Short Story Judge’s Report 2024

Judge’s report 2024 by Natali Simmonds

I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have the opportunity to read and judge so many wonderful and varied short stories! I had a glorious weekend dipping in and out of all these worlds, laughing and crying in equal measures. There was so much talent amongst the shortlisted entries that it was hard to pick just three winners, but the ones I’ve chosen were the stories and characters that stayed with me long after I read the last word. 

1ST Hands

Hands had me hooked from the first line. It’s written with such confidence, so beautiful and graceful, yet gives a major gut punch at the end that I didn’t see coming. It was very cleverly written, using the metaphor of hands as a central theme that bound together a tale of friendship, abuse, and revenge spanning sixty years. It reminded me of one of my favourite books of 2023, The Last List of Mabel Beaumont – a woman finally finding closure towards the end of her life. Soft yet sharp, and very wry.

2ND Drowndead

A boy, a dog, and an elderly lady make an unusual trio in this deftly written story about redemption, regret, and unconditional love. Drowndead was so original in the way it was told, mixing together the innocence of Disney’s UP and the nostalgic purity of The List of Suspicious Things. I adored the Nordic tang and the way the writer tells the story from the point of view of both an elderly lady and a young boy, going back and forth through time, first person to third person. A melancholy tale told with so much heart.

3RD Wicked Things

Wicked Things was a riot of a read that had me grinning from ear to ear. Reminiscent of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman’s work, this fantastical story about two monsters guarding the gates of a scary school for dark magic was so unique, it had me desperate to read more. In fact it would make the perfect start to a Discworld-like series about a very ordinary looking boy who is a lot more evil than he first appears. There’s nothing I love more than a new twist on a paranormal world with plenty of humour. Great fun!

I’d like to thank all the participants of the Flash 500 story story competition. Don’t stop writing, the world deserves your words!