Judged by Tessa Hadley

1st Prize: £2,000 plus a week's writing retreat at Chawton House Library* and a day with a Virago editor** 
2nd Prize: £500 
3rd Prize: £250

Three other finalists win £100 each.

All winning stories will be published in issue 54 of Mslexia, published in June 2012.

Entry fee: £10 per story. Professional critiquing service £45 per story (www.mslexia.co.uk/critiquing).

Try a series of three 'Stealing Stories' writing workshops devised by Sarah Salway to help you generate work for the competition: www.mslexia.co.uk/shortstoryworkshop

* The CHL retreat is accommodation only, dates to be agreed between CHL and the competition winner. 
** The day with a Virago editor must be taken at a time that is suitable to both Virago and the competition winner.
The winner is responsible for any other expenses involved with attending the CHL retreat and the day with a Virago editor, i.e travel, food, etc. The prizes are optional additions to the £2,000 first prize. The prizes must be taken by 31 May 2013.

For more information and to send your work