RULES

  1. Stories can be on any theme or subject but must be original and written in English. They must also be for adult or young adult readers. Non-fiction and fiction written for children under 13 years is not eligible.Entrants must be 16 years or over.
  2.  Maximum length is 2,200 words.No minimum word count. Entries should be typed, double or 1.5 spaced, in a plain legible font (Pt 12).  Each page should be numbered but not include any no personal details about the author. Send stories in email attachments as a docx, (not Word doc ) pdf, odt, or rtf file. Not in Pages, please. The file name must be the title of your story. (If your story is untitled, the file name must be the first five words of the story).
  3. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please let us know by the beginning of July if your story is accepted elsewhere. Thank you
  4. Closing date for receipt is March 31st 2025 at midnight, BST. Online entries only (details on the entry page) The Award is open to everyone (locally/nationally or internationally). There is no limit to the number of entries but there is a fee of £9 for each story submitted. Stories entries must be paid for via PayPal on the entry page.
  5. Entries must not have been previously published in print or online, been broadcast or won a prize. Published online includes publication on your personal blog.
  6. Entries will be read and judged anonymously so do not put your name on the pages of your story or any other identifying details
  7. NB If your story entry has been long or shortlisted in another Award and it holds the same title, it will not count as anonymous if it is identified with your name and these details have been published online or elsewhere.
  8. Once you have submitted your story and paid for your entry, no refunds can be made.
  9. Prizes are as follows: 1st £1200; 2nd £300; 3rd £100, with a local prize of £50 , for the best entry from any BA, BS, GL or SN postcode unplaced in the main competition. In addition there is The Acorn Award of £100 for the best entry from an unpublished writer, unplaced in the main competition. For the purposes of the Acorn Award by  ‘unpublished’, we mean no fiction of yours has been published in print in any language, online or on an audio file. Self- published blogs count as unpublished. NB : Stories by you, posted on your site, cannot be entered into the competition as this will break our anonymity rule (7.)
  10. The results of the competition will be announced on the Bath Short Story Award (BSSA) website in July/August 2025.
  11. No single story may win more than one prize. By entering, competitors accept that BSSA has first publishing rights and that prizewinning and shortlisted stories, with the authors’ names, may be published on the BSSA website, in  BSSA print snd digital anthologies, in local media and/or be read out on local radio stations for up to a yearfrom the closing date without extra remuneration.
  12. Shortlisted and winning authors receive a free copy of the BSSA anthology in which they are published and 35% off the retail price for any other copies of this anthology they wish to buy
  13. By entering, an acceptance of all the BSSA rules and terms and conditions is implied. Entries that fail to comply with rules and terms and conditions  will be disqualified.  No correspondence can be entered into and the judges’ decisions are final.
  14. Please contact us if you require any clarification on rules or entry procedures.