Felixstowe Festival is delighted to launch our 2016 short story competition! We’re looking for short stories of up to 1000 words inspired by the 2016 Festival theme – Gateways.

What is the first thing that springs to mind?

Maybe Felixstowe Port, a gateway to Europe via the North Sea? The plight of refugees, negotiating treacherous gateways to reach a better future? Or even the tax office – death and taxes come to us all…

What about more individual gateways, the doors people must push or break open to change their lives?

Gateways may be physical or psychological, real or imagined. Fantastical or whimsical, or other-worldly. No subject or genre is off-limits. Please interpret the theme of ‘Gateways’ as creatively as you wish in your short story entry.

Dates:

The closing date is Friday 13th May, 2016.
A longlist of 15 entries will be announced on 30th May, 2016.
A shortlist of 6 will be announced on 6th June, 2016.
The 3 winners will be announced on 20th June, 2016.

Word Count:

Maximum of 1000 words, no minimum.

How to enter:

Please take or send 3 copies of your story to Felixstowe Library, Crescent Rd, Felixstowe, Suffolk, IP11 7BY.

Your story should include a title but no other personal information. Please supply ON A SEPARATE SHEET: your name, email address (if available), contact telephone number, word count and title of story.

Don’t forget to attach your £5 entry fee. Cheques are to be made payable to Felixstowe Book Festival.

Entries that do not meet these requirements will be automatically disqualified.

If you have any questions, please email ruth@ruthdugdall.com prior to submitting your entry, using the subject line: SHORT STORY QUERY.