Submissions are now open for our 11 May 2025 event Keep on Movin' on the theme of Journeys
The theme is JOURNEYS - that's journeys of all kinds. Obviously we want stories about physical journeys (trains, boats, planes, cars, cycling, walking, running, etc) which can include outings, travel or holidays. But we also want you to write about metaphorical, or emotional, or spiritual, or experiential journeys ie a journey through life or part of life that represents some sort of change or progress.
A journey short or long. You name it - if it's a journey of any kind you can write about it.
It must, of course, be a short story. We are not looking for travelogues or memoirs.
Key dates -
Submissions close Sunday 30 March
Results announced Wednesday 9 April
Tickets on sale from the Cotswold Playhouse website from Friday 11 April.
The event is called Keep on Movin', the title taken from the ground-breaking 1989 song by Soul II Soul.
I will be co-judging this time with short story author and novelist Chloe Turner. Chloe has read a number of times at SSS and won awards for her short fiction. Her novel Blue Hawk was published earlier this year.
Submissions are free as ever and we accept both new and previously published pieces. You may submit one or two pieces from 500 to 1500 words.
The Rules and Information on How to Submit are here.
My tips for writing for SSS are here.
Info on the judges is here.
Your story, if successful, will be included in our new anthology Stroud Short Stories Volume Four 2022-2025 due for publication in 2026.
Exciting! Chloe and I are looking forward to reading your brilliant stories!
John
