2013 OPEN SHORT STORY COMPETITION
WINNING ENTRIES, SHORTLISTED ENTRIES AND LONGLISTED ENTRIES
WINNING ENTRIES - NEW WRITER
1st BAG FOR LIFE - Eileen Holmes
Judge's comment: Loved it! An interesting story with a beginning, middle and end. Snappy dialogue led me straight into the story, and the character is well formed.
Comments by our readers: A difficult subject contrasting well with other 'safe, nice' stories on my reading list. I was keen to read to the end to see how the plot developed. Good descriptions overall.
2nd DRINKING FRIENDS - Steven Marsh
Comments by our readers: Snapshot of the harsh reality of the effects of alchohol. A gripping read about a young woman on a downward spiral redeemed by her 'knight in shining armour'. Ending poignant and left me thoughtful.
3rd EAVESDROPPER - Linda Hardy
Comments by our readers: This enjoyable, light read made me smile. Comical.
WINNING ENTRIES - OPEN CATEGORY
1st HEROES, JUST FOR ONE DAY - Helen Yendall
Judge's comment: Entertaining and different. The writer has thought outside of the box and come up with a funny story involving everyday characters easily identified with by most readers.
Comments by our readers: A lot of fun. Well-written. A pleasure to read and provided a welcome laugh-out-loud moment. Love it! Some humour at last, original and funny and with great characters. 'Immediate' and very readable.
2nd WHO'S THE BASTARD NOW? - Tony Oswick
Comments by our readers: An interesting but grim tale with a surprise ending. Moved along at a cracking pace and kept my interest to the end. Descriptions of the actual crimes were realistic and toe curling.
3rd SEEING RED - Kit Perkins
Comments by our readers: Excellent writing with a real skill for developing characters. The dark aspects of the story were dripped out with a fine pace that never wanted to shock or disgust, just bring the reader into the world the writer described
Judge's comment: I like to be surprised when I read a short story, and one or two of these stories certainly gave me something to think about. It's interesting to see what tales a writer can weave, and how they bring their characters to life.
Comment from Debbie: As you can see from the above, we've had a good variety of stories to read. We didn't receive a huge amount of entries from New Writers, so next year there'll only be one prize fund. We've raised the amount we're offering in prize fund http://erewashwriterscompetition.weebly.com/2014-open-short-story-competition-with-malcolm-welshman.html
Shortlist
Open New Writer
Fly Away Home - Jo Derrick A Bag For Life - Eileen Holmes
Heroes, Just For One Day - Helen Yendall Day Olds on the Lawn - Isobel Sisson
Little Wolfie - Gerard Loughran Drinking Friends - Steven Marsh
Seeing Red - Kit Perkins Eavesdropper - Linda Hardy
The Lost Boy - Liz Xifaras Love at first Sight- Heather Pelmore
The Rosie Problem - Alan NIcholls
Who's the Bastard Now? - Tony Oswick
Longlist
Open New Writer
Circus of One - Simon Fairbanks A Bag For Life - Eileen Holmes
Daffodils - Josie Turner Day Olds on the Lawn - Isobel Sisson
Dreams - Linda Johnson Drinking Friends - Steven Marsh
Lost Boy - Liz Xifaras Eavesdropper - Linda Hardy
Fly Away Home - Jo Derrick Love at first Sight- Heather Pelmore
Frida’s Double - Andrew Campbell-Kearsey Second Thoughts - Philippa Seago
Heroes, Just for One Day - Helen Yendall Surface Values - Susanne Rogers
Liar! Liar! Pants on Fire! - Jo Derrick
Little Wolfie - Gerard Loughran
Out of the Light comes forth Darkness - Norman Kitching
Perfect Strangers - Emma Walkers
Red Telephone Box - Vanessa Horn
Seeing Red - Kit Perkins
Something Missing - Lindsay Fisher
Sympathy From a Stranger - Andrew Campbell-Kearsey
The Competition - Terence Verbeek
The Rosie Problem - Alan Nicholls
Who's the Bastard Now? - Tony Oswick
Thanks to all who entered this competition and for your help in raising £60 for a UK charity/voluntary group.
2014 Open Short Story Competition is open and inviting entries. Cash prizes are FIRST £100, SECOND £50, THIRD AND FOURTH prizes each £25, and two further prizes of one free entry to our 2015 competition.
http://erewashwriterscompetition.weebly.com/2014-open-short-story-competition-with-malcolm-welshman.html
New Writers - don't miss out on our free entry competition closing Thursday 5th December.
http://erewashwriterscompetition.weebly.com/win-a-short-story-writing-course.html