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The magazine of the Historical Writers Association

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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Fiction and the works of Dorothy Dunnett which will be reissued by Penguin this autumn with a brand new competition for unpublished short stories of up to 3500 words.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.

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

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