The BBC National Short Story Award Shortlist for 2024 has been announced.

The 2024 BBC Shortlist for the award features five outstanding works showcasing diverse voices and themes. This prestigious award celebrates the best of contemporary British short fiction. It highlights emerging and established writers each year, offering readers captivating and thought-provoking stories.

This year’s selections reflect various themes, from memory and migration to precarious work and intimate relationships. Competitions like this require you to know how to write a story and write eloquently to connect with readers. 

The BBC Short Story Award shortlist includes

• Will Boast – “The Barber of Erice”
• Lucy Caldwell – “Hamlet, a love story”
• Manish Chauhan – “Pieces”
• Ross Raisin – “Ghost Kitchen”
• Vee Walker – “Nice Dog”

Will Boast’s “The Barber of Erice” explores memory and migration, while Lucy Caldwell’s “Hamlet, a love story” blends romance and grief with Shakespearean themes. Manish Chauhan’s “Pieces” examines cultural identity, and Ross Raisin’s “Ghost Kitchen” focuses on precarious labour in the gig economy. Vee Walker’s “Nice Dog” reflects on the deep bond between humans and animals, touching on loss and companionship. These stories collectively explore belonging, work, love, and memory themes.

Learn about adding themes into your story in a way that does not distort your idea. 

This year’s shortlist highlights the diversity and richness of short fiction, with each story offering a powerful reflection on contemporary issues. The winner will be announced on October 1, 2024. Now in its nineteenth year, the award grants £15,000 to the winning author, while other shortlisted authors will receive £600 each.