1000 word challenge

Questions

We’ve answered some questions about 1000 word challenge on this page. If you can’t find the information you’re looking for, please get in touch at contact@1000wordchallenge.com.

How long should my story be?
Your story should be between 750 and 1000 words. This gives your plot and characters space to develop but keeps your story tightly focused.

What should I write about?
You can write about whatever you like, as long as you respond to the competition theme. The current theme is on our home page. We’re happy to read stories in any genre. Above all, we’re looking for great stories, beautifully told.

How much does it cost to enter?
Entry costs £5, or £15 with feedback from the judges.

How many times can I enter?
As many as you like. Just remember to pay a separate entry fee for each story.

What are the prizes?
£150, £75 and £50 – winning stories are professionally edited and published on our website. We sometimes award joint winners and smaller commendation prizes.

I don’t live in the UK, can I still enter?
Yes, we’re based in the UK but accept stories from all over the world, as long as they’re written in English.

My story has already been published, can I enter it in your competition too?
No, your story must not have been published, or self-published, before. This includes appearing on any blog, website or forum.

Your story should not be a previous competition winner or be currently entered in another competition.

What sort of feedback do you give?
We’ll give structured, personalised feedback on your story’s strengths and areas for improvement, sent by email within six weeks of the competition closing.

How do you choose the winners?
The competition is judged blind – this means we don’t know who the author is until we’ve chosen the winners. We’ll publish our favourite stories based on plot, structure, characters, response to the theme and, above all, whether it drew us in.

The judges’ decision is final.

We reserve the right to extend the competition deadline to make sure we’re awarding prizes to stories of the highest quality.

What happens if I win?
We’ll contact you with the good news and pay your prize money via PayPal. Your professionally edited story will be published on our website. You retain the copyright. 1000 word challenge has the right to publish the story on the website and in future print publications or ebooks.