The aim of the Desperate Literature Short Fiction Prize is both to celebrate the best of new short fiction under 2000 words and to give winners the most visibility possible for their writing. That’s why we’ve teamed up with sixteen different literary and artistic institutions to not only offer cash prizes and writing retreats but also to ensure that all our shortlisters have the opportunity to be published in multiple print and online journals, have their work put in front of literary agents, and present their stories at an event.
The competition is organized by Desperate Literature, an international bookshop in Madrid, Spain.
“ We are looking for well crafted, boundary-pushing fiction. But a great story of any genre is a great story, so we’re also looking for anything with a strong sense of character, engagement, and tension.
Submissions must be previously unpublished works of fiction of up to 2000 words and must be in English.
Stories should be submitted in .pdf format.
Awards:-
• First Prize: 2,000 € and a week’s residency at the Civitella Ranieri Foundation
• Runner-up Prizes (2): 1,000 €
Deadline:- 19-04-2026
