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University’s Novel in 25 Words finalists announced
Friday, 28 July, 2017University’s Novel in 25 Words finalists announced
The three finalists of Bath Spa University’s ‘Novel in 25 words’ competition have been announced, with novels Early Learning by Clare Gallagher, FYI by Kelly Doran, and Rise of the shy horticulturalist by Michael Hunt shortlisted.
The competition, which challenged people to submit a novel in just 25 words in celebration of 25 years of teaching creative writing excellence at Bath Spa University, ran throughout June closing on Friday 30 June.
The 1,415 entries were judged by a panel of successful authors and literary figures, including author of nine novels, Philip Hensher. The panel selected three finalists at this stage, and the overall winner will be announced in September at the launch of a new anthology, ‘A Place in Words.’
The three finalist’s entries:
Early Learning by Clare Gallagher
With boys she hit harder. Hit at the child he once was. Thirty years’ ‘exemplary classroom practice’. The soft palm of so many small hands.
FYI by Kelly Doran
Obviously I’m not judging Carl; I just think it would’ve been nice to know about the whole pineapple situation before I moved in with him.
Rise of the shy horticulturalist by Michael Hunt
Veni, vedi, Aesculus hippocastanum: I came, I saw, I conkered. Caesar of playgrounds, bullied no more, commander of string, nut and a smattering of Latin.
Judge, and celebrated author, as well as Bath Spa University graduate Beatrice Hitchman said: “Good dogs, bad dogs, disappearing towns, murderous grannies - the range of topics covered in our 1,400+ entries was astounding (and sometimes alarming).
“The winning three show the best things that microfiction can achieve."
Fellow-judge and senior assistant editor of the Oxford English Dictionary, Jonathan Dent, added:
“I was very impressed by the variety, ingenuity, and quality of the responses to the challenge of producing a novel (or at least giving a flavour of one) in exactly twenty-five words. Great linguistic care and richness combined with economy (rather than compression) in the winning entries to create a range of different but equally believable narrative voices that made me want to read on beyond the word limit.”
Anyone inspired by this competition and with a novel to write that’s a little longer than 25 words can find out about Bath Spa University’s creative writing courses.