Past Contests: 2019
Not So Normal Narrators Short Story Contest 2019
Having finished reading all the entries we received for our inaugural short story competition, we're delighted to unveil our initial shortlist. The stories listed below are now being considered for publication in our first anthology collection and three of them will be chosen to win our cash prizes for first, second and third place.
We want to thank everyone who submitted their writing to Odd Voice Out. The stories on this list represent the most imaginative and distinctive responses to our prompt. We were seeking unique teen voices and perspectives, and we've been provided with a host of memorable characters. We will now begin the careful process of rereading our shortlisted entries and deciding which stories are the best quality and fit for our anthology. Then we will be revealing our Top Ten finalists and their writers will work one-on-one with us to perfect their stories for publication.
Huge congrats to all the talented oddballs who've made it to this stage!
THE SHORTLIST
Anchor by Colby Wren Fierek
And They Continued Swinging by Cindy Xin
Auntie's Back Bedroom Band by Rue Baldry
Being Lavender Blue by Hannah Ray
Breathe by Eddie House
Diagnosis Rising by Samuel Thompson
For Hugo by Tonia Markuo
Heading by Miguel Guerrero Becerra
Imago by Jack Bumby
Love Makes Everyone (into Poets) by Oceania Chee
Noam's Mechanism by Alex Masciotra-Milstein
Oblivisci by A Rose
Piano Wire by Rowan Curtis
Popsicle Oceans and Medusa Peacocks by Ciera Parkhurst
Shoplifting by Frances Copeland
Size of Rice by Sabah Carrim
The Silence Rock by Mary Ball Howkins
The Mystery of Cake and Pesto Pasta by Agathe Chave-Lucas
Voodoo Chicken by Michael Devine
THE RESULTS
We are very proud to announce the prize winners and finalists for our first OvO short story competition Not So Normal Narrators. We've been thrilled with the high standard of the entries we have received, a quarter of which came from under 18s. Over the next few months we will be working with our finalists to produce OvO's first anthology collection, which will include all our Top 10 entries, an introduction from author Catherine Johnson and new bonus stories from K.C. Finn and Kell Cowley. More details to come in our next newsletter!
WINNER (£200 prize)
Breathe by Eddie House
SECOND PLACE (£100 prize)
For Hugo by Tonia Markou
THIRD PLACE (£50 prize)
The Silence Rock by Mary Ball Howkins
FINALISTS
Anchor by Colby Wren Fierek
Imago by Jack Bumby
Love Makes Everyone (into Poets) by Oceania Chee
Oblivisci by A Rose
Piano Wire by Rowan Curtis
Shoplifting by Frances Copeland
Size of Rice by Sabah Carrim
We want to thank everyone who submitted their writing to Odd Voice Out. The stories on this list represent the most imaginative and distinctive responses to our prompt. We were seeking unique teen voices and perspectives, and we've been provided with a host of memorable characters. We will now begin the careful process of rereading our shortlisted entries and deciding which stories are the best quality and fit for our anthology. Then we will be revealing our Top Ten finalists and their writers will work one-on-one with us to perfect their stories for publication.
Huge congrats to all the talented oddballs who've made it to this stage!
THE SHORTLIST
Anchor by Colby Wren Fierek
And They Continued Swinging by Cindy Xin
Auntie's Back Bedroom Band by Rue Baldry
Being Lavender Blue by Hannah Ray
Breathe by Eddie House
Diagnosis Rising by Samuel Thompson
For Hugo by Tonia Markuo
Heading by Miguel Guerrero Becerra
Imago by Jack Bumby
Love Makes Everyone (into Poets) by Oceania Chee
Noam's Mechanism by Alex Masciotra-Milstein
Oblivisci by A Rose
Piano Wire by Rowan Curtis
Popsicle Oceans and Medusa Peacocks by Ciera Parkhurst
Shoplifting by Frances Copeland
Size of Rice by Sabah Carrim
The Silence Rock by Mary Ball Howkins
The Mystery of Cake and Pesto Pasta by Agathe Chave-Lucas
Voodoo Chicken by Michael Devine
THE RESULTS
We are very proud to announce the prize winners and finalists for our first OvO short story competition Not So Normal Narrators. We've been thrilled with the high standard of the entries we have received, a quarter of which came from under 18s. Over the next few months we will be working with our finalists to produce OvO's first anthology collection, which will include all our Top 10 entries, an introduction from author Catherine Johnson and new bonus stories from K.C. Finn and Kell Cowley. More details to come in our next newsletter!
WINNER (£200 prize)
Breathe by Eddie House
SECOND PLACE (£100 prize)
For Hugo by Tonia Markou
THIRD PLACE (£50 prize)
The Silence Rock by Mary Ball Howkins
FINALISTS
Anchor by Colby Wren Fierek
Imago by Jack Bumby
Love Makes Everyone (into Poets) by Oceania Chee
Oblivisci by A Rose
Piano Wire by Rowan Curtis
Shoplifting by Frances Copeland
Size of Rice by Sabah Carrim
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Available Now: Odd VoicesRead all of our award-winning entries from the 2019 contest in this beautiful anthology collection, now available on Amazon in ebook and print version.
In every new story we pick up, we’re seeking an exciting original voice. So why are there still voices we don’t hear from nearly enough? Why are there characters that so rarely take centre stage? In this collection from Odd Voice Out press, we discover the stories of twelve teenagers who stand out from the crowd and who’ll not easily be forgotten.
With settings that range from Scotland to Syria, Mexico to Mauritius, Africa to Russia, these stories take us to all corners of the globe and into the lives of young people with their own unique circumstances and perspectives. Characters dealing with issues of culture and class, exploring their sexuality and gender identity, or letting us into their experiences with illness, disability or neurodiversity. |
Their tales span all genres and can’t be reduced to labels. These are stories about bending the rules and breaking the law. Stories of fighting for survival and finding your place in the world. Stories of family solidarity, unlikely friendships and aching first love told by teenagers who don’t always fit in and aren’t often heard.
With a foreword by award winning YA author Catherine Johnson, this anthology brings together the top ten stories of Odd Voice Out’s 2019 Not So Normal Narrators contest, as well as bonus stories from in-house authors Kell Cowley and K.C. Finn.
With a foreword by award winning YA author Catherine Johnson, this anthology brings together the top ten stories of Odd Voice Out’s 2019 Not So Normal Narrators contest, as well as bonus stories from in-house authors Kell Cowley and K.C. Finn.
