Writing Contests

Fish Publishing runs four annual International Writing Contests.

Renowned poets and writers select ten from each contest for publication in the Annual Fish Anthology.

Fish endeavours to publish outstanding new writers and poets.

Submit Your Work Here

Sean Lusk
– Judge 2025 –

Short Story Prize

Open

OPEN (closes 10 Dec ’25)
€6,400 in Prizes + Publication

Judge: Sean Lusk
Word limit: 5,000

Technical problems has hampered our ability to send emails and process entries. As a result we have extended the closing date until Dec 10th. To those who have already entered, your story is safely uploaded and entered into the Short Story Prize.

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Elspeth Beard
– judge for 2026 –

Short Memoir Prize

Open

OPEN (closes 31 Jan ‘26)
Prizes + Publication

Judge: Ted Simon
Word limit: 4,000

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Tania Hershman,
judge for 2026.

Flash Fiction Prize

Open

OPEN – (closes 28 Feb ’26)
Prizes + Publication

Judge: Tania Hershman
Word limit: 300

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Billy Collins,
Judge for 2026

Poetry Prize

Open

OPEN – (closes 31 March ’26)
Prizes + Publication

Judge: Billy Collins
Word limit: 60 lines

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The Lockdown Prize

Closed

CLOSED (closed 15 June ’20)
Prose / Poem / Haiku or Senryu

9 pieces to be published

POEMS / POCKET PROSE / HAIKU

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News & Articles

Fish Anthology 2025 LAUNCH

27th June 2025

This launch was wonderful. My personal favorite. The charming Marino Church in Bantry had the smell of fresh paint and new comfy seats, occupied by literary lovers, enjoying the festival, or locals who regularly attend the Fish launches. I will post photos here soon of the event. We had 12 of the authors there to […]

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Poetry Prize 2025: RESULTS

15th May 2025

Winners Short-list Long-list Here are the winners of the Fish Poetry Prize 2025, selected by Billy Collins, to be published in the Fish Anthology 2025. Below you will find short biographies of the winners and the Long and Short Lists. From all of us at Fish we congratulate the poets whose poems […]

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Flash Fiction Prize 2025: RESULTS

18th April 2025

Winners Short-list Long-list From all of us at Fish, thank you for entering your flash stories. Congratulations to the writers who were short or long-listed, and in particular to the 10 winners whose flash stories will be published in the Fish Anthology 2025. The launch will be during the West Cork Literary Festival, Bantry, […]

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Short Memoir Prize 2025: RESULTS

1st April 2025

Winners Short-list Long-list On behalf of all of us at Fish, we congratulate the 10 winners. Their memoirs will be published in the Fish Anthology 2025. The launch will be on 16th July ’25 at the West Cork Literary Festival. The winning writers who attend will read from their memoirs. The event is open […]

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Short Story Prize 2024/25: RESULTS

15th March 2025

Winners Short-list Long-list On behalf of all of us at Fish, congratulations to all of you who made the long and the short-lists. The 10 winners will be published in the Fish Anthology 2025. See Sean’s comments on the winning stories below. The launch will take place during the West Cork Literary Festival, Bantry, […]

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