Submissions are invited for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2025. Submit by November 1 as exciting cash prizes await!
About the Prize
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize celebrates the power of storytelling to connect people across cultures and geographies. It is open to writers from Commonwealth nations and territories, giving them the opportunity to have their work recognized on an international stage. The competition accepts unpublished short stories between 2,000 and 5,000 words, offering an inclusive space for a wide range of narrative styles, themes, and voices.
What sets this prize apart is its commitment to discovering and promoting fresh literary talent. Writers from any Commonwealth country, whether emerging or established, are encouraged to submit their work. Moreover, submissions are accepted in English as well as translated into it from other languages spoken across the Commonwealth.
Prizes and Recognition
- The Commonwealth Short Story Prize awards cash prizes to the best stories from each of the five regions—Africa, Asia, Canada and Europe, the Caribbean, and the Pacific.
- One regional winner will be selected as the overall winner and will receive a grand prize of £5,000, while regional winners will be awarded £2,500 each.
- Beyond the monetary rewards, the prize offers writers exposure to a global audience, with winning stories often published in literary journals, magazines, and the Granta website.
Why Participate?
Participating in the Commonwealth Short Story Prize not only provides a chance to win substantial recognition but also enables writers to contribute to a rich and diverse literary tradition. The competition seeks to uplift underrepresented voices, making it an ideal platform for those who wish to tackle complex social, cultural, and personal themes. Whether your story is deeply rooted in the fabric of your community or reaches out to universal experiences, this is the space to tell it.
Registration Fee
Free
Submission Guidelines
- Writers can submit only one story, which must be original and unpublished.
- For those writing in languages other than English, the Commonwealth Foundation offers support by allowing stories to be submitted in languages such as Bengali, Chinese, Swahili, and Tamil, to name a few.
How to Register?
Interested participants can register through this link.
Deadline
Submissions close on November 1, 2024.
Click here to view the official notification of the Commonwealth Short Story Prize 2025.
