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 2026. This year's competition was kindly sponsored by Derventio Education, who create education software solutions which are used by schools, colleges and universities across the world. We received 532 entries across five categories. The winners have all been contacted and we will make arrangements with them for the presentation of their prizes.
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. This year's theme was 'Hope'. Other themes have been: Voices, Love, Home, Spring, Space, Secrets, Journeys, If Only, Our World and Light.
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 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 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
Illustration and Graphic Design students at the University of Derby are invited to produce an illustration for each story as part of a separate competition for the students.
This year's winning stories are available on our website. For more information and to find out when the competition opens next year, sign up to receive our e-shot so you don't miss our news.
*Please note that some of the highly commended entries for 2026 from HMP Foston and Sudbury are over 50 words, but the judges felt that they wanted to recognise these stories.