We were delighted to have our 2024 winner, Catherine Ogston, judge our entries this year. She joined us online with a few of the shortlisted entrants and gave her judge’s report alongside the results, highlighting the features that stood out.
Fosseway Writers Flash Contest – Judge’s Report
Thank you so much for inviting me to judge the flash fiction competition with the intriguing theme of the bell. Handel called Britian ‘The Ringing Isle’ and there was plenty evidence of bells being everywhere in our lives. The entries contained numerous church bells, some gongs, ceremonial bells, shop bells, several pubs and many more. The art of flash is deceptively simple – tell a story in a short amount of words. However a good flash piece demands precise and considered language, a sense of action or change and layers of meaning because often what is not said is as important as what is said. There is really no room for backstory and those tricky endings can be hard to land. Put that along with those difficult openings and the puzzle of finding a title that does some of the work for you. So thank you for all your entries and well done to everyone who entered.
Local prize
The Monastery Bell – Amanda Losinski, Wellow, Notts
This goes to a piece that incorporated some lovely descriptions which gave it a sensory feel. The bell felt very central to the story and I enjoyed phrases like ‘The bell had been his master for so long’.
Honourable Mentions
For Whom the Bell Tolls – Brenda Cusack, Northumberland
The writer did a very good job here of not spelling things out of the reader but allowing the story to unfold. This gave the ending great impact and a lasting impression in the mind.
Why the Cat’s Bell ended up in the Attic – Mary Scott, Taunton
The writer here also did an excellent job of giving us a story without backstory or explaining too much. But there is a good sense of a tale, if you pardon the pun, with great word choice such as shrug-offered and bitten quiet her murderous thoughts.
Where the Bell Rings – Claire Maley, Wolverhampton
I enjoyed this very much partly as I am a teacher and the setting of class trip was very familiar. There is a nod to humour and again the ending lands particularly well, leaving the reader wanting to go back to read again, now the whole picture has been revealed.
Third Place
A Box Office Hit – N.K. Rowe, Newark
This is an intriguing flash, with a setting no one else chose. There is great use of the present tense to keep us in the drama of the moment and there are considered language choices and alliteration. I enjoyed phrases such as His dodge-weary thighs haul him up and he jellies into a corrective stagger.
Second Place
The Dancing Shoes – Suzanne Fairless-Aitken, Hexham, Northumberland
This historical flash shows us a maid dressing her mistress for the last time. The central paragraph describing this moment is wonderfully done and the last line lands so well, giving a lasting image which finishes the piece. Great use of the present tense and considered word choices, and a very unique but valid interpretation of the theme.
First Place
Saving Souls – N.K. Rowe, Newark
A wonderfully atmospheric story which is vividly drawn. The backstory here is kept to one or two short lines, just enough to give the reader enough information. The rest unfolds beautifully. The writer incorporated sensory details as well and the bell was key to the story.
The top three entries will be added to this site shortly. Congratulations to all of the mentioned authors and thank you to all of those who entered. Our short story competition is now live and is on the theme of “Unfinished”.
Leave a Reply