Our Annual Short Story Competition

The Top of the South branch of NZSA organises the annual Short Story Competition sponsored by Page & Blackmore Booksellers of Nelson. Prizes are awarded equally in the form of book vouchers and cash to the total value of: First $500; Second $300; Third $200. In addition, the three prize winning and the seven shortlisted writers receive a certificate recognising their achievement.

The 2021 competition will open shortly for stories of up to 1500 words.
 
This national competition is judged by a different, noted New Zealand writer each year and all entrants receive written feedback on the stories submitted. Past judges are Mandy Hager, Alan Carter, Catherine Chidgey, Kevin Ireland, Tina Shaw, Ted Dawe, Graeme Lay, Brigid Lowry, Gavin Bishop, Carl Nixon, David Hill and Fiona Kidman.
 
Winning and short-listed stories are published in a biennial anthology which also includes poems that have been displayed in the window of Page & Blackmore Booksellers.​

The winning and shortlisted stories from the 2020 competititon can be read online here   
​
​Read the 2019 and 2018 prize-winning stories in Horizons 4, 
published in 2019.





Read the 2017 and 2016 prize-winning stories in Horizons 3, published in 2017.
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Page & Blackmore Booksellers
254 Trafalgar Street, Nelson 7010
Ph: 03-548 9992
[email protected]
​www.pageandblackmore.co.nz
There was no competition in 2011