Write. Win. Enjoy.
The Coffee Fiction Challenge is a small, joyful celebration of storytelling — the kind that feels a bit like settling in with your favourite cup. Warm, simple, and quietly exciting. For the price of a coffee, you’re invited to pause the rush of the day, open a fresh page, and let your imagination wander wherever it pleases. No pressure, no pretence — just the pleasure of playing with words, brewing ideas, and seeing what rises to the surface. Whether you’re here to chase a prize, share a spark of creativity, or simply enjoy the ritual of writing for fun, this challenge offers a cosy corner to do exactly that. So take a sip, take a breath, and start your story.
About the Coffee Fiction Challenge
The Coffee Fiction Challenge is a small, heart‑warming writing competition designed for anyone who loves stories, daydreams, or the simple pleasure of putting words on a page. For the price of a coffee, you’re invited to take part in a creative ritual that’s as comforting as a warm mug between your hands — a moment to pause, play, and let your imagination wander. This challenge isn’t about pressure or perfection; it’s about curiosity, mischief, and the joy of discovering what your mind brews when you give it a little space.
There are four entry points: Summer, Autumn, Winter and Spring.
Spring: Competition opens on 1st April. Submissions close on 31st May. For 2026 only - Submission deadline extended to 30th June.
Summer: Competition opens 1st July. Submissions close on 31st August.
Autumn: Competition opens 1st October. Submissions close on 30th November.
Winter: Competition opens 1st January. Submissions close 28th February.
How It Works
Writers of all levels are welcome. Your task is simple: craft a short story of up to 10,000 words and submit it through our entry form. Every story is judged anonymously, ensuring fairness and letting your writing speak entirely for itself. Once entries close, our panel reads each piece with care, looking for originality, voice, and that spark of something special — whether it’s humour, heart, or a clever twist that lingers like the last sip of a good drink.
Entry Fee, Multiple Entries & Prizes
The entry fee is just £5, intentionally set to match the cost of a café coffee — a small treat for yourself and a gentle nudge to indulge in creativity. You’re welcome to submit as many stories as you like; each one is treated as a separate entry and requires its own £5 fee. Think of it as ordering another cup because you’re enjoying the moment — every fresh idea deserves its own space to shine.
From all entries, we award:
£50 for First Place
£20 for Second Place
Entry fee refunded for 3rd–5th Place
And because good stories deserve to be shared, the top five entries — the winner, runner‑up, and shortlisted pieces — will be published on our website for everyone to enjoy.
What You Can Submit
You can enter original short stories written entirely by you. They should be previously unpublished and fit within the word limit stated on the entry form. Any genre is welcome — cosy, dark, whimsical, romantic, speculative, funny, or something that refuses to be labelled. If it feels like you, it belongs here.
Fair Judging & Privacy
All entries are anonymised before judging. Your name is never attached to your story during the reading process, and your details are kept private. We believe in fairness, transparency, and celebrating creativity without bias.
Why Enter?
Because writing is a small act of magic. Because stories brighten days. Because creativity deserves a place in your routine. And because sometimes, the best rewards aren’t the prizes at all — they’re the worlds you build, the characters you meet, and the quiet pride of finishing something you enjoyed
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The Coffee Fiction Challenge is open to anyone who enjoys writing, whether you’re a complete beginner, a seasoned storyteller, or someone who only writes when the mood strikes. You can enter from any location, as long as the story you submit is your own original, unpublished work. Entries must be in English. Writers may submit multiple entries, and each story counts as a separate submission with its own £5 entry fee.
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Stories must be your own original, unpublished work and written specifically for this competition. Entries must be in English. You can enter as many times as you like, with each story counted as a separate entry and requiring its own £5 fee. Please keep your name and any identifying details out of the story itself, as all entries are judged anonymously to keep things fair. Any genre is welcome, as long as your piece fits the word limit (10,000 words). By entering, you agree that if your story places in the top five, it may be published on our website for readers to enjoy.
For more details you can look at the terms and conditions.
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To take part, simply write an original short story that fits within the word limit of 10,000 words. When your story is ready, submit it through the form and complete the £5 entry payment — each story you send counts as a separate entry, so you’re welcome to enter more than one if inspiration keeps flowing. Please leave your name and any identifying details off the story itself, as all entries are judged anonymously to keep things fair. Once submitted, your piece will join our reading queue, and if it places in the top five, it will be published on our website for everyone to enjoy.
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Who can enter?
The challenge is open to unpublished writers of any age and from any location. As long as your story is your own original, unpublished work, you’re welcome to join in.
Can I submit more than one story?
Yes — you can submit as many stories as you like. Each entry is treated separately and requires its own £5 entry fee.
What kind of story can I write?
Any genre is welcome. Your story just needs to stay within the word limit of 10,000 words.
How do I enter?
Write your story, submit it through the entry form, and complete the £5 payment. Make sure your story contains no identifying details, as judging is anonymous.
How are the stories judged?
All entries are judged anonymously by our panel, who look for originality, voice, creativity, and that special spark that makes a story linger.
What can I win?
Prizes include £50 for First Place, £20 for Second Place, and entry‑fee refunds for 3rd–5th Place.
Will my story be published?
Yes — if your story places in the top five, it will be published on our website for readers to enjoy.
Can I enter if English isn’t my first language?
Absolutely. The challenge is open to all unpublished writers, and we welcome stories from every background and voice. However, all entry’s must be written in English.
Can I withdraw my entry?
You can withdraw your story at any time, but entry fees are non‑refundable