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10th anniversary - 2025

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Our fifty-word Flash Fiction Writing competition has been organised each year since the Festival’s inception. Each year we choose a different theme - one that can be broadly interpreted - and ask you to write an original story of up to fifty words.

The competition is now closed for 2024. The next prompt will be announced in January 2025. 

Our fifty-word Flash Fiction Writing competition has been organised each year since the Festival’s inception. Each year we choose a different theme - one that can be broadly interpreted - and ask you to write an original story of up to fifty words.

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.

A panel of local writers and creative writing specialists will judge the entries and there are prizes! There is 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

  • 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

For more information on when submissions will open for the next competition, sign up to receive our e-shot or email hello@derbybookfestival.co.uk.