'Limited space... big impact.'

The New2theScene 2027 anthology is already taking shape — and this autumn, we’re giving five of our members the chance to become part of it.

Welcome to The 5 and 50 Competition.

The challenge is simple: you have 50 words to hook us.

That’s it. Fifty words. No more.

We’re looking for micro fiction that grabs us, surprises us, unsettles us, delights us, or leaves us desperate to know what happens next. Give us a character we can’t forget. A world we want to step into. A twist we never saw coming. Make every word count.

And because five is the magic number, you can submit up to five entries — all on the same document.

That means five chances to impress us. Five stories. Fifty words each. One competition.

And, most importantly, five winners will be chosen.

That’s more winners published in the 2027 anthology than any other competition we run.

So, what can you do with 50 words?

Make us laugh. Make us cry. Make us gasp. Make us think.

Just make us want to read on!

Competition Details

Opens: 6th September 2026
Closes: 1st November 2026
Word Limit: 50 words per entry
Maximum Entries: 5 per person (same doc)

Click here to enter.

The Five Winners Receive

• Publication on our website
• Publication in our 2027 anthology
• A free workshop place
• An Origins blog, showcasing you and your creative journey
• An invitation to contribute to our next Novella Project

Five winners. Five stories. Fifty words each.

This is your chance to prove that you don’t need thousands of words to make an impact.

What will you do with yours?