Anyone entering the Francis MacManus competition this year?

Hrududu · 05-04-2016 02:34PM

I took a look at the website but couldn't read any of the previous winners. There was a link to listen to them but it wasn't working for me. Does anyone know where I could read any of last years winners/shortlist? It would be good to get a feel for the standard.

redser7 · 05-04-2016 03:04PM

I tried to find written versions but they are only available on podcast to listen. Click the link then search on radio one for the story title. You'll get a lot of different results but the broadcast will be in there somewhere if you scroll down. The winner was excellent.

Das Kitty · 07-04-2016 08:37AM

I friend of mine was shortlisted two years ago. The standard is high.

I would say though that unlike other competitions, how it sounds when read aloud is very important.

I have something in mind for it, the only problem is it's about 160 words short of 1800 (I've a few as well that are much too long). My other option is to take a chunk of a story and fashion it into a shorter story.

redser7 · 07-04-2016 09:12AM

(3) Entries, in Irish or English, must be the original work
of the author. They cannot be under consideration
elsewhere and must not have been previously
published (including online) or broadcast.

Would you consider a VOAT as being published online?

Das Kitty · 07-04-2016 09:41AM

redser7 wrote: »

(3) Entries, in Irish or English, must be the original work
of the author. They cannot be under consideration
elsewhere and must not have been previously
published (including online) or broadcast.

Would you consider a VOAT as being published online?

Yes, but drop me a PM.

echo beach · 07-04-2016 11:20PM

Das Kitty wrote: »

I have something in mind for it, the only problem is it's about 160 words short of 1800 (I've a few as well that are much too long). My other option is to take a chunk of a story and fashion it into a shorter story.

You could always start something new. Sometimes it is easier to sit down to a specific word count than to try to either lengthen or shorten a story that may already be its optimum length. I'm also looking at a few options but think I'll have to start from scratch.

This competition is tricky because there is such a narrow margin between the upper and lower word count limits (to facilitate broadcasting into a specific time slot). That is part of the challenge, together with the high standard and the high number of entries it attracts.

Das Kitty · 07-04-2016 11:25PM

echo beach wrote: »

You could always start something new. Sometimes it is easier to sit down to a specific word count than to try to either lengthen or shorten a story that may already be its optimum length. I'm also looking at a few options but think I'll have to start from scratch.

This competition is tricky because there is such a narrow margin between the upper and lower word count limits (to facilitate broadcasting into a specific time slot). That is part of the challenge, together with the high standard and the high number of entries it attracts.

All my ideas recently are fecking novel length.

I think I just need to print out the one that's short, and see where I could put a few sentences.

FewFew · 16-04-2016 12:23AM

I might give this a try. I've been meaning to enter some competitions.

Chancer3001 · 16-04-2016 09:59PM

whens closing date?

echo beach · 16-04-2016 10:31PM

Friday 27th May. It will come around quicker than you expect so set to right away.:)

Chancer3001 · 17-04-2016 02:44AM

sorry for being a pain

is there a link t the guidelines?

Mr E · 17-04-2016 08:30AM

Sure, see here:

http://www.rte.ie/radio1/francis-macmanus-short-story/generic/2013/1031/483791-rules-and-regulations/

Anyone entering the Francis MacManus competition this year?

Comments