Short story competition

Organisers of this year’s national Page & Blackmore Short Story Competition have put some tips together to help authors avoid basic pitfalls.

They are hoping to get as many entries accepted as possible.

The competition regularly draws over 100 entries from aspiring writers from around the country.

The NZ Society of Authors Top of the South Branch suggestions include getting others to proof the work before sending it off to avoid errors in grammar and spelling.

Some entries do not get beyond being opened because they exceed the 1500 word limit.

‘‘It doesn’t make sense but still writers do this,’’ Top of the South Branch chairperson Sue Perkins says. ‘‘We won’t take an entry that hasn’t followed the rules.’’

The panel assesses stories for flow, readability and whether a story holds the reader’s attention throughout.

They ask whether the first paragraph makes them want to read on, and if a writer’s voice is original, compelling and enjoyable.

‘‘Does he or she make good use of dialogue and does each character speak in a natural way to his or her personality,’’ Perkins says. ‘‘Is the author’s description enough to make the characters, their actions and the location vivid and three-dimensional? ‘‘

Page & Blackmore Short Story Competition, entry deadline April 1. Entry form and rules: www.topwriters.co.nz