This annual competition is for flash fiction stories inspired by folktales, myths, legends, fables and fairytales. Send us your modern, surreal, ancient and brilliant takes on the ones that have captured your mind.

What’s the Difference Between a Myth, a Legend, a Folktale, and a Fairytale?

This article by International Storyteller has some definitions that can guide you.

Deadline: 30th April 2025

Words: Up to 400 (excluding the title)

Entry fee: £7 submission only / £22 with feedback

Judge: Amanda Saint

Amanda is the author of two novels, As If I Were A River (2016) and Remember Tomorrow (2019), and a novella-in-flash, Pressure Drop (2024 ). She writes The Mindful Writer and The Tao of Storytelling.

Amanda’s stories have been widely published; long/short listed in the Mslexia Flash Fiction Competition, Fish Flash Fiction Prize, Ink Tears Short Story Prize, Cranked Anvil Short Story Competition, Flash 500 and V300; nominated for Best Small Fictions 2023; and won the Editor’s Choice Prize at 101 Words. 

Amanda founded Retreat West in 2012 and expanded to include Retreat West Books in 2017, which published 24 books until July 2023 and was named the 2020 Most Innovative Publisher at the Saboteur Awards. In 2022, she launched the WestWord literary magazine.

PRIZES:

The winning and shortlisted stories will share up to 66% of the entry fees (after Submittable fees are deducted) .

• 1st: 20%
• 2nd: £15%
• 3rd: £10%
• Shortlisted stories (max 7): 3% each

All winning and shortlisted stories will be published in WestWord in September 2025.

ENTRY RULES

• Submit stories written in English through Submittable using the button above by 23.59 GMT on the deadline date (sorry late entries will not be included). Please use a clear font of at least size 12 so that we can read it easily!
• Please use the name of your story as your Submission title and the document you upload.
• Do not include your name on the story document or submission title but provide a short bio as requested in the submission form. All stories are read anonymously so any showing the author’s name will be disqualified.
• Please include the word count at the start or end of the story document.
• Stories must be your own original work and not have been published online or in print, or have won any other competitions (longlisted and shortlisted in other competitions is fine if the story remains unpublished).
• Simultaneous submissions are allowed but if your story wins a prize or is published prior to the winner’s announcement your entry will become ineligible. No refunds of entry fees will be paid.
• By entering the competition you agree to your story being published in the winners’ online anthology.
• Stories can be in any genre apart from children’s fiction.
• You can enter as many times as you like but all entries must be made separately and the entry fee paid each time.
• The judge’s decision is final.
• Cash prize payments will be made through PayPal or via BACS.
• There are no alternative prizes.