The Dorothy Dunnett Society / HWA Short Story Award 2025 Competition is now open.
Submission Guidelines
- Held to celebrate the works of Dorothy Dunnett and Historical Fiction.
- Open theme, genre and period. Story must be set at least 35 years in the past.
- Open to unpublished short stories of up to 3,500 words.
- Open to writers aged 18 years or over on 1st January 2025.
Judges: The HWA and Dorothy Dunnett Society panel
Entry fee: £5 entry fee via Stripe
Prizes:
- First Prize – Publication on Whispering Gallery and on www.historiamag.com, plus £500 & mentoring sessions from an author and agent.
- Highly Commended – Two further highly commended writers will also be offered mentoring.
- Shortlisted – All six shortlisted writers will have their stories published as an ebook/print-on-demand edition by the HWA and Dorothy Dunnett Society via Amazon. Each shortlisted author will receive two print copies.
Deadline: 1st August, 2025 at midnight GMT.
Key Dates:
- The longlist will be announced on 24th September.
- Shortlisted, highly commended and winning stories announced on 1st October.
- Shortlisted authors will be invited to the Crown Awards Ceremony on 19th November in central London.
All details, all submissions via their website.