Thursday, May 27, 2010

2010 BBC National Short Story Award

A prestigious panel of judges has been announced for the 2010 BBC National Short Story Award. The award, which is now in its fifth year, celebrates the best in contemporary short story writing. 

This year's panel of judges are:

BBC Radio 4 broadcaster James Naughtie (chair), author and Guardian journalist Kamila Shamsie, author and poet Owen Sheers, author Shena Mackay and Editor Readings, BBC Radio, Di Speirs.

This year’s award is open for submissions of unpublished stories, stories published since January 2009 and stories scheduled for future publication from publishers, agents and authors from the UK. The closing date for entries is 18th June 2010. The author of the winning story is awarded £15,000, with the runner up receiving £3,000 and a further three authors receiving £500 each.

James Naughtie, BBC Radio 4 broadcaster and chair of the 2010 judging panel comments:
‘The short story is still a writer's opportunity that offers something distinct, and exciting. The best of them are alive with passion, perfectly crafted to make every word count, and beautiful artefacts that can't be pulled apart. They are also tales for our time. A short story can sit happily on the ear, and on the page, on your phone, or your screen; it travels well and it fits into even the busiest life. I can't wait to read this year's entries, because they seem to get better and better.’

The shortlist will be announced in November with the five stories broadcast on BBC Radio 4 each weekday a week before the winner is announced on the 29th November. The five stories will also be published in a special anthology. 

Di Speirs, BBC Radio Editor Readings and 2010 panel judge comments:
'Five years ago there was a very real sense that the short story form was endangered.  Year on year since, we have seen a resurgence of interest and commitment to the form from readers and listeners, and from publishers and authors.  More published collections are crossing my desk and every year a broader church of writers recognise and respond to the unique appeal and deceptive simplicity of short fiction.  I am personally delighted that the BBC National Short Story Award has played a part in this renaissance and am looking forward again to reading superlative stories from our best established and emerging talent this summer'

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