A competition for unpublished short stories of up to 2,200 words. We accept work on all subjects, so write about anything and everything you fancy – we love to read it. First prize £2,000 plus two optional extras: a week’s writing retreat at Chawton House Library, and a day with a Virago editor. Second prize: £500. Third prize: £250. Three other finalists each receive £100. Deadline March 17, 2014. All winning stories will be published in the Jun/Jul/Aug 2014 edition of Mslexia.

Visit the website: https://www.mslexia.co.uk/whatson/msbusiness/scomp_active.php —