The 2027 Ellen J. Miller Memorial
SHORT STORY COMPETITION
All entries must prominently feature one or more characters from Barbara Pym’s published novels, in any situation, place, or time the author chooses. Entries must be original works of approximately 2000 words, with a maximum length of 2200 words. Multiple entries from the same author and re-submissions or revisions of previously submitted stories will not be accepted. Stories must be in English and must not have been published or accepted for publication elsewhere, including on personal blogs and web pages. Stories that have won or are under consideration in other competitions are not eligible.
You do not have to be a member of the Barbara Pym Society to participate. Previous cash prize winners are not eligible to enter the next two competitions (so a 2025 winner would be ineligible until 2028). Competition judges and members of the Barbara Pym Society Committee and North American Board are not eligible.
First, second, and third place winners will receive cash prizes of $250, $100, and $50, respectively. The winning entries will be announced and read at a virtual event early in 2027 and will also be published on the Society’s website and distributed to our membership in the Spring-Summer 2027 issue of our newsletter, Green Leaves.
Entries must be submitted by email to barbarapymsociety@gmail.com with the subject line “Short Story Entry.” Please attach your story as a Word document or RTF text file, and be sure to include your full name and home town in the email, but not in the document; the judges will not know the identities of the authors. All entries will be acknowledged by email. Hard-copy submissions will not be accepted nor returned.
Entries must be received by midnight EST on Friday November 27, 2026. Prize winners will be contacted in mid-December, but the winners will not be announced publicly until the online event in 2027.
The judging panel will be chaired by Dr. Kathy Ackley, Professor Emerita of English, University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. The decision of the panel is final.
Copyright will remain with the authors, but the Barbara Pym Society has the unrestricted right to publish the winning stories in its newsletter, on its website, and in related PR material.