Thank you to everyone who took the time to enter our Short SHORT story competition. I had a wonderful time reading all the stories. As before, I found it interesting to see just how similar, and also how varied, some of the stories could be when started with the same first line. What I noticed from this competition was how many of the stories revolved around current social and topical issues. While there were the perennial romances and stories of the unexplained, there were also a wide selection of tales based on drug taking in Bali, searching for fame through television shows, emigrating, and the downturn in the global economy. As always, I struggled with the choice between perfectly-written stories that lacked in the plotting and those that, while not technically perfect, were powerful and held the reader from start to finish. Invariably I chose the latter, willing to overlook the occasional error in return for an inspiring story. (NOTE: Please don’t read this as permission to submit stories that aren’t proof-read. Typos and grammatical mistakes still remain the main reason for stories not making the short-list.) Before sitting down to write this report I was sorting through the three winning stories and looking for some correlation between them to try and define why I selected them over the many that were submitted. It stands to reason that there was a level of skill in the writing, characterisation and pacing of the stories, but so had many other entries. Certainly, the presentation and proof-reading of their work also had bearing on their selection, but again they weren’t the only ones. In the end, I think for me a good story has to genuinely represent life and humanity (and if it can also include hope and a positive outlook all the better). After all, if we can associate with the characters and their challenges, we can put ourselves in their place, which immediately makes their story believable and (on some level) real. And who doesn’t want to try out somebody else’s life every so often? THIRD PRIZE |
UPCOMING ONLINE COURSES
Writing from the Heart
(true-life/personal essay)
2nd March to 30th March
Introduction to Short Story Writing
(fiction)
4th April to 9th May
Lifetime of Stories
(autobiography)
7th May to 28th May
RESERVE YOUR PLACE
TODAY
What people are saying about our online courses ...
'I'm delighted and proud of my first attempt. Thank you for a wonderful course. I have been enriched.'
AK, Zimbabwe
‘You were my inspiration in actually doing something with my writing. I would like to thank you for kicking me in the butt and insisting I do something!’
Bec, Australia
‘Elizabeth, this was a terrific, confidence building, well-honed little course. I would thoroughly recommend it.’
Margot, Australia
‘Writing is a labour of love when we expose ourselves by baring our soul. I believe Elizabeth Bezant has the skill to combine respect for our feelings, with pragmatic strategies to help us publish our precious efforts.’
John, Australia
‘Elizabeth, this was a great course and though it was short it has boosted my confidence in my writing. Thank you!’
Rachael, Australia
‘A very rewarding challenge – not too difficult, not too easy. Every word was welcome and useful. I edit other people’s writing in a really similar manner, but it’s amazing how difficult it is to see those same errors in your own work.’
Margot, Australia
'Great course Elizabeth! I would not have taken the time to seriously try this genre but for your course. I made the last few changes you suggested and have sent the essay in to ............. After reviewing their requirements I see that my piece fits in every way possible.'
SM,Canada
The critiquing to me was the whole point of the course. While the general comments and writing tips were vital as a backbone to the course, the personal interaction and direction was the whole point of it all.’
Sue, Australia
‘I thoroughly enjoyed course, and it being online made it a breeze.’
Rowe, Australia
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‘A publisher asked me to send her some of my writing this year. But I never would have without this course.’
Raewyn, Australia
‘I’ve just sent off the last of the assignments for critiquing and before I go any further I must say a very big thank you to you for the joy you have given me! Not only have I learnt so much from you, but I have also so appreciated all the encouragement and your wise counsel in assisting me to do something that I wouldn’t have believed could have been nearly possible. I will miss you.’
Yvonne, Australia
'Thanks to Elizabeth I can now source markets for personal stories, competently make my writing market-ready and sell it with confidence. Your editing skills are an asset to the writing community. I recommend this course to any writer who wants to break into this market.'
JOH, Australia
'I thought the way the market information was presented was not only informative but importantly for me it was written in a friendly manner. It took away some of the awesome fear I have of confronting the real world of publishing.'
KM, Australia