Flash Fiction Competition Grades 6-12

Win N$50

A story does not have to be long to have an impact. Famously, Julius Caesar told the story of his conquest at the Battle of Zela in three words: Veni, vidi, vici (I came, I saw, I conquered). In these few words he not only manages to tell us that it was a very short and easy battle, but he also lets us know that he is a great and fearsome man. This story is so impactful and well told that we still use it today, more than 2000 years later, to refer to a conclusive victory.

Similarly, Ernest Hemingway wrote this story in six words: “For sale: baby shoes, never worn.” In these few words, Hemingway manages to tell us about the immense tragedy of losing a baby. He only needs six words, to make us understand the pain this family is going through.

Now it is your turn. I challenge you to write a story in no more than 49 words about something that you have been obsessed with. In your story, you should try to convey what it is that you are obsessed with and how that makes you feel.

Your story may not be longer than 49 words and stories longer than 49 words will not be considered, no matter how good they are. No exceptions.

Email your story to cbeyer@wis.edu.na with the following information in the subject line: Flash Fiction Competition, [your name and surname] [your grade]. For example: Flash Fiction Competition, John Smith, grade 7. Then paste your story in the body of your email.

Submission date: 5 October 2023, 23:59

The following categories are applicable: Grades 6-8, Grades 9-10, and Grades 11-12

Winners will be announced in the Oryx on 19 October 2023. The winner’s prizes will be given to them by their homeroom teachers.

There will be no “default winner”, i.e. if only one person submits a story, that person does not automatically win the competition. Winning stories must be of high quality and will be judged on originality, literary merit, grammar and spelling. The judge’s decision is final and no discussions challenging this decision will be entertained.

Late submissions will not be accepted. No exceptions.