Terms and conditions

The Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize is an annual short story competition for both published and unpublished writers, writing original fiction in English, and from anywhere in the world. The award offers a choice of prize to the winner: either a cash prize of £1000 or year-long editorial support from the directors of Galley Beggar Press.

Please read the eligibility and entry rules carefully before beginning the submission process. Submission of an entry is taken as acceptance of entry rules. For clarification or any further queries, please email: info@galleybeggar.co.uk.

  1. The competition is open to both unpublished and published writers, and from anywhere in the world.
  2. The cost of entry per submission is £10.00. All proceeds will be used in the administration of the award and to support Galley Beggar Press (a publisher set up with the specific remit of sponsoring ambitious, groundbreaking writing) in its future publications and support of emerging writers.
  3. Entrants must pay the £10.00 entry per submission, in order to be eligible.
  4. Only submissions received and paid for by mid-night on 30 September 2016 will be considered. (Which is to say the middle of Friday night in the UK)
  5. Entries that are not paid for or are submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
  6. Both published and unpublished authors are welcome to enter, but stories that have been previously published will not be eligible.
  7. The story must be the entrant’s own creation and not infringe upon the right or copyright of any person or entity.
  8. Entries must not exceed 6,000 words.
  9. The story must be written in English.
  10. Translated stories are welcomed but must be clearly marked ‘Translated’.
  11. There are no age restrictions.
  12. When submitting, please supply an additional page with your contact details, name, and the title of the story.
  13. Online and email submissions should be in Word.doc or PDF.
  14. Long-listed and short-listed entrants will be notified by email on the day of the long-list and short-list announcements.
  15. Unsuccessful entrants will not be contacted.
  16. No editorial feedback will be offered to unsuccessful entrants.
  17. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the judging process.
  18. Galley Beggar Press will have the exclusive right to publish the long-listed, short-listed, and winning stories for a period of six months from first publication. After six months, rights revert to the authors.
  19. In terms of the prizes, the winner will be invited to choose between a cash prize of £1000 or year-long editorial support for a writing project. If the winning entrant chooses instead to receive editorial support from the directors of Galley Beggar Press, the support will take the form of five 1-hour face-to-face (direct meetings or, if this is not possible, Skype) sessions. In company with this, the directors will undertake to read the winning entrant’s work-in-progress (up to an agreed upon number of words – for example, roughly the equivalent of a 70,000 word novel, or a collection of short stories).
  20. Submission for the Galley Beggar Press Short Story Award is not a condition for publication as part of the Galley Beggar Singles Club. Authors who wish to submit their stories for Singles Club consideration should do so via the usual routes.
  21. Only submissions which meet all terms and conditions will be considered.
  22. By entering the awards, each entrant agrees to be bound by the terms and conditions.