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That is the challenge we are setting for our 2026 Flash Fiction Writing Competition.

We’re delighted to announce that our Fifty Word Flash Fiction Writing Competition is back! This year's competition is kindly sponsored by Derventio Education, who create education software solutions which are used by schools, colleges and universities across the world.

Each year we choose a different theme – one that can be broadly interpreted – and ask you to write an original story of up to 50 words. This year’s theme is ‘Hope’ and we hope it offers many ways for you to interpret it.

For example, you could focus on:

  • hopes of a new year or new beginnings
  • the anticipation of hope in the build up to an event
  • a time when hope has helped you get through a difficult situation
  • different ways we look towards hope, from faith, resolutions, affirmations and rituals for example
  • why you are hopeful

"This year's theme of 'Hope' feels particularly important. We are all navigating a world that feels uncertain and fast-moving and creative opportunities like this offer a chance to pause, reflect and express optimism for the future. We can't wait to see what would-be authors come up with" 
Stuart Reece, Managing Director - Derventio Education

It’s up to you how you interpret the theme.

Please submit entries using the website form, which you can view below. You’ll also be able to view creative writing tips and tricks and the terms and conditions for the competition and it explains more about the prizes we are offering!

It’s FREE to enter - and you can enter as many times as you’d like. Just remember to stick to no more than 50 words!

There are three age categories:

  • 11 and under
  • 12-17
  • 18 and over.

We also have categories for HMP Foston Hall and HMP Sudbury.

There will be one winner in each category and a prize for each winner (more on that below!).

A panel of local writers and creative writing specialists will judge the entries and the winning stories will be:

  • illustrated by a creative communications student from the University of Derby in a competition for second-year students
  • printed on Festival bookmarks, which will be used to promote our next Festivals
  • published on our website.

Here’s a summary of key facts:

  • The competition is open now until Friday 13 February at 10pm
  • This year’s theme is ‘Hope’, and you can interpret this however you want
  • The challenge is to write up to 50 words on the theme (as measured by our online entry form)
  • There are prizes!! There will be one winner from each age category (under 11s, 12-17, over 18s) and the prizes each winner will receive are: a £50 book token, the winning story printed on a bookmark that will promote our next Festivals, and the story will be published on the Derby Book Festival website. An illustration student at the University of Derby will design an illustration for each story as part of a separate competition for the students. The set of bookmarks containing the illustrated stories will be available at the start of our 2026 Summer Festival
  • It’s free to enter the Flash Fiction Writing Competition and you can enter as many times as you’d like.

Teachers please note: this year you can submit multiple entries by email as a file containing all the stories from your class/school. Please email it to hello@derbybookfestival.co.uk by the closing date.

Questions? Please email us at: hello@derbybookfestival.co.uk.

Happy writing and good luck to all entrants!

*Please note that by providing these personal details, you are agreeing to us contacting you through these methods. Your data will be stored in accordance with UK data protection legislation and only used by Derby Book Festival. Your information will not be shared with any third parties.

Read 2025 Winning Entries

A story in 50 words ...

So, the trick is to produce a complete story or narrative in up to 50 words (title excluded).

Ideally, it should be pithy, moving, enlightening, sweet, uplifting, dark or in some subtle way interesting.

“Well, that shouldn’t present much of a challenge to a person of my …”

If you would like to enter the competition but are unsure about writing Flash Fiction, just download our pdf file for some useful hints and tips. 

The closing date for the competition is 10pm on Friday 13 February 2026. Judging will take place before the end of March and we plan to publish the winning stories on Festival bookmarks in time for the start of the Summer Festival.

Submit your entry

All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required fields.

The closing date for the competition is 10pm on Friday 13 February 2026. Judging will take place before the end of March and we plan to publish the winning stories on Festival bookmarks in time for the start of the Summer Festival.

We’ll use the details you provide to contact you about your competition entry (including if you are shortlisted or win). Your data will be stored in accordance with the UK GDPR and only used by Derby Book Festival. We won’t share your information with third parties.

*

Terms & Conditions: 2026 Derby Book Festival Flash Fiction Competition

  1. The 2026 Derby Book Festival Flash Fiction Competition (“the Competition”) will be organised and administered by Derby Book Festival (the “Organisers”). In submitting an entry to the Competition, the entrant agrees to be bound by and to comply with these Terms and Conditions as varied from time to time in accordance with paragraph 11.
  2. Entries should be based on the theme ‘Hope’ and must not exceed 50 words, excluding the title. Entries may only be submitted by using the online form, and only entries which comply with the count limit will be eligible for consideration by the judges. There is no limit on the number of entries which may be submitted by any author. 
  3. Each entrant unconditionally consents to the use of its personal data by the Organisers for the purposes of administering this Competition, and for all other purposes specified in these Terms and Conditions. All such data will be stored in accordance with UK data protection legislation, and will be deleted within 24 months of the Competition closing date. The Organisers may publish the names of entrants in any materials or communications issued or published in connection with Derby Book Festival at any time in order to identify Competition winners, and may also use email addresses and phone numbers of entrants for contact purposes in respect of all Derby Book Festival events from time to time. Competition winners will be contacted before publication.
  4. The closing date for entries is stated on the Derby Book Festival website. Submissions received after this time will not be considered. Entries will not be returned and it is the responsibility of the entrant to keep a copy of its submission. Unsuccessful entrants will not be notified.
  5. All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. The Organisers accept no liability if entrants ignore this requirement and by entering the Competition entrants agree to fully indemnify the Organisers against any claims made by any third party arising from any breach of this requirement.
  6. Any copyright or other intellectual property right which subsists in respect of any submission shall be retained by the entrant, but in submitting material to the Organisers the entrant grants to Derby Book Festival CIO an indefinite, non-exclusive and royalty-free licence to use (in all formats) its submission, its title and the entrant’s name for all purposes connected with the promotion and administration of all events and activities undertaken, curated or managed by Derby Book Festival CIO at any time after the date of submission.
  7. Entries will be judged by a panel of judges nominated by the Organisers. 
  8. The winners will be contacted by the Organisers by the end of March 2026. If any winner cannot be contacted after reasonable attempts have been made to do so, the Organisers reserve the right to award the prize to another entry.
  9. The prize for each winning entry will be to have it illustrated by a University of Derby Creative Communications student (selected by means of a separate competition held by the University) which illustration will be printed on a Derby Book Festival promotional bookmark. Winners will also receive a £50 book token (no cash alternative will be given). 
  10. In relation to all aspects of the Competition and the interpretation of these Terms and Conditions, the Organisers’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into with any entrant or the nominee of any entrant.
  11. The Organisers reserve the right to amend these Terms and Conditions and/or to cancel the Competition at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion. In this event, a notice will be posted on the Derby Book Festival website.
  12. The Organisers, their sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies accept no responsibility for any failure or malfunction or any other problem with any server, internet access, system or other item of software or hardware which results in any entry being lost or not properly registered or recorded. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.
     

Frequently Asked Questions

  • How many times can I enter?

    You can enter as many stories as you can write – and many people do!

  • Does my story have to be exactly 50 words long?

    The word limit is up to 50 words. In the past we asked for stories of exactly 50 words but we changed this. So long as you don’t exceed 50 words, you’ll be able to submit your stories. Do note that hyphenated words count as one word and other punctuation can affect the word count so you may need to play around with your wording to get it right. Most people have a go at drafting their stories first in a package such as Microsoft Word and check the number of words using the 'word count' function. You can then cut and paste your finished story into the online application form.

  • What is the deadline?

    You have until Friday 13th February at 10pm to get your stories in. The winning stories in each category will receive a £50 book token and have their stories printed on Festival bookmarks. To find out more and submit your 50-word story, click here.

  • When will I know whether I have won?

    We will contact all winners in March to let them know their story has won. If you haven’t heard by the end of March, sorry but you have been unlucky this time.