The winners of Mansfield’s short story writing competition have been revealed, with more than 50 entries received from writers in the local community.
The competition, which forms part of the Townscape Heritage Project, invited people aged 16 and over to submit original short stories of up to 3,000 words. The response was impressive, with entries covering a wide range of subjects including Mansfield’s history, time-travel, the supernatural, romance, mining, homelessness, and even aliens.
After careful judging, the winning entries were announced as:
- First prize – Beneath the Earth, by Kacey Webster, 20, from Mansfield. A moving and fast-paced story about a mining accident at Clipstone Colliery.
- Second prize – Another Day, by Emma Louise, 58, from Arnold. A powerful and emotional story about a homeless young woman in Mansfield.
- Third prize – An Act of Kindness, by Jack Burrows, 43, from Sutton-in-Ashfield. Set in medieval times, this poetic tale tells of an unexpected visitor to a local miller and his family.
First prize in the competition is £100 in Amazon vouchers. There is also Amazon voucher prizes for second and third place winners.
The judging panel consisted of Allan Barham, of The Old Mansfield Society, and Paul Williams, CEO of Brunts Charity. Judges praised the high standard of storytelling and originality across all entries and commended the ten shortlisted authors for their creativity and technical ability.
Among the judges’ comments were:
- On Beneath the Earth: “A captivating read that draws the reader into the story, hook, line, and sinker. A perfectly framed story.”
- On Another Day: “Lucy is such a sympathetic character whom we can all identify with… I was in tears by the end.”
- On An Act of Kindness: “This story is written with such a poetic rhythm, in the style of an ancient epic saga to be told around the campfire.”
Organiser Theresa Workman, Townscape Heritage Activities Co-ordinator, said: “We were delighted to receive so many entries this year, from such a wide variety of writers, in style and age.
“The sheer variety of stories shows just how much creativity and talent exists within our community, and beyond. The judges had an incredibly tough job, and we want to congratulate not only our winners but everyone who entered. This competition is a wonderful way of celebrating Mansfield’s heritage and inspiring new voices in storytelling.”
The short story competition is part of the wider Townscape Heritage Project, which seeks to enhance the architectural quality of Mansfield’s historic centre while fostering educational opportunities and community engagement. The project is supported by players of The National Lottery via The National Lottery Heritage Fund.