We received our biggest crop of short story entries yet for the October round of our competition, and we've really had our work cut out to select the ones going through to te next stage. (We're still receiving some entries, though, that do not adhere to our rules of entry, and therefore have had to … Continue reading October 2019 – Long List
Our poll results are in…
Writers who are regular visitors to our site will know that our quarterly short story competition is now well under way, and attracting more and more entries every time, from all around the world. Not wanting to impose any restrictions on our writers, we have always kept the competition open to any theme or genre. … Continue reading Our poll results are in…
A bumper crop of short stories this quarter
Our quarterly short story competition is going from strength to strength, and when our most recent one closed at midnight a couple of days ago we had more entries than we've ever received since the competition first opened earlier this year. We're delighted that the competition has proved so popular with writers around the world … Continue reading A bumper crop of short stories this quarter
Brenda Has The Patience To Endure It by Joanne Leonard (1st place Jul19)
Brenda pulls the mop from side to side across the kitchenette floor, slapping it to the kickboards on either side. It’s too wet, and she curses herself for not wringing it out enough in the first place, because now the floor won’t dry in time so she’ll have to give it another once over. ‘Morning, … Continue reading Brenda Has The Patience To Endure It by Joanne Leonard (1st place Jul19)
Hypogeal by Michele Seagrove (2nd place Jul19)
The loudspeaker crackles and all the passengers look up expectantly. I strain to hear but can only make out the muffled words: ‘Ealing Broadway’ and ‘delays’. I sigh. ‘Bloody hell,’ the man next to me says. ‘Always the same.’ The temperature in the subterranean world is stifling and sweat is beading on his forehead. I … Continue reading Hypogeal by Michele Seagrove (2nd place Jul19)
Reduce Reuse Recycle by Sonia Trickey (3rd place Jul19)
I go to Waitrose every Saturday morning to eye up the men I wish I’d married. I leave my reusable, upcycled cup in the bike trailer and queue for a complementary flat white served in a single use waxy cup that will take longer to decompose than my still living corpse. Then I meander like … Continue reading Reduce Reuse Recycle by Sonia Trickey (3rd place Jul19)
July 2019 – Shortlist and winners
Our quarterly short story competition is clearly growing in popularity, with even more entries this time round than for our first. Once again, the judges thoroughly enjoyed reading the entries we received, and the job of chosing our placed stories was even more difficult. After much deliberation over the longlist, the three placed stories have … Continue reading July 2019 – Shortlist and winners
July 2019 – Long List
Another great response to our most recent short story competition, with some excellent stories spanning all sorts of different genres. The first round of judging has taken place, and we’re delighted to reveal our long list of authors for the July 2019 competition: Jeremy Green James Harvey John Holland Lynda Kirby Joanne Leonard Fraser Lucas … Continue reading July 2019 – Long List
Nothing but Ashes by Jason Jackson (3rd place Apr19)
It’s Friday, and she’s gone. They’ve talked - it’s all they’ve done for weeks, because words are what she’s good at - but now the house is quiet. On the table is the manuscript, her first novel, the final draft, the version everyone will see. It’s thinner than he expected, and on the cover is … Continue reading Nothing but Ashes by Jason Jackson (3rd place Apr19)
A Black and White Summer by Alyson Hilbourne (2nd place Apr19)
In my hand is the black and white photo taken by Dad with his Box Brownie camera the last summer my family went to the beach. Behind me is the pier. Hovering in the shadow is a hazy figure. The picture is black and white, but now the pier has been repainted and is garlanded … Continue reading A Black and White Summer by Alyson Hilbourne (2nd place Apr19)
