It gives us great pleasure to announce the winning and shortlisted stories in the 2025 Historical Writers’ Association (HWA) Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition. The winning story in the 2025 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition The winner of the 2025 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition: Final Score by Sean LuskThe judges say: “A […]
St Kilda Bird Song by KF MacCarthy (the 2024 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story winner)
St Kilda Bird Song by KF MacCarthy won the 2024 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition. Our judges said: “A magical and immersive story of a late 19th-century teacher on the remote island, told from diverse perspectives with fluency and confidence. A very special piece of writing about a remarkable place.” The 2025 Short Story […]
The 2024 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition shortlist and winner
Here are the shortlisted and winning stories in the 2024 Historical Writers’ Association (HWA) Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition. The 2024 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition shortlist Three short stories are shortlisted for this year’s competition: Mother’s Fury by Laura Karim Our judges called this story “a taught slice of violence and revenge at […]
Hecate’s Daughter by Jo Tiddy (the 2023 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story winner)
Jo Tiddy’s story, Hecate’s Daughter, won the 2023 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition. “A clever story, written deftly and colourfully, showing the cruelty and ignorance (and small kindnesses) of the period,” the judges said. “[We] adored this original and subversive take on a well-worn tale, told in such a vivid and powerful voice that […]
The 2023 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition shortlist and winner
Here are the shortlisted and winning stories in the 2023 Historical Writers’ Association (HWA) Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition. The 2023 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition shortlist: Black Christ by Judith Wilson The judges said: “The central motif of Liverpool’s Black Christ gives a familiar story new grace. Wilson cleverly sets everyday tragedy against […]
Collapse by Chrissy Sturt (the 2022 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story winner)
Collapse by Chrissy Sturt won the HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition in 2022. In the words of the judges, it’s “an immediately engrossing tale of a family in Southampton in 1940. A great sense of place and character and a full and satisfying story told with economy and grace.” To celebrate the 2023 HWA […]
His Mother’s Quilt by Naomi Kelsey (the 2021 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story winner)
Naomi Kelsey’s His Mother’s Quilt won the HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition in 2021. It’s a dark, gothic-tinged story of oppression and loss with supernatural undertones, which the judges praised for its “tense, delicate writing. Lace woven with steel threads.” To celebrate the opening of 2022’s HWA DDS competition to entries, we’re publishing Naomi’s […]
The HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition 2021 shortlist and winner
The HWA and the Dorothy Dunnett Society are delighted to announce the shortlist and winner for the 2021 HWA Dorothy Dunnett Short Story Competition! Six stories were shortlisted and the winner and highly commended entries were selected from these. Winner His Mother’s Quilt by Naomi Kelsey A gothic gem. A woman trapped in bed fights the […]