The Microfiction Challenge saw Essex students, staff, and members of the public invited to submit pieces of writing consisting of just 10 words or fewer under four categories: Stories; Ideas; University; and Education.
Due to the large number of entries in the Stories category, student and staff entries were judged separately. The shortlist was compiled by staff from Learning and Development and student editors from ESTRO, the University’s academic student journal.
This shortlist was then judged by Deputy Vice-Chancellor Professor Jules Pretty, Dean of the Graduate School Dr Pam Cox, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Comparative Studies Dr Lisa Wade, Students' Union VP Educatin James Potter, Learning and Development Manager Richard Yates and Learning and Development Adviser Dr Maxwell Stevenson.
The winners of the student categories received a £50 prize and an experience of working one-to-one with a writer; staff winners had to simply settle for the prestige.
The Microfiction Challenge was launched to raise awareness of the University’s Microfiction Project, which is exploring the value of using microfiction as a methodology for teaching higher-level reading, writing, and thinking skills to both students and staff.
Category One: Stories
Student entries
Winner
It was me. I did it. I’m so sorry.
Georgina Beard, School of Philosophy and Art History
Commended
I wore your favourite dress. You stared transfixed at her.
Lena Barrett, Human Rights Centre
“We stopped serving breakfast ten minutes ago.”
Jak Worton, Department of Economics
He closed his eyes and waited for her to live.
Alba Moscaroli, Department of Language and Linguistics
Staff entries
Winner
She ran. He chased. She hid. He ran. She lived.
Lucy McCaul, Library
Commended
“That was a bad idea” he muttered, surveying the damage.
Alan Charnock, Human Resources
and without hesitation she broke her promise.
Kate Shawcross, Human Resources
Bleak mid-winter, stroke came early.
Alan Charnock, Human Resources
Category Two: Ideas
Winner
Water is taking the shape of the vase.
Andreea Manole, student, School of Biological Sciences
Commended
Summer is not a happy season in my country.
Lona Mohammed Amin, student, Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Leap of faith. Sometimes too short. Sometimes just far enough.
Goedele Caluwe, student, School of Philosophy and Art History
He spent his whole life inhaling, exhaling his last breath.
Stefanie Savva, student, Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Category Three: University
Winner
Only 300 Words left! *5% battery* NO! SAVE! PLUG! RUN!
Sehrish Kahn, student, Department of Language and Linguistics
Commended
Through jungles, through mountains, he transcended. RIIIIIIIIIING! Alarm. Exams. Shit.
Frazer Merrit, student, Department of Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies
Approaching wide-eyed and naive, leaving squinty-eyed, pessimistic but confident
Sehrish Khan, student, Department of Language and Linguistics
Concrete brutalism in a wooded park. Two kinds of beauty.
Chris Coates, staff, Communications and External Relations
Category Four: Education
Winner
That inevitable split second when you take criticism personally.
Goedele Caluwe, student, School of Philosophy and Art History
Commended
World of knowledge discovered, got lost in it, never left.
Ugonnaya Igwilo, student, School of Health and Human Sciences
Fish and chips wrapped in a Kindle doesn’t quite work…
Georgina Beard, student, School of Philosophy and Art History
I turned the pages for hours and found a story.
Chris Coates, staff, Communications and External Relations