Every conflict has a story.
There are different perspectives.
Different emotions.
Things said. Things left unsaid.
Moments where everything could have gone another way.
For the 2026 MII Annual Conference, we’re inviting writers across Ireland to explore
conflict through fiction.

This year, the MII writing competition moves from an essay format to a short story
competition, and for the first time, it is open beyond the MII membership to a
nationwide audience.

The brief?
Write a short story of up to 4,000 words about conflict, whether personal, professional,
community based or entirely imagined, which is eventually resolved in a surprising
creative or unusual way. We want to see the people behind the conflict: their behaviour, emotions, thinking and reflections. And perhaps see conflict through fresh eyes.

Closing date: Monday 14 September 2026

Prizes:
Winner: €500
Runner-up prizes: €200 and €100

Brendan Schutte, author and advanced mediator member of the MII, is sponsoring prizes.

The winner will also receive a unique commemorative award at the MII annual conference on 9th October. The award will be designed by master craftsman Martin Gallen of Twenty One Twenty Nine Design, who are kindly sponsoring the awards again for this year.