A big thank you to everybody who entered the Mere Literary Festival Adult Short Story Competition. We had some fascinating and varied entries. The judges read all of them and together they decided the following:
This year’s literary competition showcased an impressive diversity of voices and storytelling prowess. The following review highlights the standout entries, offering an appreciation of their strengths and the qualities that distinguished them within a highly competitive field.
The Booklover
The Booklover emerged as a clear and deserving winner. The story is notable for its emotional depth, originality, and intricate layering. Skilfully crafted, it weaves a narrative around an unhappy holiday, utilising classical literature in an inventive and poignant manner. The use of literary allusion is not merely decorative, it serves to reveal the narrator’s inner landscape of hope, forbearance, and despair.
The format enhances the story’s nuances, with humour deftly interwoven alongside moments of sadness and reflection. The author’s command of language and structure allows for a multi-layered reading experience, rewarding the attentive reader with subtle insights and emotional resonance.
No Further Action is a story that stands out for its engagement with current and relevant issues. The author approaches topical subjects with both insight and narrative skill, creating a piece that is both thought-provoking and entertaining. The story’s structure supports its themes effectively, and the characters are rendered with empathy and realism. This entry is commendable for its clarity of vision and the balanced manner in which it addresses difficult subject matter.
Peacock in the Forest
Peacock in the Forest impressed with its inventiveness, energy, and confident storytelling. The author’s unique voice is evident from the outset, drawing readers into a world that is both distinct and alien. The narrative pulse is lively, and the prose style is marked by verve and creativity. This story is a testament to the power of fresh perspectives and bold, assured writing, making it a worthy inclusion among the competition’s finest.
Our Judges for this competition were:
Christina Sanders
Christina has had short stories and flash fiction published in literary and online magazines including: Ambit, Fish Anthology, Bare Fiction, The Bath Short Story Anthology, Words with Jam, Litro, Rattle Tales, TFM magazine, Best Small Fictions, Toasted Cheese.
In 2016, she won the Aesthetica creative writing award. She is currently working on a novella which was short-listed by the Mslexia Novel competition in 2023. She lives in Somerset and co-runs The Write Place in Frome.
Elizabeth Woodgate
Elizabeth Woodgate is a writer based in Shaftesbury and is currently workshopping a novel at The Write Place in Frome.
Her story ‘Devil’s Food’ won the NAWG short story competition in 2020 and appears in their anthology The Write Path. Other pieces feature in Mslexia, Dorset Shorts and Grist.
Elizabeth performed her monologue ‘Dissolution’, published by Little Albion Press, at the Shaftesbury Fringe in 2022 and in the same year ran an international poetry competition for Arts University Bournemouth where she was lecturing in Creative Writing.
With thanks to our Sponsor – Farnfields Solicitors
We are proud to support the Mere Literary Festival and the Short Story Competition, celebrating the power of words to inspire, connect, and uplift. Reading and writing are not only vital for learning and creativity but also play an important role in wellbeing, helping us to reflect, express ourselves, and find meaning in our everyday lives.
By supporting this festival and competition, we hope to encourage more people to discover the joy and strength that storytelling brings – Farnfields Solicitors
