Cranked Anvil Quartly Short Story Competition

The Cranked Anvil Quarterly Short Story Competition invites writers to submit original, unpublished short fiction of between 501 and 1,500 words on any theme or genre. Run by Cranked Anvil, an independent press and digital publishing service established in 2012, the competition runs four times a year, with deadlines at the end of January, April, July, and October.

Entrants may submit up to three stories per quarter. Stories must be previously unpublished and written in English. The competition is open internationally.

Beyond the two cash prizes of £100 and £30, an unlimited number of Special Mentions are awarded each quarter. All placed and commended stories, including Special Mentions, are published on the Cranked Anvil website, guaranteed inclusion in a future digital anthology, and professionally produced as audio recordings broadcast on Radio Northumberland and made available on demand online worldwide. A selection of short-listed entries may also be considered for anthology inclusion and audio recording.

Is this competition legit?YES! – Based on our research this event is legitimate and the organizer is well established. However, as with any event, please remember to do your own research before submitting your work.

FAQ
If you are curious how writing competitions work, or it’s your first time entering one, we recommend reading our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) page first.