The Bedford Short Story and Poetry Competition

The Bedford Short Story and Poetry Competition is an established nonprofit organisation that has run annual short story and poetry competitions since 2012. Open to writers worldwide aged 17 and over, it offers prizes across multiple categories: the main international prize, a Bedford Prize for local residents, and the Cygnature Prize for writers aged 17–25.

Entries must be original, previously unpublished work written in English. Short stories must not exceed 3,000 words (title excluded) and must be typed, double-spaced in a readable 12-point font, with nothing that identifies the author. Online entry is available to all international entrants; postal entry is restricted to UK addresses only.

Shortlisted and winning entries are published in an anthology available as both an e-book and a paperback. Results are announced at an annual Presentation of Awards Event.