Competition for Unpublished Short Stories of up to 3500 Words
Closing date for entries 1 July 2026
Entry Fee: £5
Can you transport a reader into the past? Can you tell a story which will grip the reader while immersing them in another time? Do you want the voices and the stories of the past to find a new audience in the modern world?
If your answer to any of the above is yes, then you could win £500, publication and the chance to learn from top industry professionals.
This competition is for unpublished short stories of up to 3500 words and held to celebrate the works of Dorothy Dunnett and the enduring appeal of Historical Fiction. Choose your theme, your genre and your period and bring the past alive. The only condition is that your story is set at least 35 years in the past.
You can find out more about Dorothy Dunnett and her work from the Dorothy Dunnett Society.
We are looking for great storytelling, fresh voices, new perspectives and real ambition in these stories which is why we’ve set a generous word limit. We encourage writers to explore any and every aspect of historical fiction from literary to adventure, to crime and romance and to be ambitious and imaginative in the themes they explore.
We’ve kept the entry fee as low as possible because we what to hear from as many writers as we can. Writing groups and charities are invited to email (chair@historicalwriters.org) to discuss arranging discounted, group or free entries for their members. These will be made available in line with our resources and solely at the discretion of the chair of the HWA.
The past is full of rich inspiration for fiction writers, so please, let us hear from you and bring us your stories and bring the past alive.
Shortlisted authors will be invited to the HWA Crown Award Ceremony in November 2026.
Timings:
Closing date for entries: 1 July 2026
Longlist announced on 23 September
Shortlisted, highly commended and winning stories announced on 7 October
First Prize:
The winning story will be published in Whispering Gallery and on Historiamag.com
The writer will receive £500 and be offered mentoring sessions from an author and agent.
Highly Commended:
Two further highly commended writers will also be offered mentoring.
Shortlisted:
All six shortlisted writers will have their stories published as an ebook / print on demand edition by the HWA and Dorothy Dunnett Society via Amazon.
Each shortlisted author will receive two print copies.
Need Inspiration?
Take a look Sean Lusk’s winning story from 2025 in Historia, the online magazine of the HWA.
Read the winner of the 2024 Competition St Kilda Bird Song by KF MacCarthy in Historia.
Or take a look at the 2023 Winner Hecate’s Daughter by Jo Tiddy also in Historia.
The shortlisted stories from the 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 Competitions are available as ebooks / print-on demand.
How to enter
- Make sure you have read and are happy with the competition details and the terms and conditions.
- Visit our Stripe page to pay for your competition entry: https://buy.stripe.com/5kQfZi8GvgOsfFz7lA7wA0b
- Check your email for your payment receipt. This can take a few minutes to come through.
Note the receipt number near the top of the email. It will be in the format 1234-5678. - Prepare your story for submission. Your story must be:
- Submitted as a Word document (.doc or .docx).
- Typed in Times New Roman 12 pt black font
- Double-spaced
- The name of the author must not appear anywhere within the story
- The name of the story and word count to be included within the header on every page.
- Email your entry to us with the story document attached.
Please ensure your email contains the following:- Your name
- The name you write under if different
- The title of your story
- Your preferred email address for correspondence
- Your address
- How you heard about this competition
- Your payment reference number (from your payment receipt email)
The email address to send you entry, or if you have any questions is chair@historicalwriters.org.