H.E. Bates Short Story Competition
The H.E. Bates Short Story 2011 Competition runs yearly, closing date Nov/Dec and the 2011 judge was Katie Ffforde. Why am I saying this, and why have its own page? Because the H.E. Bates competition is run by the Northampton Writers Group of which I am Chair and therefore a competition panelist. 
Full details can be seen here (and rules and entry details here) but the following is a summary:
- Write us a short story on the subject of your choice.
- The competition is open to all writers.
- Entries must be no longer than 2000 words in length.
- 1st Prize £150; 2nd Prize £100; 3rd Prize £50
- Special prize for the best story written by a Northamptonshire writer £50 (not awarded if the story has won 1st, 2nd or 3rd Prize)
- In addition, a prize of £50 will be awarded for the best story by a writer who is under 18 years old on the closing date for entries.
- The entry fee is £4 for each story submitted, 3 stories for £10 – or £1 for each story submitted by an Under 18 writer. Entrants are invited to submit as many stories as they wish.
- The judging panel will comprise members of the Northampton Writers’ Group.
- Closing date for entries for 2011 was Thursday 1st December 2011 and will probably be a little earlier in 2012.
- Prizes awarded (by the judge) at a prize giving ceremony a few weeks thereafter.
While the standard is usually high, and the rules stuck to, one of the stories I read in 2010 didn’t have a beginning or end (only a middle) so lost points for that (I start at 10 and work downwards). Nick Hamlyn, our Secretary and competition organiser, let it go through to the panel which I wouldn’t have done as to me it wasn’t a short story so he’s clearly kinder than me.
So there you have it. Nick (who gets your stories first, removes the names then distributes them), myself and the other group members look forward to reading your stories. I always say I’m firm but fair (you can hear how I critique in one of my red pen podcasts) and whilst I can’t be bribed (unless it’s with banoffee pie), if you have any questions feel free to email me.
The Northampton Writers’ Group (critique group) meets every other Thursday night in central Northampton, England - email me if you’re local and are interested in joining.
