It’s that time again!
What time is that?
The clocks have gone forward, spring has sprung, and the annual British Fantasy Society Short Story Competition and Art Competition are once more open for entries!
What does that mean?
We want your short stories and art! And you know, you don’t have to be a member of the BFS to join in (although members get a free entry every year!).
The rules?
Simple! Find these here and here.
The prizes on offer?
For both competitions, the top three entries will all be published in BFS Horizons, and the winners will receive cash awards and a year’s membership of the British Fantasy Society. It’s all up for grabs.
What do you want?
Ah, now that’s a good question. Subject to the entry guidelines of course, anything is fair game, but here’s a few tips:
- Tell a complete story. Start, middle, end. It doesn’t necessarily matter what order they’re in, but all stories need a structure.
- Constant humour can be difficult to pull off. Remember that even comic fantasy needs some tonal variances.
- Make us invested in your characters. Unlikeable narrators or POV characters can hold a reader back.
- Secondary worlds are cool, but don’t spend half the story explaining the history – show us how characters navigate your world.
- Don’t self-reject! All shades of the fantastic are welcome!
For artworks, any piece with a speculative element is welcome.
How long do I have?
Submissions close at midnight on 30th June 2026. Any entries received after this time will not be considered.
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