Short Story Competition

*** Post 6pm Update – My short story ‘Metal’ was accepted as part of the anthology! I got into the top 18 out 121. Congratulations to Katie, Denise and Leonie who won 1st, 2nd and 3rd respectively. Here is the youtube video announcing the results… ***

A couple of months back I entered a short story competition. Initially I wasn’t going to do so, as I didn’t have an idea ready and I was worried that I’d get distracted from my work on the ‘Shadeward Saga’.

Oddly enough though, that exact night I had a dream which served as the seed of an idea. From there it only took me a week to go to a finished story.

I had to keep it within 1,500 words, a target I hit exactly in the end. I found this the hardest part – editing it to length. The original story was more than 2,000 words and I had to make some pretty drastic cuts to make it fit, always concerned that I was losing some of the emphasis of the story in the process.

Rules is rules though!

It was also my first foray into a ‘first person’ tale. I normally don’t like the first person much when I’m reading, much preferring the third with the all seeing narrator. This one just worked out that way.

My story is called ‘Metal’. More than that I can’t tell you – more rules. You will eventually get to see it regardless of if I win or lose though – don’t panic!

Yesterday I found that out of 121 entries, I’d made the longlist of 32, which was a pleasant surprise. This is the first time I’ve entered such a competition.

At 6pm this evening the winners and runners up will be published. I’ve no idea whether I stand a chance or not, but I was pretty happy with the quality of my entry, so if I lose I’ll atleast have the consolation of reading some short stories that some experts have judged to have been even better. How’s that for a win/win?

See you at 6pm! Wish me luck…