Short Story Competition Archive
Each year The Glencairn Glass hosts a crime short story competition in partnership with Scottish Field Magazine and the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival (stories must be under 2,000 words).
In addition to the competition, The Glencairn Glass sponsors the McIlvanney and Bloody Scotland Debut crime-writing prizes to celebrate Scottish crime-writing talent. The Bloody Scotland Festival takes place in Stirling each September, providing the perfect opportunity to celebrate the winners of the awards.
This crime short story competition is judged by a panel of three experts. The winner and runners-up receive recognition for their work, a cash prize and a set of six bespoke engraved Glencairn Glasses.
Aspiring writers have the chance to showcase their skills and join the ranks of previous years’ winners. Whether it’s a classic whodunit, a psychological thriller, or a gripping heist, the possibilities for the stories are endless.
This competition is the perfect opportunity to flex your writing muscles and get your work in front of experienced crime writers and industry professionals. Don’t miss out on the chance to become the next big name in crime fiction!
2022 Winner
THE DUMMY RAILWAY
BY FRANCES CRAWFORD
Frances Crawford is a passionate advocate of lifelong learning. In 2022, she graduated at the age of 60 with an MLitt (First) in Creative Writing from Glasgow University. She has published a number of short stories with disabled protagonists and is particularly interested in characters traditionally overlooked in fiction. She lives in Glasgow with her family, and is currently working on a crime novel.
2022 Runner Up
THE LAST TRAM TO GORBALS CROSS
BY ALLAN GAW
Allan Gaw is a Scot who lives and works near Glasgow. He is a pathologist by training but now writes full-time. He writes short stories, novel length historic crime fiction and poetry. Recently, he won the UK Classical Association Creative Writing Competition, the International Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize and the International Globe Soup 7 day Writing Challenge. He has also had prose accepted for the literary journal, From Glasgow to Saturn, and for forthcoming anthologies from the Edinburgh Literary Salon and Clan Destine Press in Australia. His poetry has been published by Dreich, Soor Plooms Press and Black Bough Poetry.
2021 WINNER
HALMEONI’S WISDOM
BY BRID CUMMINGS
A dark tale of human trafficking, illegal trade and a desire for freedom. Written by Brid Cummings, a fiction writer and occupational therapist, based in South Australia.
2021 RUNNER UP
TEARDROPS
BY JENNIFER HARVEY
A story about a confession to murder and a need for retribution, born of revenge. Written by Jennifer Harvey, a Scottish author based in Denmark.
2021 RUNNER UP
AULD BRIDE
BY JUDITH O’REILLY
A story about a lost soul returning to the island of her birth, where more than a new job awaits her. Written by Judith O’Reilly, author and former political producer with BBC and ITN and correspondent with The Sunday Times, based in Northumberland. Judith was also a ‘Crime in the Spotlighter’ at the Bloody Scotland Crime Writing Festival in 2019.
