International Short Story Competition

Boxing Ring.jpgWe are pleased to announce the winners of this year's International Short Story Competition.  As usual, the team of story readers worked hard at selecting the stories that worked well on all levels, highlighting those that depicted tales that were vibrant, intriguing and exceptionally well written. 

Tom Chalmers from Legend Press commented:
I was delighted to judge the short story competition this year.  I was unsure and interested in what we would receive - I thought there would be a great response though you can never be certain on the direction guidelined submissions will take.

What we received was excellent - a fantastic range of stories covering a multitude of styles, angles and themes.  The average quality of writing was very high with very few dipping below a highly competent mark.  There were some which were enjoyable to read and others that clearly stood out as having that little bit of extra edge.

Particularly covering such a range, it was difficult to choose winners and on a different day I could have swayed differently.  But we really liked the ones we chose for winning places and are confident they each offer something very special.

Tom has kindly agreed to judge next year's competition.  This is another opportunity to impress him with imaginative and original pieces of work. Writing is a craft that improves with editing until a story is not only fine tuned but has the effort of being seamlessly put together.  Every word has its place, with descriptions that are vivid and relevant and where characters are believable and easy to engage with.  It is always a pleasure to read work that proves that the short story is infinitely a force that holds its own besides the literary hard backs.

And so, without further ado, we announce this year's winners as:

The Winners

First Place:         The Shed by Robert Grossmith


Second Place:     Witness by Mary Colvin


Third Place:        After the Storm by Catriona Graham

 

Runners Up

After Chuck by Polly Moyer

Close But Not Warm by Joan Osbaldeston

Mere Mortals by Jacqueline Ley

The Gloaming by Ginny Baily

Olympia by Helen Kitson

Flotsam by Beverley Sims

The Weather in Britain by Heidi Gilhooly

Somebody's Dog by Elissa Palser

Ivory Apples by Sophie Coulombeau

The Sea-Maid Speaks by Amanda Block


Highly Recommended

Dreams of Home by Sue Haigh

The Ugly Duckling by Siobhan Brewood-Wyatt

The Alchemy of Ruby by Cheryl Fitzell

Going West by Aydin Mehmet Ali

The Ruler of Rafah by Shupaula Dass


Honourable Mention

Ha Ha Ha by Joan Osbaldeston

Judgement Day by Claire Cowling

The First Time by Samantha Loggie

 

Submissions are accepted for the International Short Story Competition 2010 from Tuesday 1 September 2009.

For more information or enquiries, please contact us or call us direct on 0845 456 5364.  Written enquiries should be sent to Chapter One Promotions, 19-35 Sylvan Grove, London, SE15 1PD, England.