Festival invites entries to flash fiction competition

Derby Book Festival is encouraging adults and children to enter its annual Flash Fiction Writing Competition.

It is challenging people to write a story or poem in up to 50 words on the subject of ‘Hope’.

The annual competition has been organised every year since the festival started in 2015.

It has three age categories: 11 years and under, 12 to 17 years and 18 years and over.

Entries for all categories will be judged by a panel, which includes creative writing specialists and there will be one winner in each category with a prize of a £50 book token.

There are also separate categories for HMP Foston Hall and HMP Sudbury.

The winning stories will be printed on a set of festival bookmarks and distributed across Derby and Derbyshire to promote Derby Book Festival, which has two annual programmes of book-related events: the Summer Festival from 22 to 31 May and the Autumn Edition from 13 to 15 November.

In previous years, people have been invited to tackle a variety of themes: ‘Love’, ‘Secrets’, ‘Journeys’, ‘Space’, ‘Our World’, ‘Home’, ‘Light’, ‘Spring’ and ‘Voices’, attracting hundreds of entries each year.

The theme can be interpreted as widely as the author wishes, so long as the story or poem is no longer than f50 words.

Professor Keith McLay, festival chair and deputy vice-chancellor of the University of Derby, said: “The Flash Fiction competition is a chance for writers to share their voice, stretch their creativity and to be a part of something inspiring.

“We aim to gather the widest possible range of original stories on this year’s theme – hope – in just a few powerful words.

“The Flash Fiction competition is an opportunity to tell a tale that matters, remind readers why storytelling remains so powerful and to share a richness of perspectives.

“The University of Derby is delighted once more to be a principal partner of the Derby Book Festival, and I look forward to reading the inspiring tales that this competition always generates.”

The closing date for the competition is 10pm on Friday 13 February. To enter click here Flash Fiction Competition .