This is a women's fiction competition, but I can't say I understand it.

One minute it's discussing women's fiction book/novel writers, the next it is asking for people to post a 2,500 excerpt of their short story. The winning entrant will have it published as an ebook.

http://www.handbag.com/life/news/a533675/are-you-the-next-big-womens-fiction-writer-enter-our-book-comp.html

Nope. Read it again and I'm still confused. I'm sure it's the fog of editing and it will be clear as mud to everyone else.

looks like as short story competition to me but lots of people posing your question in the comments and they haven't had the grace to clarify. Wish I knew what women's fiction was but maybe handbag is the clue

Hi

Women's fiction is a broad church, which includes chick-lit, romance, thrillers, etc. Anything that is aimed at female readers or encompasses women's issues, etc. Carole Matthews is women's fiction writer, but also Suzanne Bulger/Margaret Leroy can be said to write within this genre. I am happy to be corrected. 

Thanks for taking the time to look at the competition. As it is a ​competition involving Simon & Schuster/David Higham Associates, I had assumed I was misreading the text, rather than it simply being unclear.

No, it's very unclear. As it's going to be in ebook form, maybe they're thinking of a novella? Bit bad of them not to respond to requests for clarification, though.

Clarification on the competition is given at: http://www.millyjohnson.co.uk/

There seems to be a leeetle confusion about the wording so let me clarify... it's for a 2500 complete short story. The finished product - the one which the winner will be getting published - can be longer with all the tweaks that may be put in afterwards but for the purpose of the competition, all we want to see is no more than 2500 words.​

So, short story writers may be interested.

Went to the link website, It looked interesting until I read the part about UK residents only.Darn and double darn!!! Thanks for poting it though.

Hmm. Judging by her website, they're definitely looking towards the lighter end of the market. Still think 2,500 words is a bit of an odd length, though, particularly if that is what they have in mind.