The Hailsham FM Short Story Competition 2026 is now on…
We are inviting writers of all ages to submit a short story to feature in the fifth series of Stringtown Stories, airing in the autumn of 2026.
Whether you’ve never written a story before or you quietly scribble ideas just for fun, this competition is for you. Anyone with an imagination and a story to tell is encouraged to take part—no experience, qualifications, or confidence required. It’s a chance to play with words, explore an idea, and see where your creativity takes you.
Your short story should be no more than 1500 words long and doesn’t have to be perfect; it just must be yours. Take the leap, trust your voice, and who knows—you could be hearing your story read out on the radio.
Winning stories will be professionally produced, turned into an audiobook, broadcast as part of our new series in autumn 2026, and narrated by actor Brian Capron.
Stories should be sent by email to info@hailshamfm.uk with ‘Short Story Competition’ in the subject line.
Or by post to:
Short Story Competition Series 5
Hailsham FM
2b St Mary’s Walk
Hailsham
BN27 1AF
Closing date for entries is 31st May 2026. Full terms and conditions available via www.hailshamfm.com
Good Luck, and we look forward to reading your story!
Terms and Conditions
To enter:
- We need an original story that is no more than 1500 words long.
- We ask where possible submissions be double line spaced.
- Entries will be accepted by either email or post.
- Submissions by email should be sent to: info@hailshamfm.uk with Short Story Competition in the subject.
- Submissions by post should be sent to: Short Story Competition Series 5, Hailsham FM, 2b St Marys Walk, Hailsham, BN27 1AF
- All entries should include your Name, contact details and Age.
- Entrants should be a full-time resident of the UK
- Competition is open from Age 10 and will be judged across three age categories Children: 10 – 12 / Teens: 13- 18 / Adult 19 and above.
- Closing date midnight on the Sunday 31st May 2026
- Winners will be announced in September 2026 on ‘Wayne on Sunday’– Sunday evenings from 5pm
- Stories are independently judged by a panel, and the judges are not part of Hailsham FM Ltd.
- Only one entry, per author.
- Any story that we feel that has been produced, enhanced or edited by ChatGPT or any other AI creation tool is will not be considered. Use of AI should be restricted to basic spelling and grammar checks only.
- Winning stories may be subject to slight alterations by the narrator, upon production to ensure continuity.
- All Stories should be suitable to play out on air.
- Winning stories will be made into an audio recording and voiced by a professional voice actor.
- Winning stories will be aired on 95.9 Hailsham FM and via other streaming services subscribed to by Hailsham FM
- Date of Transmission of new series of winning stories will be shared in the Autumn 2026 on air.
- Recorded stories can be repeated in future and played again in new series or within other programmes or used for promotion without notification to the authors.
- A copy of the audio recording will be shared with winners after the story is aired not before.
