Words as action. Action through words. Mixing words with action.
Our fourth annual competition for the briefest stories was as exciting as ever. We received stories about film scenes, birdwatching, biographies and flying saucers. Stories set off, stopped, re-started. Action was a verb, a noun, a misnomer.
A massive thank you to everyone who submitted ten words. We felt lucky to gorge on each tiny slice of innovative storytelling. All entries were read anonymously.
Our winning stories used every word to make us think and feel. Without space to develop ideas in detail, micro stories exist in the ephemeral world of hinting and suggesting. Our winners responded to the theme, ran with it, swallowed it up and spat it out.
We would love to hear what you think! And let us know if you have an idea for a future theme.
Daniel & Elinor
First Prize
Scott Dalgarno, ‘Thundersnow at Midnight’
Runners-up
Cynthia Kitchen, ‘Far Country’
Lesley Mason, ‘Reclamation of Self’
Tom Ledger, Untitled
Ilias Tsagas, ‘Sculpture, 3200 to 1600 BC’
Peter Marshall, ‘Flighty’
Andreea Finichiu, ‘The Slip’
Olek B, ‘Time Loop’
What is Briefly Write?
Briefly Write is a creative space for short poetry and fiction co-edited by sister-and-brother team Elinor Bell-Clark and Daniel Clark. Founded in 2020, we are a community-driven, not-for-profit initiative built on the principles of concision, clarity and compassion.
We publish a twice-yearly journal of quality writing and photography (Briefly Zine). We run an annual free-to-enter Poetry Prize, which attracts thousands of entries from around the world. We are active members of the literary community, obsessive readers and supportive editors.
Support our mission
Briefly Write is fully funded by donations on Ko-fi.
This year, we will pay more writers than ever before. Everything we receive goes to website costs and paying writers. Find out more here: Support Briefly Write
Read previous winners
What next?
Submissions for Issue 14 of Briefly Zine are open now. Find out more: Submit to Briefly Zine
Briefly Write 
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