THE WRITERS COLLEGE
Short Story Competition
Proudly Supporting Emerging Writers
The annual Writers College Short Story Competition is held to acknowledge excellence in creative writing in the short story form.
The competition is open to any writer who is unpublished, or has been published fewer than four times.
Scroll down to see the prizes, theme, judges, rules and entry requirements.
THEME FOR 2024
It didn't have to be this way
THEME FOR 2024
IT DIDN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY
THE LONGLIST
Congratulations to the top 20 entrants in the 2023 Writers College Short Story Competition—a truly enormous achievement!
This year marks a significant milestone as we have united the NZ Writers College and SA Writers College short story competitions into a global contest. From all around the world, we received over 800 entries—an exhilarating showcase of diverse cultures and talent. To each writer who participated, a big well done for your remarkable contribution.
Mark your calendars for 18 August, when we unveil the winners. Plus, we reveal the names of the top 60 writers who secured places in the prestigious Highest Honours, Honours, Honourable Mention, and ‘More Stories We Loved’ categories.
In no particular order, here are our top 20 stories:
‘Black Ginger’ – by Clementine Matsobane
‘Return to Court’ – by Taki Scordis
‘End of’– by Rosalind Adler
‘Disneyland’ – by Sierra Martin
‘The People of Colour’ – by Ross Fleming
‘Red and Sticky Blackberries’ – by Fatemeh Ebrahimi
‘The Faint’ – by Ella Boyle
‘Rules of Engagement’ – by Ihsan Sim
‘The Words Effect’ – by Emmanuelle Duong
‘Screw Your Courage’ – by Oliver Forrest
‘The Time Love was Good to Me, or: How I Came to Grow Apples’ – by Travis Inglis
‘Last Words’ – by Sarah Moon
‘Travelling Man’ – by Mary Francis
‘Plain Signs’ – by Taryn Hochstrasser
‘Long Pig’ – by Brady Heslop
‘Draw, Dorky Shaa’ – by Abbey Bensemann
‘Butter Wouldn’t Melt’ – by Haley Byrnes
‘Mrs Tapuna at Number Forty-Three’ – by Claire Hemming
‘Thin Places’ – by Joseph Janiszewski
‘What Goes Unsaid’ – by Sydney Brandolino
THE WINNERS
Hearty congratulations to the 800+ participants who took part in our inaugural global short story competition. This event marked a significant milestone: for the first time, we united the forces of the SA Writers College and NZ Writers College competitions, inviting voices not only from South Africa and New Zealand but reaching out to beginner creative writers worldwide.
The result was a captivating cultural tapestry, proving that our backgrounds may vary, but the essence of a well-told tale resonates universally.
It is with great pride that we introduce our top-placed writers for 2023. These winners skilfully navigate the complexities of human relationships; their narratives serve as mirrors to our human experiences. Their ability to blend vivid imagery, compelling characters, and thought-provoking narrative arcs has made them triumph in this writing contest.
FIRST PLACE:
‘Return to Court ’ – by Taki Scordis
RUNNER-UP:
‘The People of Colour’ – by Ross Fleming
THIRD PLACE:
‘The Time Love Was Good to Me, or: How I Came to Grow Apples’ – by Travis Inglis
In fourth place is ‘Plain Signs’, written by Taryn Hochstrasser
And in fifth place is ‘End of’, written by Rosalind Adler
Read the judges’ comments, as well as the top three stories, below the Highest Honours, Honours, Honourable Mention and ‘More Stories We Loved’ results lists.
HIGHEST HONOURS
In this category, the judges were looking for unparalleled creativity, narrative depth and emotional resonance. Entries exhibited masterful storytelling techniques, innovative plot development and character exploration, captivating the readers from start to finish.
In no particular order:
‘Black Ginger’ – by Clementine Matsobane
‘Disneyland’ – by Sierra Martin
‘Red and Sticky Blackberries’ – by Fatemeh Ebrahimi
‘The Faint’ – by Ella Boyle
‘Rules of Engagement’ – by Ihsan Sim
‘The Words Effect’ – by Emmanuelle Duong
‘Screw Your Courage’ – by Oliver Forrest
‘Last Words’ – by Sarah Moon
‘Long Pig’ – by Brady Heslop
‘Travelling Man’ – by Mary Francis
‘Draw, Dorky Shaa’ – by Abbey Bensemann
‘Butter Wouldn’t Melt’ – by Haley Byrnes
The Song Thrush – by Gerrie van der Zanden
‘Thin Places’ – by Joseph Janiszewski
‘What Goes Unsaid’ – by Sydney Brandolino
HONOURS
These stories displayed well-crafted narratives with strong coherence, engaging sub-themes, and skilful execution of the theme ‘Words Have Consequences’. The stories effectively drew in readers through their clear prose, compelling characters and evident command of literary techniques.
In no particular order:
‘The Price of a Loose Tongue’ – by Lauren Roode
‘Tuesday is Bin Day’ – by Hilary Hughes
‘The Words That Mattered’ – by Wandile Kumako
‘All That is Unsaid’ – by Amalie Rupasinghe
‘Quick and Deadly, or Harmless’ – by Mattea Orr
‘Stills’ – by Ruby Vincent
‘Star-Crossed to Oblivion’ – by Findlay Donnan
‘Mrs Tapuna at Number Forty-Three’ – by Claire Hemming
‘Monster Upon Dana’ – by Immaculate Halla
‘All She Talks About Is Heroin’ – by Adam Graham
HONOURABLE MENTION
Honourable Mention recognizes stories that exhibited potential, displaying elements of promise in terms of imagination, character dynamics, and thematic exploration.
In no particular order:
‘Butterfly Wings and Unkept Promises’ – by Zoe Ramasawmy
‘Battleground’ – by Adele Anderson
‘Sorry Kiri’ – by Leanne Jepson
‘Forever Sleep’ – by Zulaiga Mohamed Hoosain
‘Exhaustion Lit by Fury’ – by Alane Delano Obeso
‘Four Summers Down’ – by Claire de Wet
‘What Does Zack Fox Say?’ – by Clement Spocter
‘Triple Word Score’ – by Nadia Cassim
‘The Silence Within’ – by Lasheena Khan
‘The First Time’ – by J F Dangarembizi
MORE STORIES WE LOVED
In the “More Stories We Loved” category, the stories chosen resonated with the judges for a variety of reasons, either through unique perspectives, unusual settings, or unexpected emotional impact. These stories may require further polishing, but they possess an undeniable charm that has captured the attention and admiration of the panel.
In no particular order:
‘The Door with No Handle’ – by Nazia Islam
‘Things He Said’ – by Shey-Lee Scott
‘Creeping Creeping’ – by Rick Neale
‘But Why?’ – by Nicole van Staden
‘Eggshells & Other Breakables’ – by Phoebe Bush
‘A Sign of The Times’ – by Liyema Ngcawe
‘Never Again’ – by Lynne Moses
‘My Blanket Called Nana’ – by Tamzyn Huggard
‘Promises and Lies’ – by Keith Williams
‘Little’s Ditch’ – by T. J. Perkins
‘The Journey of a Book’ – by Adele Dubarry
‘Graffiti’ – by Lucy Goodman
‘Friday’ – by Yvonne Wang
Our next short story competition will open in mid-2024 and closes on 31 March 2025.
The judges’ ratings and comments for the top three stories
A huge thank you to our judges this year: Lorraine Forrest-Turner, Karen Jeynes and Andrew Salomon.
First Place
'Return to Court'
by Taki Scordis
Judges’ comments
- A fabulous tale that races along at a pace I could barely keep up with. I was torn between wanting to slow my reading down to enjoy the slick writing and get to the next paragraph fast enough to satisfy my burning curiosity. To say I was totally hooked from start to finish is a gross understatement. Like all great twists, the ending makes total sense. You go back in your mind and think ‘of course, it was so obvious’. Except it wasn’t. This story is a great example of where excellent use of characterisation and language is not compromised by a brilliant plot. We often read beautifully written stories that have little or no plot. This writer combines both arts perfectly. Lorraine
- An entertaining tale, characterised by well-timed humour. Andrew
- A sharp, well written story, which manages a number of twists and turns, before a satisfying ending. The characters are interesting and unexpected. There are great layers of meaning and metaphor. Karen
The Runner-up
'The People of Colour'
by Ross Fleming
Judges’ comments
- An exceptional piece of poetic writing that deserves time to savour each word, phrase, sentence and paragraph. Unfamiliar with much of the language, I had to go back and read it several times to appreciate the full beauty and nuances of the writing. This is a story I would love to hear read out loud by a native speaker. I loved the originality of the language and characterisation. Lorraine
- Smart and effective use of onomatopoeia, to lend a poignant side to this story that takes an unflinching look at the grim physical and mental effects of poverty and marginalisation. Andrew
- A fascinating, flowing piece, almost meditative, that plays with sense of space and time. There’s an interesting approach to language and wordplay, and a sense that the writer is playing with their craft. Karen
Third Place
'The Time Love was Good to Me, or: How I came to Grow Apples '
by Travis Inglis
Judges’ comments
- This is a beautifully written love story with a simple plot that flows along charmingly. The first person narrative uses dialogue well to portray the love interest’s thoughts without needing to explain them. I particularly like the opening lines. ‘I lied at parties. It was an attempt to be anonymous, or perhaps interesting.’ These lines had me hooked right away. As the story unfolds and the lie about the orchard comes true, there’s a gentleness in the writing that befits the pace the trees and apples grow. The ending is a little ambiguous – but appropriate. Lorraine
- A touching exploration of the push and pull between recriminations and desire when an old flame that was never really extinguished can flare up again. And of how quickly time passes between youth and middle age. Andrew
- An intricately woven story, with excellent use of imagery. A strong central character, and a well-crafted story that offers the reader enough, without trying to resolve everything too neatly. It contains a kind of magic. Karen
Closing date:
30 September 2024
Longlist Announced:
31 October 2024
Winners Announced:
15 November 2024
PRIZES FOR 2024 (Will be converted to Rands)
SECOND PRIZE
NZ$ 500
And publication in an anthology of winning stories
FIRST PRIZE
NZ$ 1 000
And publication in an anthology of winning stories
THIRD PRIZE
NZ$ 250
And publication in an anthology of winning stories
FIRST PRIZE
NZ$ 1 000
And publication in an anthology of winning stories
SECOND PRIZE
NZ$ 500
And publication in an anthology of winning stories
THIRD PRIZE
NZ$ 250
And publication in an anthology of winning stories
The top three winners receive editorial comments on their submitted works.
The Basics of Creative Writing Course
COMPETITION RULES:
- We aim to support beginner writers only. We accept stories from writers who have never been published, or who have been published fewer than four times in any genre. This includes fiction and non-fiction, in any publication (for payment or otherwise). Journal articles (sciences of any kind) count as being published. Journalists, copywriters, web writers or content writers must please not enter. People who made a living from writing at any point (e.g. decades earlier) are also not eligible for entry. We make an exception for unpaid articles for community or work newsletters or blogs where the circulation is under 5000 readers.
- We accept stories in any genre (literary/horror/sci-fi/fantasy/spec fic). However, literary fiction tends to fare best with our judges. Please read past winning entries (scroll down this page) to get a sense of the kind of writing that we like.
- All submissions and enquiries can be sent to Nichola Meyer: Nichola@nzwriterscollege.co.nz
- The competition is open to anyone, from any country aged 16 and over.
- Entrants must submit a story of maximum word count: 2000 words. Any entries exceeding the word count by 50 words will not be considered.
- The 2024 theme is ‘It didn’t have to be this way’. Writers can interpret and represent the theme in any way they choose. Each story must include the phrase ‘It didn’t have to be this way’ somewhere in the story. Writers must produce their own title.
- Only one story per entrant is allowed.
- We only accept entries written in English.
- The competition closes at midnight on 30 September 2024. The longlist will be published by 31 October 2024, and the winners announced and displayed on our website on 15 November 2024.
- Prizewinners will be notified via email as well as on our website; please ensure you supply a valid email address with your entry.
- Prize money will be paid via electronic transfer or PayPal.
- Stories must not have been previously published. Entrants must own the copyright to the story submitted.
- Writers retain copyright, but give permission for their work to be published on our website and in an anthology.
- The judges’ decision is final; no disputes will be entered into.
- If your entry has not been acknowledged within three working days, please contact us as your email may have got lost in transit.
- The Writers College reserves the right to extend the competition deadline or cancel the competition should the entries not be of publishable quality or up to the required standard.
- Absolutely no generative AI to be used (ChatGPT etc.). If we deem stories were not written by a human they will be excluded, and the author banned from entering all further competitions with us.
ENTRY FORMAT:
- Only e-mail submissions are acceptable. Stories must be copied and pasted into the body of the email, AND sent as a Word document attachment. Mark your entry clearly with the subject line: The 2024 Writers College Short Story Competition.
- Each story must have a unique title. Do not use the theme as your title.
- Your email must state the title of your story, as well as your name. E.g. ‘Once Upon a Time’ – by John Smith
- Your email must include the declaration: ‘I declare that this is my own work, 100% unassisted by generative AI (such as ChatGPT etc.), and I have been published in a mainstream print or online publication fewer than four times.’
- Winners will be asked to show a valid proof of identity.
- State your word count in your email.
- Do not include your name on any page of your story. All entries will be judged blind.
- Use a font such as Arial or Times New Roman, size 12 or more. Use 1.5 or double spacing between lines. We prefer a clear line between paragraphs rather than indenting.
- Make sure your story has been edited and polished according to tips and guidelines provided on our college site under “Writing Resources”, or on our webzine. Read these:
THE JUDGES:
Fiona Ingram
Fiona Ingram [BA Hons (Natal), MA (Wits)] is a multi-award winning author of adult and children’s fiction. She has written eight historical romances (published by USA publisher Bublish), including Married at Midnight, The Wayward Miss Wainwright and Lord Blackwood’s Valentine Ball.
Her interest in myths and legends, ancient history and travel led to her writing the multi-award winning The Secret of the Sacred Scarab. This is the first instalment of her children’s adventure series, Chronicles of the Stone. Fiona has now completed Book Four in the series. Through her novels, she takes youngsters all over the world on amazing adventures.
She is also an animal rights advocate and writes animal rescue stories.
Alex Smith
Alex Smith is the award-winning author of five novels: Algeria’s Way, Drinking from the Dragon’s Well, Four Drunk Beauties, Devilskein & Dearlove (published by Random House/Umuzi) and Agency Blue (published by Tafelberg).
Her work has received widespread acclaim. Drinking from the Dragon’s Well was longlisted for the Sunday Times Alan Paton Award and Devilskein & Dearlove was nominated for the 2015 CILIP Carnegie Medal in the UK. Agency Blue won a Sanlam Youth Literature Award, while Four Drunk Beauties won the Nielsen Booksellers’ Choice Award.
Lorraine Forrest-Turner
Lorraine Forrest-Turner has been writing professionally for over 30 years. As well as writing PR and marketing content for business, she also writes short stories and stage plays.
Two of her plays (Seven Stages of an Affair and To Have and to Hold) are published by Samuel French and three (Dear Lily, Bank Holiday Mondays and Other Ways to Kill a Marriage and Three’s Company) are published by Lazy Bee Scripts.
Many of her short stories have been published in fiction and women’s magazines. These include Planting Primroses in Potholes in Yours Fiction, Getting on with Freya in Take a Moment, and First Dance in Royal Marsden Hospital Magazine.
Her stage plays have won numerous awards and have been performed throughout the UK. These include Sparks at the Cockpit Theatre, London, Isosceles at the ABC Theatre in Cambridge, and Spin at the Kenton Theatre in Henley.
Lorraine has recently rewritten her stage play To Have and to Hold as a film script. It is currently in production. Her book of short stories 13:22 and other stories is published on Amazon.
Karen Jeynes
Karen has won numerous awards and nominations for her co-writing of TV series, including two Emmy nominations for Best TV Comedy. Currently, she is the head writer for Both Worlds Productions, overseeing ZANews: Puppet Nation (winner of 22 South African Film and Television Awards and two Writer’s Guild of South Africa Awards for Best TV Comedy), as well as Point of Order (SAFTA winner for Best Game Show in 2017), Comedy Central News and Parlement Parlement.
Andrew Salomon
Andrew Salomon is an award-winning author. His debut novel Tokoloshe Song was shortlisted for the Terry Pratchett First Novel Award.
Additionally, his short fiction has been shortlisted for the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. He has also received the PEN Literary Award for African Fiction and the Short.Sharp.Stories Award.
Andrew is the author of the young adult thrillers The Chrysalis and Wonderbear. His latest novel is the dark fantasy thriller The Equilibrist. He completed an MA at the Institute for Archaeology at University College London. Some of his most memorable experiences have been at rock painting and engraving sites in subterranean caves and shelters across the world. These often find their way into his fiction.
Download our Free Anthologies
Click on a cover to download our free anthologies that showcase the winning stories from past competitions in South Africa and New Zealand (+/- 1MB). Since 2023, the competition has opened to international entries.
The Write a Novel Course
Past Winners of the SA Writers College Short Story Competition
We would like to acknowledge the past winners of our Short Story Competitions.
2023
First Place: ‘Return to Court’ – by Taki Scordis
Runner-up: ‘’The People of Colour’ – by Ross Fleming
Third place: ‘The Time Love Was Good to Me, or: How I Came to Grow Apples’– by Travis Inglis
2022
First Place: ‘People Like Us’ – by Matshediso Radebe
Runner-up: ‘‘Rubicon’ – by Jengo Ata
Third place: ‘The Jab’– by Werner Labuschagne
2021
First Place: ‘We Ate His Bowels First’ by Gabisile Shabangu
Runner-up: ‘A Crumpled R10 Note and a Bloody Hand’ by Vuyiswa Kubalasa
Third place: ‘Wild Peonies & Pink Flamingoes’ by Kea Isaacs
2020
First Place: ‘The Moot Mulatto’ by Taki Scordis
Runner-up: ‘Misstep’ by Stephen Harrison
Third place: ‘Unfinished Business’ by Jessica Spyker
2019
First Place: ‘Tulbagh By Gaslight’ by S.F. Ratcliffe
Runner-up: ‘Sit Down; You’re Brown’ by Javi Reddy
Third place: ‘Record Cards’ by Merle Grace
2018
First Place: ‘There’s an App for That’ by Simon F. Ratcliffe
Runner-up: ‘Hero’s Brush With Mutiny’ by Amelia Warren
Third place: ‘Mother Knows’ by Hendri Rhodes
2017
First Place: ‘Frankie’ by Heinrich van der Walt
Runner-up: ‘The Teen Factor’ by Janice Gardiner-Atkinson
Third place: ‘King of the Road’ by Carina Maré
2016
First Place: ‘My Mother Takes One Look at Me and Gives Me Away’ by Bruce McKenzie
Runner-up: ‘And the Meek’ by Matthew Child
Third place: ‘The High Road Less Travelled’ by Les Hellmann
2015
First Place: ‘An Anniversary, Shaded’ by Duncan Aird
Runner-up: ‘Rembrandt’ by Ian Sutherland
Third place: ‘The Exchange’ by Natanja Greeff
2014
First Place (Literary Fiction): ‘That Night’ by Melita Vurden
First Place (Popular Fiction): ‘The First Time’ by Mike Forde
Runner-up (Literary Fiction): ‘Death and Sandwiches’ by Gina Kukard
Runner-up (Popular Fiction): ‘On the Way Home’ by Natisha Parsons
2013
First Place: ‘Food for Thought’ by Carla Lever
Runner-up: ‘Wholesale’ by Liam Kruger
Third place: ‘Sleeping Dogs’ by Eleanor Talbot
2012
First Place: ‘Go’ by Aname van Zyl
Runner-up: ‘Tune in Again Next Week’ by Carla Lever
Third place: ‘A Gambling Man’ by B. L. Calder
2011
First Place: ‘The Tokoloshe’ by Hannah Green
Runner-up: ‘Watching Sunsets we Never See’ by Shelley Blignaut
Joint Third place: ‘Final Disposition’ by Jessica Liebenberg
2010
First Place: ‘Line of Sight’ by Arthur Bacchus
Runner-up: ‘Board and Lodging’ by William Oosthuizen
Third place: ‘The Colours of Choice’ by Ann Kern
2009
First Place: ‘Martin Mandel’s Parabola’ by Ashley Symes
Runner-up: ‘Pieces of Peony-Painted Teacups’ by Shelley Blignaut
Third place: ‘A New Life’ by Grant Griffiths
2008
First Place: ‘Waitin’ For Fuzzy’ by Ross Ian Fleming
Runner-up: ‘Writer’s Block’ by Widaad Munga
Third place: ‘The Yellow Coat’ by Katja Abbott