SHORT STORIES
I tend to have a word count of 1500 - 1700 for my short stories as this seems to cover most of the competitions and their word count requirements.
I try to enter many short shory competitions during the year including some set by Writers' News/Writing Magazine, some I across on the web (usually recommended by other writers first) and annual competitions like the Bridport Prize, Bath Short Story Award and those set by the Winchester Writers' Conference.
I've found feedback from other writers on the Shortbread Short Stories website really helpful.
My short story, Got You!, was shortlisted in the Short Story Section of the Brit Writers' Award, making it to the final 7 selected. I didn't win but did get to have a glamorous night out in London, which was huge fun, as they held their Awards Ceremony at Madame Tussards. Brit Writers also brought out a magazine featuring all shortlisted in their competitions and this is likely to remain the only time I appear in a glossy magazine!
My short stories feature the magical world and the more everyday, mundane one. A strong theme of mine is that magic causes more problems than it solves and always has consequences. Another strong theme is the importance of family. I am also fond of writing and reading "comeuppance" stories. One lovely thing about fairytales is that in the magical world justice can be seen to be done. And in the original tales it so often is, brutally!
Can you say what is your story?
Do you know its genre and form?
Is it fantasy, sci-fi, gory?
Do all of your characters “perform”?
Do their lives seem real?
Are their motives strong enough?
Is your tale the real deal?
Or is it lightweight fluff?
I try to enter many short shory competitions during the year including some set by Writers' News/Writing Magazine, some I across on the web (usually recommended by other writers first) and annual competitions like the Bridport Prize, Bath Short Story Award and those set by the Winchester Writers' Conference.
I've found feedback from other writers on the Shortbread Short Stories website really helpful.
My short story, Got You!, was shortlisted in the Short Story Section of the Brit Writers' Award, making it to the final 7 selected. I didn't win but did get to have a glamorous night out in London, which was huge fun, as they held their Awards Ceremony at Madame Tussards. Brit Writers also brought out a magazine featuring all shortlisted in their competitions and this is likely to remain the only time I appear in a glossy magazine!
My short stories feature the magical world and the more everyday, mundane one. A strong theme of mine is that magic causes more problems than it solves and always has consequences. Another strong theme is the importance of family. I am also fond of writing and reading "comeuppance" stories. One lovely thing about fairytales is that in the magical world justice can be seen to be done. And in the original tales it so often is, brutally!
Can you say what is your story?
Do you know its genre and form?
Is it fantasy, sci-fi, gory?
Do all of your characters “perform”?
Do their lives seem real?
Are their motives strong enough?
Is your tale the real deal?
Or is it lightweight fluff?
