Our fifty-word Flash Fiction Writing competition has been organised each year since the Festival’s inception. Each year we choose a different theme - one that can be broadly interpreted - and ask you to write an original story of up to fifty words.
The competition is now closed for 2025. This year's theme was 'Voices'.
Other themes have been: Love, Home, Spring, Space, Secrets, Journeys, If Only, Our World and Light.
We received 487 entries across five categories and the winners will be announced on Friday 4 April.
Our fifty-word Flash Fiction Writing competition has been organised each year since the Festival’s inception. Each year we choose a different theme - one that can be broadly interpreted - and ask you to write an original story of up to fifty words.
It’s FREE to enter - and you can enter as many times as you’d like. Just remember to stick to no more than 50 words!
There are three age categories:
11 and under
12-17
18 and over.
We also have categories for HMP Foston Hall and HMP Sudbury.
A panel of local writers and creative writing specialists will judge the entries and there are prizes! There is one winner from each age category (under 11s, 12-17, over 18s) and the prizes each winner will receive are:
A £50 book token
The winning story printed on a bookmark that will promote our next Festivals
The story will be published on the Derby Book Festival website
An illustration student at the University of Derby will design an illustration for each story as part of a separate competition for the students.
This year's winning stories will be available on our website after all the winners have been informed. For more information sign up to receive our e-shot so you don't miss our news.