Mslexia

How to Win a Short Story Competition

by Debbie Taylor

Mslexia’s Women’s Short Story Competition 2011 is now open for entries, with a first prize of £2,000. To help you craft a winning story, here’s some guidance from some of our previous judges.

1 - Choose intriguing subject matter

One of the easiest way to make your story unique is to set it somewhere exotic, or write about a topic (ornithology, millinery, billiards) that has its own wonderful language.
‘I longed to read about something extraordinary.’ Tracy Chevalier
‘Consider writing about science, history, philosophy, politics, travel… Subject matter that will set your story apart.’ Sara Maitland

2 - Make something happen

A short story should chronicle a transformation or change; so steer clear of static scenarios and internal monologues. And make the change concrete if possible.
‘I like a story with movement rather than a snapshot in time.’ Val McDermid
‘I prefer a tale driven by events, by conflict between characters.’ Kate Mosse

3 - Don’t use an extract from your novel

Novel extracts make unsatisfying short stories. The pace of a novel is different; because the characters are on a longer journey. The novel walks, where the story needs to run.
‘A short story must go somewhere, and actually arrive in the span of its short life.’ Maggie Gee
‘Some stories ruled themselves out by dint of their sheer formlessless.’ Helen Simpson

4 - Purge those clichés

Raise your description to another level by spending some quality time with every adjective and adverb. Could you find better ones? Could you leave any out? Could you replace that simile with a metaphor?
‘I think metaphor is far stronger than simile.’ Stella Duffy
‘I always prefer writing that is brilliant but flawed to something less ambitious that’s almost perfect.’ Patience Agbabi

5 - Focus on an unusual character

If you decide to write about something you have experienced, try transposing it into the life of someone wilder, uglier, madder, badder than you are – and see what happens.
‘You don’t need to have great thoughts, just great characters.’ Deborah Moggach
‘Step away from yourself and look out into the world. You’re not as interesting as you think!' Tracy Chevalier

6 - Write in first person

A surefire way to hook a reader and get them involved is to slip inside your main character’s skin and look at the world through their eyes.
‘It’s no coincidence that the top prizewinning stories were all written in the first person.’ Jill Dawson
‘Try rewriting your story in first person; it will come alive.’ Deborah Moggach

This feature has been devised especially for the Mslexia Women's Short Story Competition, judged by Jackie Kay. Enter the Competition. For the latest on the writing world, publishing and creativity subscribe to Mslexia now. To sample more Mslexia features or to find out about the latest issue click here.