"Having a short story published is a wonderful and inspirational learning process for all authors - especially those who have never had their prose published before," said Peter Quinn, Managing Director of United Press Ltd, publishers to the Society.

"Through our work in poetry, we have met many writers frustrated about the lack of opportunities for creating and publishing short stories. The Short Story Society aims to set this right. It provides a simple platform for writers to experience the thrill and satisfaction of getting their work published. The Society doesn’t accept all submissions but will always try and help writers develop their work. People who have a short story published learn so much from the experience that it develops their writing skills and gives them confidence to push on to even greater heights. Most writers will tell you that the biggest problem is getting your first story published. Once you achieve this, you join the ranks of published prose writers and find that as well as learning a lot, you will have unlocked a doorway into a whole new world of opportunities.”

Latest News

Bert Leitch's, Watching The Funeral, has won the best short story award and has been published in Portraits In Pen. The story will be available on this website very shortly. Watch this space.

What's the Story (issue 3) is available to be viewed here.

These are a selection of letters we have received from our writers.

I would like to express my thanks to Ted Dilley, whoever he may be, for his story "The Staircase." I was 20 years old when I left Jersey and after leaving Hendon Training School was posted to Leman Street in april 1961. Leman Street was still the Victorian building which had played a leading role in the Jack the Ripper murders and the Sidney Street siege. The vivid description of the two officers and the area is first class. I well remember the trolleys which came down from Stoke Newington and turning at the end of Leman Street and at the junction of Cable Street which was cobbled like so many of the roads in the area. The Brown Bear was a lively pub and only a hundred yards away from the Red Ensign Club. We used to take the Metho's to be deloused, sometimes we had to be deloused too because the fleas were not fussy about where they stayed. There were many vagrants squatting in the bombed out and derelict buildings and I could imagine PC Rogers and Woods searching the properties which were often very unsafe. I recall instructing some young children to leave some derelict buildings just off Commercial Road. After they had left and I had continued on my beat, they returned and continued playing. But, not for long as the property collapsed killing a couple and trapping others. Ted's story evoked many memories. Bob Hill, Jersey I would just like to say a big thank you to the team for the opportunity of having my poems and my children’s story published. This has been a dream of mine for so long and this success has boosted my confidence immensely. Many authors are indebted to you, just as I am. It must, I am sure, make your jobs worthwhile to know the happiness and joy you give others, who without your great work, would still be struggling to attain that impossible dream. B Cumming, Reading I just had to write to thank you for the pack you sent me. I read through it all in the garden on Friday afternoon and loved it. The poems were lovely and so was the story by Freda Rudman, and I loved the magazine with photos of the people. I really did not expect such enjoyment! I really enjoy trying to write; but it must be wonderful for such people to know their work is so worthy. Congratulations to them, and to you all. E A Taylor, Wathing I enclose the revised copy of my story, and thoroughly agree with the improvements you have made to it. You have given me ideas as to presentation on other stories. I need a good critic so please tell me where I go wrong and how to improve. Sylvia Hiscock, Wadebridge Thank you for sending me the ten copies of River of Life. I was absolutely delighted when you told me over the phone the good news that my story had been voted the best in the book. I feel that I have achieved quite a lot since I started writing short stories and this award has really encouraged me to continue writing further stories. The Short Story Society is an excellent idea and long may it continue! Kathleen Robinson, Newquay I was delighted with my copies of Once Upon A Time. My granddaughters keep telling me that they are are “well impressed”. In fact I am now cool instead of weird. Many thanks. Vicki Turner, Waterlooville I am writing to say how delighted I am with my story, Ganner Green in your short story book Bridge of Words. I wrote it a good few years back, mainly for my own satisfaction. It was lovely to see it in print and I have read it several times and the memory seems to get more vivid each time. Violetta Ferguson, Burnham-on-Sea Thank you for the advanced copy of the short story book, which I have not long since received. The pleasure of seeing my work in print is overwhelming, for all these years I’ve been dreaming of having my work published and it’s something I’m still trying to come to terms with. This has given me the chance to believe more in myself and have faith that I can achieve something I’ve always wanted. I thank you wholeheartedly for helping me step upon the path of being a writer. There are not enough words to express my gratitude for what you have done for me. My debt to you is a great one. Gemma Louise Davis, Morden Thank you all very much for my books I have just received. I am delighted to see my story in such a wonderful book. The stories inside are all different and a pleasure to read. Thank you so much for giving my the opportunity to contribute some work. The volume of work must have been incredible. I really do appreciate the time and effort you have all put in. Claire Nightingale, Hockley I was so pleased to read the winning entry in the newsletter you sent me. What a hilarious story. I was in bed when I read it and I laughed so much. I was dying to show my family and friends. I’m so inspired I have started two stories myself and I will be sending them to you in the very near future. Angela Thompson, Torpoint Thank you for the way you have edited, and also added material to my short story. It gives me more insight into how the story should be more descriptive. You’ve made it much more exciting. James Kennedy, Barry Just a note to say how much I enjoyed our conversation today. I was totally gobsmacked to hear that I had won a prize for my entry in your short story collection ‘Wild Flowers.’ I was very fortunate to win second place in the regionals of the National Literacy Trust competition with ‘Wormcake’s Book of Nana Says ...’ which has given me much confidence in the art of storytelling, as ‘Wormcake’ was my first attempt at narrative. I am extremely grateful to you and your company for all your support, as you have published many of my poems in the past, and recently, helped me self-publish a collection of my work. Linda Zulaica, Preston