Short Story Writing Course Scheduled in Haworth

Upcoming two-day workshop aims to guide writers on crafting prize-winning short stories

A two-day course titled How to Write a Prize-Winning Short Story is planned to take place at the Brontë Writing Centre in Haworth on 17 and 18 January 2026. The course is designed to explore the techniques and business aspects of writing short fiction that can succeed in competitions.

Course Details and Content

The workshop will run from 10:00 to 15:00 on both days and will focus on analysing recent prize-winning short stories. Participants will study the literary and technical devices used in these works and examine their substance. The course will then apply these lessons to the attendees’ own writing, providing practical guidance on improving their short stories with the aim of entering and winning competitions.

The course fee for attending in person at the Brontë Writing Centre is £125. An online version of the course is also available on 24 and 25 January 2026, priced at £95.

Context on Short Story Competitions

Short story competitions are recognised as a valuable entry point into the publishing and literary industries. Many offer not only prize money but also opportunities such as literary agent representation. Some notable prizes include:

• The BBC National Short Story Award, with a top prize of £15,000
• The Manchester Short Story Writing Competition, awarding £10,000
• The Moth Short Story Prize, also offering £10,000
• The Bridport Prize, with a £5,000 award

In total, over £100,000 is awarded annually in short fiction prizes across various competitions.

Booking and Contact Information

Those interested in attending the Haworth course can make enquiries or book by contacting the organisers via email at brontewritingcentre@outlook.com.

The Brontë Writing Centre is located in Haworth, a village known for its literary heritage connected to the Brontë family.