Short story winner is ‘one-hit’ wonder

Writer’s work, penned during a break from her novel, leaves reader ‘bruised but elated’. By Warwick Rasmussen.

Kirsten McDougall’s love of reading and writing has come a long way since her interest in Enid Blyton and Trixie Belden books as a child.

The accomplished Wellington author, who works as a publicist and literary manager for Victoria University Press, lives a life surrounded by words – ‘‘That’s just my world.’’

And now McDougall can add Sunday Star-Times short story competition open category winner to her CV for her piece, Walking Day. She takes home the $5000 prize after almost 700 entries were received and blind judged over two categories.

McDougall said her story was written during a break from writing a novel, four weeks before the deadline, and she felt invigorated and inspired by the change of pace, and change of topic.

‘‘It was a total delight. I was having a wee break and it’s like going on a fast, 10km run compared to a marathon. There’s a certain energy to short story writing, a certain texture.’’

She wrote Walking Day in one burst, which she felt was important in short story writing to preserve and protect the kernel of an idea. ‘‘It’s really good to get it down in one hit.’’

Then more time was spent on editing and fine-tuning. Inspiration came from Gothic stories and ‘‘touchstones’’ like authors Shirley Jackson and Margo Lanagan.

‘‘I had a central idea to start with about a boy who has to walk a plank. I wanted to create something that had a heavier, Gothic atmosphere.’’

The finished product got the attention of author and open category judge Carl Nixon, who said ‘‘the writer’s artistry became more and more apparent’’ on each reading.

‘‘The story sucks you in with the plight of an unjustly condemned boy, immerses you in the world, and spits you out feeling bruised but elated. A deserving winner.’’

McDougall said knowing she was writing for a broader audience than usual didn’t change the way she approached the story. ‘‘If I did that I think I it would have diluted the story.’’

She said her spare choice of language, as well as the punctuation and grammar were deliberate devices to reflect the nonacademic nature and environment of the main character.

Taking out the top prize for doing something she already loved was a bonus. ‘‘It’s always nice to win something. It’s nice that someone thought it was good. I love the idea that my story will be in a national newspaper.’’

In the under-25 category Russell Boey took top honours.

The 20-year-old from Christchurch is studying physics and astronomy at the University of Auckland and is no stranger to the competition. In 2017, while a student at St Andrew’s College in