Southam Book Festival Flash Fiction Competition

The Southam Book Festival Flash Fiction Competition is an annual 100-word story contest run as part of the Southam Book Festival, held each October in Southam, Warwickshire. Each year a judge selects a required keyword that must appear somewhere in the story (but not as the title); the 2026 word is HORIZON. The competition attracted over 250 entries from around the world in 2025.

Entrants must be aged 16 or over. Stories must be 100 words or fewer, must include a title (counted within the word limit), and must contain the keyword “horizon”. Stories must be previously unpublished, must not be simultaneously entered elsewhere, and must be submitted by email with payment made in advance via PayPal. Authors retain copyright, though the festival reserves the right to publish a selection of entries.

The competition is international and open to writers worldwide aged 16 and over. Shortlisted entrants will be named on the Southam Book Festival website, and the winner and runners-up will be announced after the festival. Cash prizes are £60 for first place, £30 for second, and £20 for third.

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.