I’m thrilled, this Autumn, to be judging a brand-new creative writing competition – the Wenlock Olympian Society Flash Fiction 2020.
Entries, that must be a maximum of 1000 words, can be short stories in any genre*, focussing on one of three themes: Five Rings; Winning; Gold is Only a Colour. Cash prizes of £150, £50 and £25 will be awarded and the winning story will be published on the Wenlock Olympian website and read aloud at a public event. Entries must be submitted by 31 October 2020.
Short stories are notoriously hard to write, and most novel writers I know dread being asked to produce one. With fewer words to set a scene, flesh out characters, develop plot and provide that satisfying emotional reaction in the reader that is essential to a story’s success, shorts are demanding and unforgiving. In a novel, a reader might overlook a clumsy paragraph, even a weak chapter; in a short story, every word has to earn its place.
At the same time, there are few better ways to really hone your skills as a writer, and winning a short story competition can be a major credential on your writer’s CV. I’d encourage all new writers to enter as many competitions as they can, and new ones like this, are always to be welcomed.
More details, including the online entry form, here:
>*excluding children’s and young adult
The Wenlock Olympian Society was established in 1850 by distinguished local doctor, William Penny Brooks, to encourage physical exercise and good health in the town of Much Wenlock in Shropshire. The popular annual Olympian Games, sadly cancelled this year due to the pandemic, have been replaced by a series of socially distanceable events. The Flash Fiction Competition is one of these.
