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'Being such solitary work, it’s always a huge boost of encouragement when you are recognised.' Sahara De Ville, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Life Lessons from a Spider'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/sahara-...

Sahara De Ville, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Life Lessons from a Spider'

- When and how did you get into writing?I always loved writing as a child and teenager but work and life took over for a few decades until I decided to return to literature and creative writing studie...

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January 19, 2026 at 12:29 PM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'Some pieces arrive almost fully-formed, like Symbiosis, some need time to really reach their best.' Helen Chambers, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Symbiosis'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/helen-c...

Helen Chambers, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Symbiosis'

- When and how did you get into writing?I’ve enjoyed writing since childhood, but really got going with creative writing around 15 years ago. I entered some competitions, studied for a Master’s degree...

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January 15, 2026 at 12:51 PM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'My inspiration comes from trying to make sense of my own feelings. I grew up in a religious cult where emotional and creative expression were severely stunted so poetry is a great form of release.' Fleur Brown,LISP25PoetryFinalist,'to the bones'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/fleur-b...

Fleur Brown, LISP 2025 Poetry Finalist, 'to the bones'

- Could you please tell us about yourself and your daily routine?I live in Byron Bay Australia, and constantly travel to different cities for work. Poetry is my way of staying in touch with my inner w...

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January 9, 2026 at 7:40 AM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'And take all the help – online groups, classes, feedback – you can get. If I’d started writing when all this online help was available… boy!' TV Brown, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Bring Out Your Dead'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/tv-brown

TV Brown, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Bring Out Your Dead'

- Can you please tell us about you and your daily life?I live in West London with my sweetheart cat, Ninevah, and the spirit of my naughty cat, Shenene. I’m an actress – EastEnders! Buddy the Musical!...

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January 6, 2026 at 12:01 PM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'Writing is a lonely and isolating profession, and getting this type of recognition makes me feel like it’s all worth it.' Manu St. Thomas, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Gunpowder and Candy'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/manu-st...

Manu St. Thomas, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Gunpowder and Candy'

Could you please tell us about yourself and your daily routine?I was born and raised in Bucharest, Romania, and I’m currently living in the south of Germany. I have an MA in Linguistic Anthropology an...

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December 17, 2025 at 12:13 PM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'If I wasn’t going to be a nun, then I was going to be a writer. But I had no idea how.' Janet H Swinney, LISP 2025 Short Story Finalist, ‘The Last Salon’
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/janet-h...

Janet H Swinney, LISP 2025 Short Story Finalist, ‘The Last Salon’

Qu: Could you please tell us about yourself and your daily routine?Answer: Me and daily routine are strangers to each other. I struggle to get up and I struggle to go to bed. At the end of the day, I ...

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December 16, 2025 at 11:24 AM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'I have found writing haikus really valuable in this respect – they’re like little stock cubes of imagery which I can use later for a richer soup!' Jennifer Watson, LISP 2025 Poetry Finalist, 'Sentence'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/jennife...

Jennifer Watson, LISP 2025 Poetry Finalist, 'Sentence'

About meLike most dogged writers, I have written poetry and fiction ever since I can remember, but it was studying for an Open University Diploma in Creative Writing while on maternity leave that gave...

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December 15, 2025 at 8:38 AM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'Delete unnecessary adjectives. Delete adjectives. Write the weird and find a way to make it universal.' Gill O' Halloran, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'A Lad Insane'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/gill-o-...

Gill O' Halloran, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'A Lad Insane'

- Could you please tell us about yourself and your daily routine?I’m a Londoner who loves art and culture, but being by the sea is my happy place. Time spent by the Thames and swimming in the city’s l...

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December 12, 2025 at 12:01 PM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'I especially love getting my poems published in anthologies, as it was poetry anthologies that inspired me so much as a kid.' Mark Bird, LISP 2025 Poetry Finalist, 'Council House Bricks'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/mark-bird

Mark Bird, LISP 2025 Poetry Finalist, 'Council House Bricks'

- Could you please tell us about yourself and your daily routine?I am a children’s author and part time teacher. I was born in Uttoxeter, Staffordshire but now love in London. I was actually born in a...

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December 11, 2025 at 10:06 AM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'But despite already being able to see my breathe, you’ll find the door wide open so that I can listen to the wind, the rain and the birds all around me-' Helen Rowlands, LISP 2025 Short Story Finalist, 'I am Shala'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/helen-r...

Helen Rowlands, LISP 2025 Short Story Finalist, 'I am Shala'

Could you please tell us about yourself and your daily routine?I moved to a remote area of Scotland in 2022, soon to retire with my new husband to walk the hills and beaches with our twin agents of ch...

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December 10, 2025 at 10:29 AM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'But stories are meant to be told and it really helps when those you read to are there to encourage.' Ken Cohen, LISP 2025 Short Story Finalist, 'Party Peace'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/ken-cohen

Ken Cohen, LISP 2025 Short Story Finalist, 'Party Peace'

Tell us about yourself and your daily routineI’m retired and live on the south coast of Dorset with views of the sea! Those views themselves can be inspiring. Whether it’s summer, when the sky is bl...

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December 9, 2025 at 10:02 AM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'My inspiration comes from life's contrasts: from the beauty in people and sunny days, but also from my scars and violent traumas.' Oscar Adame Galeano, LISP 2025 Short Story Finalist, 'The Hanging Man'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/oscar-a...

Oscar Adame Galeano, LISP 2025 Short Story Finalist, 'The Hanging Man'

Could you please tell us about yourself and your daily routine? I am Oscar Adame Galeano, a Mexican writer best known for my work as a music journalist, currently residing in Ireland.I came here in se...

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December 8, 2025 at 10:47 AM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'I’m often surprised, in a great way, that the story has resonated with people beyond myself. It’s a reminder that I’m not so alone in this process-' DC Restaino, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Our Swarm a Plague Over the Water'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/dc-rest...

DC Restaino, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Our Swarm a Plague Over the Water'

- Could you please tell us about yourself and your daily routine?I’m a freelance editor and PhD candidate at King’s College, so my days can be quite hectic and varied — which I actually prefer. At the...

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December 6, 2025 at 11:24 AM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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' I’m inspired by things that happen in my life or things I’ve heard about — I love other people’s stories as well as my own.' Bridget Goldschmidt, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Cojimar'
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/bridget...

Bridget Goldschmidt, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Cojimar'

Could you please tell us about yourself and your daily routine?My day job is as an editor and writer for a trade magazine. I work from home. When and how did you start writing?I began making up storie...

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December 5, 2025 at 10:27 AM

Reposted by London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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LISP 2026 is now OPEN!
Our Regular Deadline discount offer is still available —catch it before the deadline!
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk
#writersnetwork #writercommunity #shortstorycontest #flashfictionwriters #callforsubmissions #poetrycommunity
#writer #writerslift

November 22, 2025 at 12:35 PM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'Sitting down and beginning is always the hardest part! The most rewarding thing is the feeling when a piece comes together, and you just know it’s what you were hoping it would be.' Lorinda Boyer, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/lorinda...

#writerslift

Lorinda Boyer, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Pretending I Don't Exist'

Could you please tell us about yourself and your daily routine?My name is Lorinda Boyer. I live in Bellingham, Washington in the United States which is just north of Canada. I’m married to my wife, Sa...

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December 4, 2025 at 11:35 AM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'The most rewarding moments are when something I’ve written connects with a reader.' Deborah Bennison, LISP 2025 Short Story Finalist, 'You can't stay' & LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Harbinger'
Click to read the interview!
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/deborah...

Deborah Bennison, LISP 2025 Short Story Finalist, 'You can't stay' & LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Finalist, 'Harbinger'

Could you please tell us about yourself and your daily routine?I’ve spent most of my working life as a copywriter but now have a little more time to focus on my own writing – something I’ve always wan...

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December 3, 2025 at 11:44 AM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'Competitions and publications give you a moment to pause and notice this thing I’m doing is working-' Laurie Bolger, LISP 2025 Poetry Winner
Click to read the interview!
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/laurie-...
#writerslife #poetry #poet #writingchallange #writerscommunity

Laurie Bolger, LISP 2025 Poetry Winner

LISP 2025 Poetry Winner Laurie Bolger by 'Self Portrait as a Bull'Could you please tell us about yourself and your daily routine?To be honest I don’t think I have one! I’m a writer who’s happiest when...

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November 26, 2025 at 10:49 AM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'I collect rejections like Pokémon so this was a nice change. I’ve entered lots of competitions before and queried agents with a previous novel, you either win or you learn-' Settit Beyene, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Winner
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/settit-...
#writercommunity

Settit Beyene, LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Winner

LISP 2025 Flash Fiction Winner Settit Beyene by 'The Last of Her Kind'-Tell us about your writing journey.My first attempt at writing a book was a historical novel about the cinnamon trade but after a...

www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk

November 25, 2025 at 2:23 PM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

@londonistoryprize.bsky.social

LISP 2026 is now OPEN!
Our Regular Deadline discount offer is still available —catch it before the deadline!
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk
#writersnetwork #writercommunity #shortstorycontest #flashfictionwriters #callforsubmissions #poetrycommunity
#writer #writerslift

November 22, 2025 at 12:35 PM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

@londonistoryprize.bsky.social

LISP 2026 is now OPEN!
A total cash prize of £2000
Early Bird Deadline 21st November!
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk
#writersnetwork #writercommunity #shortstorycontest #flashfictionwriters #callforsubmissions #poetrycommunity #flashfictionchallenge #callforentries
#writer #writerslift

Creative Writing Competition | London Independent Story Prize

The London Independent Story Prize (LISP) is the new Creative Writing Competition in town. It aims to create a great networking opportunity for writers and a community that embraces the multicultural ...

www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk

November 20, 2025 at 2:38 PM

London Independent Story Prize C.I.C

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'I think, like a lot of writers, I suffer from imposter syndrome. ' Derville Murphy, LISP 2025 Short Story Winner
Click to read!
www.londonindependentstoryprize.co.uk/post/dervill...
LISP 2026 Early Bird Deadline 21st November.
#writercommunity #callforentries #shortstorycontest #writer