BBC National Short Story Award

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BBC National Short Story Award
Awarded forBest short story by a UK national or resident
Sponsored by BBC Radio 4 with Cambridge University
CountryUnited Kingdom
Presented byBBC (formerly National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts)
Formerly calledNational Short Story Award (2006–2007)
First awarded2006
Currently held byComorbidities, Naomi Wood (2023)
Website BBC National Short Story Award
Television/radio coverage
Network BBC Radio 4

The BBC National Short Story Award (previously known as the National Short Story Award, 2006-2007) has been described as 'the most prestigious [award] for a single short story' [1] and the richest prize in the world for a single short story. [2] It is an annual short story contest in the United Kingdom which is open to UK residents and nationals. The winner receives £15,000 and four shortlisted writers receive £600 each.

Contents

Award and history

The BBC National Short Story Award is a national short story contest in the United Kingdom. [3] It aims to increase interest in the short story genre, particularly British short stories. [3] To be eligible for consideration works must be published by a UK resident or national. [4] Winners receive £15,000 and four shortlisted writers receive £600 each. [5] The award has been described as 'the most prestigious [award] for a single short story' [1] and the richest prize in the world for a single short story. [2] However, the Sunday Times EFG Private Bank Short Story Award is greater at £ 30,000. [6]

It was founded in 2005 and announced at the Edinburgh International Book Festival the same year. [7] The National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts (NESTA) were the main sponsor with support from BBC Radio 4 and Prospect magazine. [4] Originally, winners received £15,000 while runners up received £3,000 and shortlisted writers £500 each. [7] [2] In 2008, the BBC became the main sponsor and the award was renamed from the 'National Short Story Award' to the 'BBC National Short Story Award'. [4]

Winners and shortlisted writers

The BBC National Short Story Award has never had an all-male shortlist. [8] In 2009, only women were featured on the shortlist. [9] This happened for the second time in 2013 and the fifth time in 2018. [10] [11] Canadian writer D. W. Wilson became the youngest ever recipient of the award in 2011. [12] [13] Sarah Hall, who won the award in 2013 and 2020, is the only writer to have won the award twice. [14]

In 2012, in honour of the 2012 Summer Olympics hosted in London, the competition was open to a global audience for one year only. [15] Ten stories were shortlisted, instead of five, and Bulgarian writer Miroslav Penkov won. [16] [17]

Controversies

In 2007, BBC Radio 4 chose not to broadcast the short story Weddings and Beheadings by Hanif Kureishi after a militant group claimed to have executed the BBC Gaza correspondent Alan Johnston. [18] Kureishi argued that this was an act of censorship by the BBC. [18]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Lucy Caldwell wins 16th BBC National Short Story Award". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 Richard Lea (4 July 2008). "Field narrows in race for richest story award". The Guardian . Retrieved 29 September 2012.
  3. 1 2 Ezard, John (4 April 2006). "Richest short story competition draws huge entry". The Guardian . Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  4. 1 2 3 "BBC Radio 4 - BBC National Short Story Award - The 2016 Award". BBC. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  5. ↑ "Lucy Caldwell wins 16th BBC National Short Story Award". www.bbc.com. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
  6. ↑ Staff writer (19 February 2012). "OMG: Text speak short story in running for £30,000 prize". The Telegraph. Retrieved 22 January 2013.
  7. 1 2 Edemariam, Aida (24 August 2005). "Keep it brief". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  8. ↑ Flood, Alison (14 September 2018). "BBC short story prize selects all-female shortlist for fifth time". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  9. ↑ Flood, Alison (27 November 2009). "All-female shortlist for BBC National Short Story award". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  10. ↑ Bury, Liz (20 September 2013). "All-woman shortlist for BBC short story award 2013". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 28 April 2024.
  11. ↑ Flood, Alison (14 September 2018). "BBC short story prize selects all-female shortlist for fifth time". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  12. ↑ "DW Wilson is youngest winner of BBC Short Story prize". BBC News. 26 September 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  13. ↑ Macdonald, Fleur (28 September 2011). "Youngest-ever winner of the National BBC Short Story Award". The Spectator. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  14. ↑ Flood, Alison (6 October 2020). "'Master' of short story Sarah Hall becomes first to win BBC prize twice". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  15. ↑ Alison Flood (14 September 2012). "Deborah Levy joins shortlist for BBC international short story award". The Guardian. Retrieved 14 September 2012.
  16. ↑ "BBC short story prize to go global for Olympic year". BBC News. 9 December 2011. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  17. ↑ "Bulgarian writer wins BBC Short Story Award". BBC News. 2 October 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2024.
  18. 1 2 Gibson, Owen; correspondent, media (17 April 2007). "BBC accused of censorship after cancelling short story broadcast". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 28 April 2024.
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