Mslexia, the magazine for women who write | www.mslexia.co.uk
Story Competition Entry
Mslexia Women's Short Story Competition 2010
Judge: Tracy Chevalier
1st Prize £2,000
plus a one-week writing retreat* at Chawton House Library and a day with a Virago editor*
2nd prize £500
3rd prize £250
3 other finalists will win £100 each
All winning stories will be published in Mslexia magazine.
COMPETITION NOW CLOSED
Thank you to all who have entered. Winners will be notified mid-March. Good luck!
>> Listen to the 2009 first prize-winning story, 'Wiggy' by Beda Higgins at the Short Story Radio website.
The Judge
"I started my writing life with short stories, and know how hard it is to get them right. They require a sensitive eye and an economical way with words. If you pull it off, you have really accomplished something."
Tracy Chevalier was born and grew up in Washington, DC. After university she moved to London, where she has lived for over 25 years. She worked for a few years in publishing before leaving office life to do an MA in creative writing at the University of East Anglia. She has written six novels, including Remarkable Creatures, Burning Bright, and the international bestseller Girl with a Pearl Earring, which has been translated into 36 languages and sold almost 4 million copies worldwide. She has judged the Bridport Short Story Prize and the Jewish Quarterly Prize, and has been Chair of the Society of Authors. She lives in London with her husband and son.
For further information about Tracy visit her website.
* Prize Terms
>> The CHL retreat is accommodation only: dates to be agreed between CHL and the competition winner.
>> The day with a Virago editor: date to be agreed between Virago and the compeition winner.
>> The winner is responsible for any other expenses involved with attending the CHL retreat and the day with a Virago editor, i.e. travel, food, etc. The prizes must be taken by 31 March 2011.
PAY ONLINE
COMPETITION NOW CLOSED
UK entries
1) Pay Online (below), entering the number of stories you are submitting. Please take note of your online payment reference, which you should include in your covering letter.
2) Download, print and fill in your cover sheet, then post your entry to:
Women’s Short Story Competition
Mslexia Publications Limited
PO Box 656
Freepost NEA5566
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1BR
(Postmarked no later than 25 January 2010. No need for a stamp.)
Click here to pay
* After completing Pay Online, please remember to quote your online payment reference in your covering letter. *
Overseas entries
1) Pay Online (below), entering the number of stories you are submitting. Please take note of your online payment reference, which you should include in your email.
2) Email your entry(ies), with a covering letter, to: shortstory@mslexia.co.uk
Click here to pay
* After completing Pay Online, please remember to quote your online payment reference in your email. *
PAY BY POST
COMPETITION NOW CLOSED
Entries may be submitted and paid for by post if accompanied by a Sterling cheque, or you can telephone the office +44 (0) 191 233 3860 with your credit/debit card details. Download, print and fill in your cover sheet, then post to:
From the UK
Women’s Short Story Competition
Mslexia Publications Limited
PO Box 656
Freepost NEA5566
Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 1BR
From overseas
We regret the Freepost facility is not available for entries posted from overseas.
Women’s Short Story Competition
Mslexia Publications Limited
PO Box 656
Newcastle upon Tyne NE99 1PZ
United Kingdom
CRITIQUING SERVICE!
Mslexia offers a professional critiquing service for stories entered into the competition.
Find out more
SHORTSTORYRADIO.COM
Listen to the 2009 first prize-winning story, 'Wiggy' by Beda Higgins on shortstoryradio.com
NEW! WRITING EXERCISES
devised by Laura Fish especially for the 2010 Short Story Competition.
Try them now
CREATIVE SPARK
An exercise devised by MARGARET WILKINSON to kickstart a story
>> A satisfying story is one in which a change takes place. Ideally the change occurs in an intriguing context.
>> Select an interesting profession (piano-tuner, dog-groomer, bodyguard, nun); create a ‘back story’ which explains how a character ended up in that profession. List six milestones on that character’s journey; turn one of these moments of significance into a story.
>> A character is taking part in a ritual (burying a pet, celebrating a divorce, exorcising a poltergeist, a Sunday lunch, a bikers’ initiation). The ritual is interrupted. How? What happens next?
