Winner

P.S Cottier Lyneham, A.C.T - Fittest

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Judges Comments

  

Words in winter 2017: Microfiction competition

 

Redbeard Bakery Microfiction Competition attracted entries that displayed an impressive range of topics addressing the ‘Origins’ theme clearly, obliquely and sometimes not at all! Topics were wide ranging; migration from the old world to the new; environment, including from the Outback to Eden; love, brief, enduring, fickle; death, parting and President Trump.

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Stories also demonstrated a range of abilities to structure the story within the 50-word constraint and to address the necessities of editing the final result (spelling, typos, grammar, punctuation and especially word count).

However it was clear that the writers had had fun creating their mini stories and that enjoyment is what sustains a competition of this nature.

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The winning entry ‘Fitness’ by Penelope Cottier stood out because :

-it was a well structured story

-the theme of ‘Origins’ was interpreted in an original and clever way

-the story managed to include some intrigue and ambiguity (I… did only what was necessary)

-the word play (‘that’s only fitting’) referenced Darwin’s central thesis of ‘The Origin of the species’ i.e. those in any species most likely to survive were those most fit and able to adapt to changing circumstances

-the story was also an apt metaphor for competitions!

-and on a personal note, it made me smile.

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Entrants are encouraged to address these aspects when submitting their entries:

- Original treatment of theme (think outside the box/square/bubble)

- Attention to the editing process (see above)

- Explore other examples of mini stories. Perhaps even an example could be included (the winner from this year?)

   All this done of course in the spirit of enjoyment and participation

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Maeve Mckeown.