The European Network for Short Fiction Research was established in 2013 with the aim of fostering and promoting the study of short fiction in European universities and in interaction with short fiction writers. After an inaugural meeting early in 2014, the ENSFR has organized annual conferences as well as sponsored several other study days and events. This website aims to be an interactive platform for sharing research, expertise, ideas and information about short fiction in its diversity of linguistic traditions and forms.
Submissions are now open to the Scratch A4 Summer ’25
1000 word short story competition!
Come and explore the rich and exhilarating possibilities of the short, short story – the six shortlisted writers reading their stories in the biannual event in Soho, London in June.
This year’s judges are:
Denise Rose Hansen, editorial director at Penguin Books.
Liv Bignold, literary agent at C&W literary agency.
Tom Conaghan, publisher of Scratch Books.
Submissions close on 26th April.
Dear ENSFR members,
Over the last couple of months we have set up a new communication group to enhance the network’s ability to share information about events, publications and call for papers.
If you have any information on events, publications and call for papers that you would like to be shared and posted on the ENSFR’s social media channels or/and website please email: ensfrcg@gmail.com.
Best wishes,
Paul Knowles (ENSFR Communication Officer)
The ENSFR reading group
The ENSFR reading group aims to provide a digital space for early career researchers and postgraduate students to come together and discuss classic and new short fiction. The reading group is co-coordinated by Maddie Sinclair (University of Warwick), Paul Knowles (University of Manchester) and Ines Gstrein (University of Innsbruck).
The group usually meets once per month during term time on Zoom. The link to the meeting room is circulated in advance via a mailing list, together with the set reading for the next meeting. For each meeting, there is a short story to read. There are also some questions to guide our reading and get the discussion started.
New members are always welcome! To sign up for the reading group, please send an email to the contact email address of the reading group: ensfrreadinggroup[at]gmail.com