Author Archives: Oxford Flash Fiction Prize

The 2025 short-list

We are thrilled to announce our short list for the winter Oxford Flash Fiction Prize 2025. If your story is listed, please do not identify which story belongs to you, as the judges are hard at work making their decisions. SHORT LISTED STORIES We will be in touch with the authors of each over the next fewContinue reading “The 2025 short-list”

The 2025 long-list

We are thrilled to announce our long list for the winter Oxford Flash Fiction Prize 2025. Congratulations to all of the authors who reached the list and for all those who entered this round. As always, we saw a wonderful range of genres, topics and stories from all over the world, and it was hugelyContinue reading “The 2025 long-list”

First Place: Hold by Andrew Lang

I remember you running faster than the other mums on sports day, I remember you saying, I’m not like the others I’m way out weird, I remember you saying, dry it up and put it away, never leave anything by the sink, I remember you singing on your guitar, oh the buzzing of the beesContinue reading “First Place: Hold by Andrew Lang”

Second Place: The Worst-Case Scenario by Emily Rinkema

At the end of the first week at my new job, Tina from Sales makes me go to a lunchtime baby shower with her. I can’t think of many things that could be worse–maybe a pap smear, maybe a water park, maybe a plane crash–but she tells me I have to go, that it’ll makeContinue reading “Second Place: The Worst-Case Scenario by Emily Rinkema”

Third Place: More Sky Than Anywhere by Chris Cottom

By the morning, the storm has blown itself out but left the village with no electricity. We wrap up and stroll down the hill to the ramshackle barn where, in faded black paint, a sign proclaims ‘Veg in Shed’. I point out the cluster of nests under the eaves and you tell me to expectContinue reading “Third Place: More Sky Than Anywhere by Chris Cottom”

New Voice Award: The life cycle of frogs by Victoria Harris

5. Tadpoles There they are: translucent blobs and tails like commas wriggling and squirming in the tank. Little mouth parts mowing away at the algae. Andie’s face is pressed up against the tank, big green eyes growing wide like forest pools as she watches. It’s the first time her parents have brought her to seeContinue reading “New Voice Award: The life cycle of frogs by Victoria Harris”

Oxford Prize: She writes herself a different life by Susan Wigmore

One in which her mother doesn’t die tragically giving birth even though it means sacrificing any likeness to Mary Shelley. One in which her father spends weekends at home (like other dads) instead of showing people Grand-Design houses he wants himself. One in which her older brother isn’t in his room all day listening to DarkContinue reading “Oxford Prize: She writes herself a different life by Susan Wigmore”

The 2024 summer short-list

We are thrilled to announce our short list for the summer Oxford Flash Fiction Prize 2024 in partnership with the Bodleian Libraries’ Kafka: Making of an Icon exhibition at the University of Oxford. If your story is listed, please do not identify which story belongs to you, as the judges are hard at work making their decisions. SHORT LISTEDContinue reading “The 2024 summer short-list”

The 2024 summer long-list

We are thrilled to announce our long list for the summer Oxford Flash Fiction Prize 2024 in partnership with the Bodleian Libraries’ Kafka: Making of an Icon exhibition at the University of Oxford. Congratulations to all of the authors who reached the list and for all those who entered this round. As always, we saw a wonderfulContinue reading “The 2024 summer long-list”