Dinah Marshall Backhouse Prizefor Short Fiction 2026–2027
All Information
The inaugural Dinah Marshall Backhouse Prize celebrates original short fiction with strong characterisation, imagination and emotional depth. Writers may submit stories on any theme, giving entrants room to explore literary, contemporary, speculative or other forms of fiction. The three winning stories will receive cash prizes and be published in a forthcoming Backhouse Press anthology planned for autumn 2027. The prize is open internationally and can suit emerging writers who have a polished, unpublished short story ready for submission.
Requirements checklist
- 01
Be at least 18 years old.
- 02
Submit an original short-fiction story of 1,000–5,000 words.
- 03
Ensure the work is unpublished and written by you.
- 04
Submit in DOC, DOCX or PDF format, double-spaced, using a readable 12-point font.
- 05
Remove your name and identifying details from the manuscript because judging is blind.
- 06
Follow the publisher’s rules on AI-generated writing.