The Sunday Post Short Story Competition is Back!

Exciting news for all aspiring writers! The Sunday Post Short Story Competition is back for its second year, and it’s set to be even more thrilling than the first. Last year’s competition was so popular that they’re making a return by popular demand.

This year, some of Scotland’s top writers will be judging the entries again. We have Sir Alexander McCall Smith, along with crime writing experts Alex Gray and Lin Anderson, helping to sift through the stories. Sally McDonald, the books editor at The Sunday Post and competition coordinator, is also part of the judging team.

If you missed out last year or had a go but didn’t win, now’s your chance to shine. This competition is open to everyone – whether you’re a student, working parent, or retired grandparent, and even if you have a disability or simply want to fulfill a literary dream.

The grand prize for the overall winner is a fantastic 12-month Gold Star membership with Writers’ HQ, which includes access to online courses and three one-day writing retreats in Edinburgh, Birmingham, or Brighton. Runners-up will get book tokens, and all ten finalists will see their stories published in the P.S magazine that comes with the award-winning Sunday Post.

Editor Dave Lord shared just how amazed they were by last year’s response, stating that the flood of entries was beyond their wildest dreams. The contest truly highlighted the wonderful diversity and quality of the submitted works.

Sir Alexander McCall Smith commented on the competition’s success, highlighting how short stories can evoke various emotions, from laughter to tears. He encourages everyone to take a shot at writing their own stories for this competition.

Last year’s competition received more than 80 entries, with ten talented writers making it to the shortlist. The overall winner was Peter Bray, 69, a retired psychiatric nurse from Glasgow, who won for his moving family tale titled ‘My Changing Face.’

Peter expressed delight over the experience, emphasizing how surreal it felt to see his story published in a national magazine and how much he enjoyed sharing ideas with other writers. He encourages newcomers to step up and join this year’s contest, as it could be a transformative experience.

Sarah Lewis from Writers’ HQ added that their mission is to encourage more people to write and share stories, believing that storytelling unites humanity. She believes that entering competitions is a beneficial way for new writers to gain exposure and be part of a community.

The competition is open to amateur writers aged 18 and above. They must submit stories that haven’t been published before, with a requirement for the piece to be 1,500 to 2,000 words. Only one entry per person is allowed, and they must submit their work online in a Word or PDF format by September 13, 2024.

The winners will be announced on November 24, and all winning stories will be published in the P.S magazine. So, if you have a story to tell, don’t hold back!