In Australia, our thoughts are beginning to turn to fun festivities with family and friends, such as languid lunches by the pool and hot summer days watching the cricket.
Cricket? Not this black duck. I prefer to spend those long days when the sun doesn't seem to sleep on indoor projects that I've not been able to settle down to throughout the year. Tasks such as finishing that 2000 piece jigsaw puzzle or the Airfix Kit that has been looking at me from under the coffee table since last Christmas. The holidays also provide time to sort through the bookshelves and file photographs. Or you can be like some of my friends who let loose from their professional lives to participate in writing competitions. Beats cricket, I guess.
The
Stringybark Open Short Story Award 2021 is open for entries until 31st of January, 2021.
This gives you plenty of time to sharpen your pencils and dust off the Word Processor to write a short fiction story, 1,500 words or less, "
on any theme but which must have a link (no matter how small or inconsequential) to Australia."
This competition is open to Australian and international authors of all skill levels. All judging is done blind, which means that it's the writing that will be judged and not the writer's reputation.
Stringybark Stories have been sponsoring writing competitions since 2010 and as a result, nearly thirty-five short story anthologies containing winning and highly commended entries have been published.
Yes, there is an Entry Fee:
One story - A$14.00
Two stories - A$26.00
Three stories - A$36.00
For details about entry conditions, the judges, and how to obtain feedback once judging has been completed, go
here.
Maybe I should write a short story about cricket? Only joking.
