Posts

Third Prize The Landlord’s Ladder Mel King   It’s 4 pm on an unseasonably warm April afternoon. You’re sitting cross-legged on your bed, squirming because your back hurts like a bastard from hunching over your laptop. You’ve been perched in … Continued

  Honourable Mention The Climb Tanya Scott   As my boots skid on the wet platform and my legs shoot out from under me, all I can think is, Not yet. For a wild, panicked moment, I’m falling, weightless. I … Continued

  Shortlisted The Queen’s Spy Louisa Bath   Maya took a deep breath, adjusting the golden ornaments on her braids as she strode down the corridor. The dungeons of her castle were not overly dark and dingy, but they were … Continued

  Shortlisted Dirt is but Matter in the Wrong Place Louise Briggs   Her boots were pointing homeward now. Fading light was beginning to creep and curl itself around the trees and shrubs that lined her way. All the swirling … Continued

  Shortlisted The Road to Condo Belinda Donald   The water shimmers and glistens in the distance. A young girl and a boy walk on the long, straight road towards the magical and alluring water. Although they are both used … Continued

  Shortlisted No Excuses Allowed Gail Griffin   This was his first gig. But Jack had no excuse for ignoring the basic tenets of things he should definitely not do while being tattooed. They’d been drilled into Jack, repeatedly, by … Continued

  Shortlisted Remotely NQR Jenny Macauley   Elongated fingers of early morning sun crept across the field, illuminating the tops of the circular hay bales that lay haphazardly across the gently sloped paddock. Each bale cast its own shadow, still … Continued

  Shortlisted Momentarily Free Adam Stone   It truly breaks Frank’s heart every day, all over again. It has been six months now, and he still feels as though he has failed Joy. It had become particularly bad at home, … Continued