Clevedon Litfest

Flash Fiction Award 2025

This competition is closed.

Our 2025 Flash Fiction Award winners have now been announced.
You can find links to the winning entries below.

Our 2026 Competition is now OPEN

Our 2025 Judges

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Judy Darley

Judy is an award-winning writer, editor and workshop leader who relocated to Clevedon in December 2023. She is the author of short fiction collections 'The Stairs are a Snowcapped Mountain' (Reflex Press), Sky Light Rain (Valley Press) and 'Remember Me to the Bees' (Tangent Books).An excerpt from Judy’s hybrid memoir-in-progress was shortlisted and highly commended for the Laurie Lee Prize 2024.
She previously judged competitions for National Flash Fiction Day UK and Oxford Flash Fiction Prize, among others.
Judy occasionally infiltrates poetry open mic nights with flash fiction tales.

Find Judy at https://bsky.app/profile/judydarley.bsky.social

As a judge, what will Judy be looking for?
I want to be moved by what I read. A flash fiction tale should work like a pebble dropped into a pool of water, casting ripples that travel beyond the page. A skilled writer should be able to create a story arc within the 500-word limit. There should be some sense of change in the story, if only in the protagonist’s thoughts. I want to read stories that ignite my imagination and capture my heart. Good luck!

Jackie Hales

Jackie has been an enthusiastic judge for our short story competitions since 2023, having had previous experience of judging writing competitions and teaching Creative Writing modules for many years. She is looking forward to celebrating the power of the written word in reading this year’s entries.
Author of two published novels, “Shadows of Time” (2022) and “Nana Boo” (2024), with a third novel accepted for publication, Jackie has had a variety of short stories, memoir and poetry published online since 2020, as well as appearing in print in “Words on the Wire” (2023) and “Train of Thought” (2024).

As a judge, what will Jackie be looking for?
I’m looking for writing that prompts a response in me, draws me into its world through originality, impact and engaging characterisation, with a hook and a story arc that make me want to read to the end.  I want to feel the power of language use in transporting me or stirring my emotions, carefully crafted for maximum effect. Can the story successfully communicate what is in the imagination of the writer to the mind and heart of the reader?

2025 Flash Fiction Award Winning Entries

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Clevedon LitFest Flash Fiction Award 2025
Rules for entry

Entries are CLOSED for the 2025 competition.
Visit the 2026 competition page for updated submission guidelines.

1. The Clevedon LitFest Flash Fiction Award is open to anyone who is resident in the UK and is aged 16 years or older.
2. A fee of £5 per entry must be paid via the payment link below (scroll down to end), and any entry for which payment has not been received will be disqualified. You must use the same email address when paying your fee and emailing your entry.
3. Entries must be no longer than 500 words (excluding title), typed (a sans 12pt font with 1.5 line spacing preferred) and written in English.
4. Entries must be submitted using file types odt, doc, docx and txt.
5. Each entrant may only submit one piece of flash fiction
6. Do not use offensive, discriminatory language ,or language promoting hate speech or violence in your flash fiction. Doing so will lead to disqualification.
7. Your name, or any other identifying marks, should not be added to your story.
8. The story must be your own, original work and should not have won another competition or been previously published in print or online. Any story created with the aid of any AI application will be disqualified.
9. No changes will be permitted once work has been submitted.
10. These competitions are not open to any person affiliated with Clevedon Literary Festival, partner organisations or their immediate relatives.
11. Entries not following these rules will be disqualified.
12. The judges’ decision is final and no feedback will be given.
13. Keep your own copy of the work as entries cannot be returned.
14. Copyright is retained by the author.
15. Prize winners will be notified by email and Clevedon Literary Festival retains the right to publish prize winning entries online or in print.
16. Prize winners will be invited to attend a prize-giving event in Clevedon in October/November 2025 (details to be confirmed).
17. Clevedon LitFest reserves the right to publish video footage, screenshot images and/or photos gathered from the prize giving event on its website and social media platform accounts. You must inform us if you wish to opt out of this.