• Features
  • New books
  • Topics
    • Writing historical fiction
    • History on your screen
    • Authors’ favourite books
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Books
    • TV, Film and Theatre
    • Classics
  • Advertising
  • About
  • Contact
  • Get our newsletter

Historia Magazine

The magazine of the Historical Writers Association

  • Features
  • New books
  • Topics
    • Writing historical fiction
    • History on your screen
    • Authors’ favourite books
  • Interviews
  • Reviews
    • Books
    • TV, Film and Theatre
    • Classics
  • Advertising
  • About
  • Contact
  • Get our newsletter

HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition

8 May 2017 By Editor

Can you transport a reader into the past? Can you tell a story which will grip the reader while immersing them in another time? Do you want the voices and the stories of the past to find a new audience in the modern world?

If your answer to any of the above is yes, then you could win £500, publication and the chance to learn from top industry professionals as well as receiving your prize at a ceremony full of the stars of Historical Writing in London.

We are celebrating Historical Fiction and the works of Dorothy Dunnett which will be reissued by Penguin this autumn with a brand new competition for unpublished short stories of up to 3500 words. Choose your theme, your genre and your period and bring the past alive. The only condition is that your story is set at least 35 years in the past.

We are looking for great story-telling, fresh voices, new perspectives and real ambition in these stories which is why we’ve set a generous word limit.

We’ve kept the entry fee as low as possible, because we what to hear from as many writers as we can. The past is full of rich inspiration for fiction writers, so please, let us hear from you and bring us your stories and bring the past alive.

Please read the full terms and conditions please visit the HWA website.

Entering our competition is simple. Just visit the HWA website to make your payment via PayPal. On receipt of payment you will automatically receive details on how to submit your entry but please do ensure that you hit the RETURN TO MERCHANT button after payment to make sure. If you run into any problems (or do not receive the confirmation) please contact admin@historicalwriters.org

Please remember, all entries will be judged anonymously, so don’t include your name anywhere on the story itself. Our system will make sure we know who to contact if you win!

Deadline: 1st September 2017

Entry fee: £5.00 paid via PayPal

Prizes: £500, publication in the Whispering Gallery and on www.historiamag.com, mentoring session from author and agent, tickets to receive your award at the HWA Crowns Ceremony in London. 

Two Highly Commended entries will also receive mentoring and invitations to the award ceremony in London.

Share this article:Share on facebook
Facebook
Share on google
Google
Share on twitter
Twitter
Share on email
Email

Filed Under: Features, News Tagged With: Dorothy Dunnett, historical fiction, HWA, short stories, Short Story Competition

Search

What’s new in historia

Sign up for our monthly email newsletter:

Follow us on social media:

Follow us on Twitter Follow us on Facebook

New books by HWA members

In the Shadow of the Solstice by Meg Clothier

10 September 2026

Music to Die For at the Seaview Hotel by Glenda Young

10 September 2026

Threefold Death by Victoria Dowd

8 September 2026

See more new releases

Showcase

Editor’s picks

King Harold Godwinson’s death – did the Bayeux Tapestry embroider the truth?

7 August 2025

Human trafficking or slave trading? A Roman industry

8 November 2023

In Search of Mercia

11 September 2018

Popular topics

14th century 15th century 16th century 17th century 18th century 19th century 20th century 1920s 1930s Ancient Rome Anglo-Saxons author interview awards biography book review Catherine Hokin ebook France historical action historical crime historical fiction historical mystery historical thriller history HWA HWA Crown Awards London Matthew Harffy medieval new release paperback research review Scotland Second World War short stories spies the writing life Tudors Vikings women's history writer's life writing advice writing tips WWII

The Historical Writers’ Association

Historia Magazine is published by the Historical Writers’ Association. We are authors, publishers and agents of historical writing, both fiction and non-fiction. For information about membership and profiles of our member authors, please visit our website.

Read more about Historia.

Find out about advertising and promotional opportunities. Read our contributor guidelines.

Recent Additions

  • The 2026 HWA Crown Awards longlists
  • Offa of Mercia, a powerful king
  • In the Shadow of the Solstice by Meg Clothier

Search Historia

Contact us

If you would like to contact the editor of Historia, please email editor@historiamag.com

ISSN 2515-2254

Copyright © 2014–2026 The Historical Writers Association