.

Prizes 

The annual HG Wells Fiction Short Story Competition offers a £500 Senior and £1,000 Junior prize and free publication of all shortlisted entries in a quality, professionally published paperback anthology.

Rules and Regulations 

• This year’s theme is “Vision”.
• Entries must be in English.
• The length is 1,500 to 5,000 words.
• Double quotation marks should be used for speech and single quotation marks for other appropriate purposes.
• Entry to the competition is online only, with entrants submitting their story (as a PDF or text document) and any fee as appropriate via our entry form.
• The closing date is Monday 6th July 2020 and entries will be accepted up to midnight on that date.
• There are no entry fees for those aged 21 years and under on 6th July 2020. Over 21s must pay an entry fee of £10 or £5 for those with student id. Details for payment are shown on the entry form. Each story must be submitted on a separate entry form and accompanied by a fee where appropriate.
• Proof of age and/or student id may be required for any entry entered in the Under 22 or at the reduced student price. This proof may be requested by email after the close of entries and prior to the publication of a shortlist.
• All submissions must be made online, with all required fields completed.
• All submissions should be the writer’s original work.
• Copyright remains with the author.
• The story may not be published elsewhere.
• The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into.
• Entry implies permission for your story to be published in the annual HG Wells Short Story Competition
• Anthology and used for Competition publicity purposes.

Entry

There is a template available below to make ensure the story is formatted correctly. Candidates do not have to use it, but if it helps, please do so. However, whether they use the template or not, the pages should be numbered but the entrant’s name should not appear on any page except on the entry form. Candidates must ensure that they DO NOT have their name or address ANYWHERE in the uploaded document: the selection committee judge all entries “blind” and including the name or address will invalidate the entry. To be safe, do not even use own name as a character name.

Selection Criteria

• Accurate use of spelling, grammar, and punctuation.
• Use of imagination.
• The originality of thought and interpretation of the theme.
• Entertaining content that is thought-provoking, intriguing, moving, and, above all, enjoyable.

Entry Requirements 

• Each page should be numbered;
• Absolutely no identification of author on the page or in the document properties (stories not meeting this rule will be disqualified).
• All text 12 point, Verdana (for judging – it’s easier to read).
• 1.5 lines spacing.
• Single space left after full stops, colons, etc.
• Titles: center, bold.
• First paragraph and after each break – no indentation.
• Second and subsequent paragraphs – indented.

HG Wells Short Story Competition Word Document Template