2025 Flash Fiction Writing Competition Winners

Derby Book Festival has announced the winners of its 2025 Flash Fiction Writing Competition, which this year was on the subject of ‘Voices’. The challenge was to write a story of up to 50words and 487 entries were submitted across five categories. The winning stories will be printed on Festival bookmarks with illustrations by a University of Derby Illustration and Design student.

The winners Nick Mance (18 and over), Zhuriel De la Rosa (12 – 17 years) and Logan Sparrow (11s and under) each receive a £50 Waterstones token and a framed copy of their illustrated story. There was also a category for HMP Foston Hall and HMP Sudbury. The winner at Foston Hall was Lauren and at Sudbury, Stephen. The judges also chose Highly Commended stories.

The winning stories are illustrated by Ailija Davidaviciute, who won a separate competition for University of Derby second-year Creative Communications students. The illustrated stories are then printed onto a set of Festival bookmarks, which will be available from 7 April, when tickets go on sale for all events. The Festival, which is funded by the University of Derby and Arts Council England with sponsorship from local businesses, will be held in venues across the city from 23 May – 1 June 2025. The Festival programme will be available at all venues, libraries and local cafes.

The winning stories were chosen by a panel of three: local author Tracy Bloom, Sue Wall, Festival Trustee and Simon Heywood, Senior Lecturer in Creative Writing at the University of Derby.

The competition, a key community activity since the Festival’s inception in 2015, attracts hundreds of entries each year. In previous years, writers have been invited to tackle a variety of themes: ‘Love’, ‘Secrets’, ‘Journeys’, ‘If Only’, ‘Our World’, ‘Home’, ‘Space’ and ‘Spring’. The theme can be interpreted as widely as the author wishes, so long as the story is no more than fifty words.

Festival Chair, Professor Keith McLay, Deputy Vice-Chancellor at the University of Derby, said:

“It is great to see such a positive response to the Flash Fiction Writing Competition once again this year. The increase in entries shows how the initiative continues to reach and inspire a range of people, and it is fantastic to see University of Derby students using this competition as a platform to showcase their creativity.”

The winners’ stories:

18s and over

Avow

Winner: Nick Mance

“…or forever hold your peace!” Silence. Her veiled eyes find mine, saying what her lips dare not. Pleading. I hold her gaze, my face too small a canvas. The quiet is torment. She looks back at her fiancé, even as I rise from the pew. “I DO!”

12 – 17s

The Unknown Voice

Winner: Zhuriel De la Rosa

Francis was on the brink of breaking when a voice whispered, “Stand up, Francis.” It was gentle yet firm, like a mother encouraging a child, a wife uplifting her husband, and a father inspiring his child. Then she realised… it was her own voice, pushing her to keep going.

11s and under

The Ocean’s Voice

Winner: Logan Sparrow

Ivy found a seashell and held it to her ear. “Hello?” a tiny voice echoed. “Who are you?” Ivy whispered “I’m the ocean’s whisper,” the voice replied. “I tell stories of hidden treasures and dancing waves!” Ivy grinned, keeping the shell close. Now, she had a secret friend.

HMP Foston Hall

Too Fast, Too Slow

Winner: Lauren

In she came at a trot,

- Canihaveanicecream?

- Pardon?

- Canihaveanicecream?

- Was that one word?

- Whatdoyoumean?

- You're talking too fast, what's the rush?

- Got. To. Keep. Up.

- Keep up with what?

- The. Voices. In. My. Head.

- Well, slowly, for me, what would you like?

- So! Hard! To! Talk! Slow! Ice. Cream. Please!

HMP Sudbury

Winner: Stephen

Voice

Her silence was deafening,

Her message loud and clear,

Yet no words left her mouth.

You can’t silence me,

As God has tried already,

My words topple barriers,

So, let it be known,

I won’t go down quietly.

I may be mute, but I still have a voice.

Highly Commended:

18s and over

Ten Thousand
Voices

Pete

One kick to win the game, Ball placed on the spot. Ten thousand voices chant my name, Then silence, as I take the shot. Hit hard to the keeper’s left hand side, They Pete dive full-length to push it wide. “Teatime!” Laughingly we collect our fleecy goalposts and head inside.

‘You Have One Old Message.’

Mister Guppy

It’s an aged land-line telephone, dust-skimmed and un-dialled for many years but still showing life through its red answer-phone light. Leaning into the sofa, I reach out to the small, corner table and press play. There you are - clear of the fog of dementia, defiant of death: “Hello Darling…”.

12 – 17s

W-words

Daniel

I-I think e-everyday. If I-I could j-just speak. Ev-Ever-Everyday I-I-I wish I could speak. L-Like everybody else. Bullies t-take a-ad-advantage. I-I'm j-just stuck in th-the mud. It i-is so so hard t-t-to m-make an-anything a reality w-when you are trapped in a n-nightm-mare. One w-wish. Speak w-words.

Unforgettable voice.

Vanesa Kyere

The phone rings. His name flashes on the screen. My heart pounds. I answered “hello “? Silence. Then breathing. Then click. I stare at the screen. He’s gone, again. But his voice lingers in my mind, words From the past whispering back. Some voices never leave, even When they should.

11s and under

Speak or hold your peace forever

Chimamanda

People say tell you actions are louder than words, I was told the same, but now that I'm older I realise that words are powerful as fists. A speech can silence a nation. Your words can soften the coldest of hearts, change the strongest minded people. Your voice is power.

Voices

Ted Mack

I was all alone in the library on the laptop until I heard a voice saying “open me and all your dreams will come true.” I crept towards a book that was shaking like a caterpillar ready to come out if it’s cocoon. “Should I open it?”

HMP Foston Hall

[untitled]

Emily

Growing up I never had a voice, 

No one gave me a chance of choice 

Then I learnt my voice can be heard
And people listening was quite assured.

Since then my voice is a powerful tool
Why didn't they teach me this at school?

Nobody's Listening To Me

Emma

Although I've spoken up in a big way
Why is nobody listening today
Either you are hard of hearing
While she is there lurking
I'm sat here hurting
I'm a grown woman who has no choice
But to speak up with my Big Loud Voice