BBC National Short Story Award A project of BBC (see other related projects). About The BBC National Short Story Award is one of the most prestigious Awards for a single short story. No Fees! This contest does not charge mandatory fees. Limited Demographic: Submissions are restricted to British nationals/UK residents, 18 or older, and previously published in the UK. Country of Publication & Year Established United Kingdom Established in 2005 Publication Media & Contest Frequency Audio Publication Audio PublicationAwarded 1 x per yearElectronic Publication Electronic PublicationAwarded 1 x per year AI Policy Human-created work only; no AI use allowed Statistics Synopsis Slower BBC National Short Story Award's overall average response time is slower than most contests. Fiction Temp Closed Audience:Open to a broad Audience.Genres: General Open to all/most SubgenresLengths: Short Story: 1,000 - 7,500 words. Novelette: 7,500 - 8,000 words.Styles:Open to all/most Styles, including: Literary.Topics: Open to all/most Topics.Winner's Prize:Professional payment (5 or more US cents per word) Professional payment. Details: GBP £15,000 for winner.Submissions:Method: Online form. Reprints: Reprints are NOT allowed.Simultaneous submissions: Unknown.Multiple entries: Multiple entries are NOT allowed.Media: Text. Always check guidelines for details and restrictions. If you aren't familiar with these terms, see our glossary. Go to contest webpage Report: Submission/Response Correction/Update New Cover ArtSocial Platforms:None known For the Editor(s): Request Interview Duosuma Submission Manager Link to Duotrope BBC National Short Story Award Submission Statistics The statistics in this section are compiled from submission reports sent to us through our submission tracker. They are not provided by the publication's editors/staff or by Duotrope's admins. Information in this section is updated a few times per day. Learn more about the statistics. Filter: Category: Group by submission Include outliers Include related projects Accuracy We have received 3 reports from 3 different members within the past 12 months, not including pending responses (see below). The more responses reported, the more accurate the information. Days Reported 179 min | 202.3 mean avg | 194.0 median | 234 max days (28.4 std dev) Pending 2 responses are pending (183 min | 183.5 mean avg | 183.5 median | 184 max days waiting | 2.1 std dev) from 2 different members This only includes pending reports from people who have been active on Duotrope within the past 30 days Other Information Most recent response reported was received on 11 Sep 2026. Responses have been received for submissions sent as recently as 16 Mar 2026. Date compiled: 15 Sep 2026 09:03 UTC (less than a minute ago). View report of recent responses from this project Work submitted here was also submitted to...This section is available to subscribers only. Sign up and start your free trial today!Members accepted here also had work accepted by...This section is available to subscribers only. Become a member and start your free trial today! Your Submissions This section is available to subscribers only. Join today! Related ProjectsAfternoon Reading DNQBBC Radio 4: Opening Lines ON HIATUSBBC Upload Before SubmittingWe cannot guarantee that the information on this page is correct. It is not unusual for publications to evolve or close without notice. We do our best to keep up, but it isn't always possible. Duotrope listings do not imply endorsement or recommendation of the project being listed. Before submitting, you should use your own judgment to determine whether the project meets your standards.Always read the full guidelines provided by the publisher.Try to read at least one previous publication to get a better idea of what the editor would like to see.Unless the publisher's guidelines state otherwise, always use industry standard manuscript formatting.Be professional, patient, and persistent. DatesLast Updated: 21 Aug 2026We check their guidelines for changes every four weeks, and we audit the listing twice a year. Cookie Consent: This site uses secure first-party cookies for essential, preference-setting, and statistical purposes. We do not use any marketing, advertising, or third-party cookies. Read our full cookie policy. Accept All Cookies Allow Essential Cookies Only