HG Wells Short Story Competition

The HG Wells Short Story Competition is an international writing contest that celebrates the legacy of H.G. Wells by encouraging original short fiction linked to a yearly theme — for 2026, “The Cheat.” Winners and shortlisted stories are published in a professionally produced paperback anthology.

The competition is open to original, previously unpublished short stories written in English on the theme for this year. Submissions must be 1,500–5,000 words and uploaded online as PDF or text. Stories should be anonymised (no author name on the manuscript) to enable blind judging.

There are two categories:

• Under 21 category: Writers aged 21 or under on the closing date can enter for free and compete for a £1,000 prize.
• Senior category (22+): Writers aged 22 or over pay a £10 entry fee (£5 with valid student ID) and compete for a £500 prize.

The competition is international, open to writers anywhere. Judges select shortlists and winners, and shortlisted entries will be published in the annual anthology.

Top prize: £1,000 (Under 21 category) and £500 (Senior category), plus anthology publication.

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.