Fish Publishing run three annual writing contests - the Fish Short Story Prize, the Fish One-Page Prize and the Fish Poetry Prize. We are honoured to have 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 starting the first Fish writing contests in 1994, Fish has published over 300 new authors. For many, Fish has been a stepping stone to further publications and successful writing careers. 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.
Ronan Bennett, John Hegley, Simon Munnery, Matthew Sweeney
- Judges of the Fish Writing Contests 2009/10 -
THE 17TH FISH SHORT STORY PRIZE WILL OPEN IN AUGUST 2010.
16th Fish Short Story Prize
Opens: NOW CLOSED
Closes: 30th November 2009
Results Announced: 17 March 2010
Judge: Ronan Bennett
Fish Publishing is pleased to announce the 16th Fish Short Story Prize.
The winning story of the Fish Short Story Prize will be the title story of the Fish Anthology 2009, and receive €3,000. All of the writers who are selected to appear in next year's Fish Anthology will receive part of the prize fund in recognition of their achievement.
Online Entries (€20). Postal entries (€25)
Full details of this writing contest can be found at Fish Short Story Prize 2009
The Fish One-Page Story Prize - Flash Fiction - 2010
Opens: NOW FINISHED
Closes: 20 March 2010
Results Announced: 30 April 2010
Judges: John Hegley and Simon Munnery
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 2010.
Full details of this writing competition can be found at 2010 One-Page Story Prize
THE 2011 PRIZE WILL OPEN LATER THIS YEAR.
The Fish Poetry Prize 2010
Opens: NOW FINISHED
Closes: 30 March 2010
Results Announced: 30 April 2010
Judge: Matthew Sweeney
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 2010 Fish Anthology.
First prize €1,000.
Online Entries fors 2011 €14. Postal entries €16
Full details of this poetry contest can be found at 2010 Fish Poetry Prize
THE 2011 PRIZE WILL OPEN LATER THIS YEAR.
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.