Commonwealth Short Story Competition
The Commonwealth Short Story Competition exists to increase understanding between and appreciation of different Commonwealth cultures, to showcase the rich diversity of the Commonwealth and to support rising literary talents.
Entry for the 2009 Commonwealth Short Story Competition has now closed. Details of the winners and the winning entries will be available on the website in early September.
First prize £2,000
“Here, in India, publishers don't readily accept short story collections. What tilted the scale in my favour is surely the hat of trick prizes in a prestigious competition like yours! I am hopeful that this recognition will influence the sales of the book too.”
Usha Rajagopalan, Bangalore, India
“Following my win in the Commonwealth Short Story Competition a few years ago, I just want to inform you that my first novel has just been accepted for publication by Farafina Publishers”
Anietie Isong, Lagos, Nigeria.
The competition
The Commonwealth Short Story Competition is an annual scheme to promote new creative writing. It was established in 1996. It is funded by the Commonwealth Foundation and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association, who work together to administer the scheme.
The scheme exists to increase understanding and appreciation of Commonwealth cultures and to promote rising literary talents. Each year 26 winning and highly commended stories from the different regions of the Commonwealth are recorded on to CDs and broadcast on radio stations across the Commonwealth. The winner receives a prize of £2,000 and there are regional prizes of £500.
Winners and highly commended entrants will be notified by the end of July.
Culture programme
The Commonwealth Short Story Competition is part of the Culture Programme of the Commonwealth Foundation, along with other schemes such as the Commonwealth Writers' Prize and Commonwealth Connections arts residency scheme. The Commonwealth Foundation is an intergovernmental organisation supporting the work of charities, not for profit and non-governmental organisations, culture practitioners and other parts of civil society in the areas of human development, culture, communities and livelihoods and governance and democracy. The Foundation is supported by Commonwealth governments, and raises additional funds from institutions, corporate donors and individuals to support its growing work programme.
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 | Read the 2005 overall winning entry 16 KB) |
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| Read the 2006 overall winning entry 18 KB) |
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