The Squat Pen Rests Short Story Competition

The Squat Pen Rests Short Story Competition is an annual short fiction competition sponsored by the Royal Society of Literature and Wiltshire Writes@Swindon New College. The competition is open to writers of short stories and aims to recognise and showcase original work from emerging and established writers.

The competition is open to all writers aged 18 and over who live in the UK. Submissions must be original short stories written in English.

Entries must not exceed 750 words, excluding the story title. The entry fee is £5 per submission. All entries must be submitted by 31 July 2026 at 23:59.

Prizes will be determined based on the number of entries received and awarded to the top six winners. Winners will be announced in September 2026.

In addition to cash prizes, the top six winners will be invited to an awards ceremony in October 2026, where they may read their work to an audience of friends, family, and members of the public. During this event, winners will also compete for an additional Readers’ Choice Award.

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.

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