V. S. Pritchett Short Story Prize - First Reader Callout
The V.S. Pritchett Short Story Prize seeks to find the best unpublished short story of the year. We are currently recruiting First Readers to help assess submissions for the 2027 Prize.
First Readers will read around 200 entries, check each for eligibility, and provide brief feedback for the writers (1–2 lines per story). They will also nominate a number of stories to progress to the next stage, where they will be considered by the judging panel.
Timeline: First Readers will have approximately four months to complete their reviews, beginning in July. All feedback and final selections must be submitted by the end of November. Exact timelines will be confirmed with successful applicants.
This is a paid opportunity (£2.50 per story).
Please note: Applicants must be aged 18 or over and ordinarily resident in the UK. Anyone who has submitted a story to this year’s Prize (2027) is not eligible to apply as a First Reader.
Find out more here
Deadline: Thursday 02 July 2026 at 5pm