Fish Publishing runs four annual writing contests - the Fish Short Story Prize, the Fish Flash Fiction Prize and the Fish Poetry Prize and the Fish Short Memoir Prize. We are honoured to have had renowned authors and poets lend their time and wisdom to the judging process. It is they who select the final shortlist of stories and poems from the three writing competitions to be published in the annual Fish Anthology. The anthology is launched during the West Cork Literary Festival.
The aim of the Fish writing competitions is to get new authors and poets into print.
Since the first Fish writing contests in 1994, Fish has published over 350 new authors. For many, Fish has been a stepping stone to further publication and a successful writing career. See Alumni for past winners of the Fish Writing Contests.
To view our catalogue of anthologies containing the winning stories from previous writing competitions click Fish Books.
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David Mitchell, David Shields and Billy Collins -
Judges of the Fish Short Story, Memoir and Poetry Prizes 2011/12
18th Fish Short Story Prize
Opens: 1 Aug 2011
Closes: 30 November 2011
Results Announced: 17 March 2012
Judge: David Mitchell
Fish Publishing is pleased to announce the 18th Fish Short Story Prize.
The top ten stories will be published in the 2012 Fish Anthology.
The overall winner will receive €3,000, of which €1,000 is for travel to the launch of the Anthology. Second prize is a week at Anam Cara Writers' and Artists' Retreat and €300. Third prize €300.
Online Entries: €20 (€10 subsequent entries). Postal entries: €22 (€12 subsequent entries)
The Fish Flash Fiction Prize - (Short Short Story Contest)- 2012
Opens: 1 Oct 2011
Closes: 20 March 2012
Results Announced: 30 April 2012
Judge: Micheal Collins
This competition accepts stories of max 300 words on any theme. €1,000 First Prize. The best 10 stories will be published in the Fish Anthology 2012.
Online Entries: €14 (€8 subsequent entries). Postal entries: €16 (€10 subsequent entries)
Full details of this writing competition can be found at 2012 Short Short Story Contest
The Fish Poetry Prize 2012
Opens: 1 Oct 2011
Closes: 30 March 2012
Results Announced: 30 April 2012
Judge: Billy Collins
There is no restriction on the theme of poems, but there is a word limit of 200.
All poems must be written in English and must not have been published previously.
The best 10 poems will be published in the 2012 Fish Anthology.
First prize €1,000.
Online Entries: €14 (€8 subsequent entries). Postal entries: €16 (€10 subsequent entries)
The Fish Short Memoir Contest 2012
Opens: 1 Aug 2011
Closes: 30 January 2012
Results Announced: 30 March 2012
Judge: David Shields.
There is a word limit of 4,000.
All memoirs must be written in English and must not have been published previously.
The best 10 memoirs will be published in the 2012 Fish Anthology.
First prize €1,000.
Online Entries: €15 (€10 subsequent entries). Postal entries: €17 (€12 subsequent entries)
The Fish Critique Service is available for writers who require an appraisal of their work prior to entering a writing contest, or at any time. For interesting comments on short story writing from acclaimed authors, go to Writing Short Stories.