Tag: Competitions

Danielle McLaughlin takes The Times/ Audible Short Story Award 2019

“The Sunday Times Audible Short Story Award is the richest prize for a single short story in the English language, worth £30,000 to the winner.”

Danielle McLaughlin
Danielle McLaughlin

London, September 12: Congratulations to Danielle McLaughlin, whose short story collection Dinosaurs on Other Planets is the calling card of a world-class young writer.

We’re well chuffed here because Danielle won the Willesden Herald prize in 2013, as chosen that year by David Means, for “Holidaying with the Megarrys” (New Short Stories 7.)

Earlier this year, we reported on Danielle McLaughlin receiving a Windham-Campbell award for 2019. On a roll!

Maggie Gee’s comments on New Short Stories 5 (video)

Frankly, we’re sharing some past glories here to encourage writers to submit and entrust us with their short stories for New Short Stories 11. (Submit)

Distinguished author Maggie Gee was the judge for the Willesden international short story prize in 2011. We were honoured when she came to our results event in the Willesden library centre events studio to announce her verdict. Maggie was also generous with her comments, referring to each of the stories in turn before revealing the winner.

And if you’ve reached the end of that video and want to see what happened next, here’s the answer. The charming Mary O’Shea, all the way from Cork for the night, graciously accepts her first prize award.

“Out of Season” by Mary O’Shea is included in Willesden Herald: New Short Stories 5. Maggie Gee’s latest novel is “Blood” (Amazon.co.uk, Waterstones etc.).

 

“Like Water and Other Stories” by Olga Zilberbourg

Olga Zilberboug’s short story “Love and Hair” took the Willesden Herald first prize in 2016, and is included in Willesden Herald: New Short Stories 9. We were very happy to see Olga in London to receive her award from judge Katy Darby. She makes a gracious acceptance speech at the end of this video from the event.

Pre-order “Like Water and Other Stories” direct from the publisher. Read the Moscow Times review.

The Sunday Times / Audible Short Story Award Shortlist, 2019

Read excerpts from the six short stories and bio’s of the writers, including Danielle McLaughlin who won the Willesden Herald international short story award 2013, when our judge was David Means. Link: Sunday Times

Benedict Kiely Short Story Competition: Interview with Louise Farr

To celebrate the launch of the 2019 Benedict Kiely Short Story Competition, we caught up with last years winner, Louise Farr, to hear more about her work and what competitions like this mean to emerging writers. Omagh Literary Festival: Hi Louise. Tell us a bit about your winning short story, Sing to Me, and how […]

via 2018 Short Story Competition Winner, Louise Farr —

Irish short story writers, get into this

RTÉ has been a terrific supporter and host for the short story genre, through their annual Francis MacManus short story competition, an opportunity for 10 writers to have their stories featured on Irish national radio as well as a shot at one of the big three prizes. Irish short story writers, you’ll never get a better opportunity to be heard.

Check the rules carefully. For example, each page must end on a full stop; haven’t seen that one before but it makes sense for reading out on the radio. Postal entries only. Follow the rules carefully, check one-by-one. Otherwise you might as well throw your hat at it. (Steve)