Oxfordshire Libraries Short Story Competition 2027
Find out about the Oxfordshire Libraries annual writing competition
Take part in this year’s short story competition! The winners of each age category will see their story published as an eBook, available on the Oxfordshire Libraries Overdrive page and Libby app, for members of Oxfordshire Libraries to borrow in 2027.
Previous winners have written some of the most borrowed titles in our collection. This annual competition aims to inspire new writers to express themselves and tell their own original stories.
Age categories
The age categories are:
- Children: 7 – 11 years old
- Young adult: 12 – 17 years old
- Adult: 18 years old and above
Children’s stories can be up to 1000 words. Stories by young adults and adults can be up to 3000 words.
The competition is free to enter, and entries can be submitted from Monday 14 September 2026. The closing date is Sunday 15 November 2026.
How to enter
To enter your story, complete the online form before the competition’s closing date on Sunday 15 November 2026. The entry form will be available on this webpage from Monday 14 September 2026.
Entries from children and young adults, up to and including 17-year-olds, will need parent or carer consent to accompany their entry.
Questions
If, after reading the terms and conditions and the How to enter section, you have any questions, please contact ShortStoryCompetition@oxfordshire.gov.uk
Entry terms and conditions
Eligibility
- The competition is open to individuals who:
• live, work or study in Oxfordshire; or
• hold a current Oxfordshire Libraries membership.
Employees of Oxfordshire Libraries are not eligible to enter. - Entrants must be aged:
• 7-11 years (Children's category)
• 12-17 years (Young Adult category)
• 18 years and over (Adult category)
Age will be determined as at the competition closing date of 15 November 2026. - Entrants under the age of 18 must have the consent of a parent or legal guardian, who must complete the required consent declaration when the entry is submitted.
- The competition is intended for unpublished and emerging writers. Authors with a commercially published book or eBook are not eligible to enter.
Entry requirements
- Entries should be suitable for readers within the entrant's own category.
- Entries should be written predominantly in English.
- Each entry must be original, fictional, in a short story format, and entirely the work of the entrant. It should have not been previously published.
- Entries must be complete, standalone short stories. Extracts from longer works, including novel chapters, will not be accepted.
- Oxfordshire Libraries reserves the right to disqualify any entry that is incomplete, illegible, fraudulent, defamatory, unlawful, offensive, or otherwise inappropriate.
- Entries must be the work of a single author. Joint or group submissions will not be accepted.
- Entries must not exceed:
• 1,000 words (Children's category)
• 3,000 words (Young Adult category)
• 3,000 words (Adult category)
Word counts include the title. There is no minimum word count.
How to enter
- Entries will only be accepted through the form on the Oxfordshire Libraries Short Story Competition web page. Submission of an entry is taken as acceptance of all the terms and conditions of entry.
- The opening date for entries is Monday 14th September 2026
- The closing date for all entries is midnight on Sunday 15th November 2026. Entries submitted after that time will not be accepted.
- Entrants may submit one entry only.
- Entrants must provide the following details via the submission form:
- name
- category of entry (children / young adult / adult)
- word count
- email address
- Entries must be submitted as a Word document, PDF, or other commonly used word-processing format. The font size should be 12pt or larger.
- All entries will receive an acknowledgement of receipt.
Judging and prizes
- The judges' decision is final, and no correspondence will be entered into regarding the outcome.
- No individual feedback will be provided.
- The prize is non-transferable and no cash alternative will be offered.
- Winners will be notified directly in February 2027 and may also be announced on Oxfordshire Libraries' website and social media channels.
Publication rights
- Copyright in all entries remains with the author.
- The winning author grants Oxfordshire Libraries an exclusive, royalty-free licence to publish the winning story on its Overdrive platform and associated library services for a period of one year from the date of first publication.
- Following that period, the exclusive licence will automatically expire and the story will be removed from the platform.
Data Protection
- Oxfordshire Libraries will only use information supplied by you for the purposes of administering this competition.
- Information will be processed in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and UK General Data Protection Regulation.
General conditions
- By submitting an entry to the Oxfordshire Libraries Short Story Competition, entrants agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions.
- Oxfordshire Libraries reserves the right to verify eligibility and disqualify entries that breach these Terms and Conditions.
- Oxfordshire Libraries reserves the right to amend, suspend or cancel the competition where necessary due to circumstances beyond its reasonable control.
- Any matter not covered by these Terms and Conditions will be determined by Oxfordshire Libraries.