Yesterday over coffee, my lovely friend, the writer Wendy Robertson told me about the new Costa Short Story Prize. We both agreed it was great news; a wonderful opportunity for short story 
writers that should be the cause of much celebration – and while I’m on the subject of celebrations – do take a look at lifetwicetasted where Wendy has just embarked on her own – a marathon blogging spree to mark the whole of her very substantial backlist going on Kindle in the next fortnight. Now that deserves some serious celebration!
But to get back to the Costa Prize: Here are the details
This award is for a single, previously unpublished short story of up to 4,000 words by an author of 18 years or over. The story must be written in English.Only one entry per author will be accepted. Entry is online by this website only. Entry opens at 9am on Monday 16 July 2012 and closes at 4pm on Friday 7 September 2012.The author need not have been previously published. Publishers/agents may submit entries on behalf of authors.All entries will be judged anonymously (ie without the name of the author available to the judges).A shortlist of six entries will be announced in November and the public will be asked to vote for their favourite.The winner will be announced at the Costa Book Awards ceremony in late January 2013 and will receive a cheque for £3,500. Two runners-up will each receive £750.
What’s especially exciting about this is that it’s a big prize where the entries will be judged soley by the words on the page and it’s open to absolutely everyone! Good for Costa I say! Start thinking about your entry now and if you need any help you can find my top ten pieces of advice on short story writing here
Hi Avril
Thanks for that info. I like the idea that it’s judged anonymously – as you say – it’ll be the writing that counts! Definitely food for thought. Hope the words are flowing for you. Ange xx
Food for thought indeed! I hope you’re going to enter Ange
A x
So nice of you to mention here my big novel marathon Avril. Your recent flourish of success in the house of the Short Story means you simply must write one for what looks like a very good competition. I particularly go for the commitment to anonymity. As we always say in writing the cream should always rise to the top. That is about thw writing, not the name. Go for it! wx