The Mogford Hotels and Restaurants Group is inviting entries for its eighth annual short story prize. The winner will receive £10,000 (approximately US$12,9000) and the competition is open to writers worldwide.
The judges for the 2020 contest are writer and comedian Stephen Fry and television presenter and journalist Prue Leith.
According to the organisers:
Food and Drink must be at the heart of the winning tale. Your short story could, for instance, be about crime or intrigue; about a chance meeting over a drink; a life-changing conversation over dinner; or perhaps the details of a relationship explored through food or drink.
Both published and unpublished writers are invited to enter but all stories must be previously unpublished. All entries must be accompanied by a £10 entry fee and a 2500 word limit applies.
In 2019 the contest attracted 1,019 entries from around the world. The overall winner was Elisabeth Ingram Wallace for her story ‘Corvidae.’ Download the story here (PDF) or listen to an audio version below.
The winner of the 2020 prize will be announced at party in Oxford on 1 April. Four shortlisted writers will also attend a select dinner. All travel expenses agreed in advance will be met by Jeremy Mogford, including, where necessary, economy flights.
Entries to Mogford Short Story Prize close at 12 noon (GMT) on Monday 13 January 2020.
For further information and to enter visit the Mogford Short Story Prize website.
Listen to ‘Corvidae’, winner of the 2019 Mogford Food and Drink Short Story Prize
Written by Elisabeth Ingram Wallace
Read by Sara Wilson-Soppitt