Winchester Short Story Writing Contest

Winchester Commonwealth Short Story sponsors an annual $10,000 award for its short story writing competition to introduce new writers and new artistic work into the industry. This Writing Contest is open to everyone in U.S. and to all international contestants of all levels and regardless of experience. Whether you are a published writer, waiting to be published, or hoping to be recognized for your work and be published in the future, you may submit your entry. Current and former employees (and their relatives) of Winchester Commonwealth literary Institute, city Arts Foundation, and Local Writers Guild of Winchester members are not eligible to enter this writing competition. Previously published authors and new writers with or without experience in short stories, eBooks, books, or magazines are accepted and welcomed as long as the entry submitted represents original works created by the contestant himself or herself. This is a NO ENTRY FEE ($0 contest entry fee) contest, and all submissions must be made within the deadline. See additional description below.

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Writing Contest Description: The short story can be on any subject or theme or genre including fiction, non-fiction, essays, diary, journal entries and short screenplays. Entries based on alternative styles will are also accepted. Five short story finalists will be selected for the final prize award ceremony in Dallas, Texas for the annual Winchester Commonwealth Short Story Writing Contest in May 2025.

Prize: $5,000 First Prize Winner, $1,250 for each of the other 4 finalists.

Entry Fees: $0 (no entry/submission fee)

Start Submission Date: November 1st, 2025

Closing Submission Date: May 21st, 2025

Special Requirements: Entries must be submitted and sent electronically as an email attachments in a word processing document such as, Microsoft Word (.doc) or (docx), Word Perfect (.wpd) or Rich Text Format (.rtf), Open Document Format (.odt), etc. Writing Contest entry must be typed in the subject line of the email and a brief description should be placed in the body of the email along with your name, address, and phone number. The information requested on the entry form can either be included in the typed Word processing document or typed into an email message body area.

Additional Information: See writing contest detailed information on requirements and entry.