Congratulations to the twelve authors who made the short list for this award. We received over thirty entries, all of which were of a very high standard. If you didn’t make the short list, and would like feedback on your writing, please contact us via email needleinthehaywritingcomp @ gmail.com To …

He had known, in theory at least, that the day was not going to be easy. However, he could not have imagined just how difficult it would prove to be. Sitting on the fringe of the company, he watched in unspoken agony as a procession of dutiful family and friends …

He descended the steps outside her stained weatherboard house. He looked up and down the street whilst shrugging on his pure wool coat; a new purchase, never worn until today. Only when he saw the street empty, did he remember to turn around and offer her a smile. She still …

  “You murdered a cop.” She says. “No I didn’t.” He replies. “I don’t have time for this.” “That’s not fair.” “Justice is fair and it will be decided upon in court. You’re wasting my time.” She stands. “Wait!” The handcuffs rattle as he bangs his palms on the steel …

Usually Sid woke to the smell of rotten eggs and meat. In the corner of his room was a puddle of cream that melted every day and congealed every night. Towers of encrusted pizza boxes had framed his bed and a snowfall of scrunched tissues had blanketed the carpet. His …

  The first comes before you’re old enough to decide. Your parents choose it for you, all lustrous and white to symbolise your purity. You begrudgingly wear it, squirming against the stiff fabric. If you could walk, maybe flight would have been an option. Were you old enough to speak, …

I am looking for green buds. The wind still bites and soil temperatures haven’t risen yet, but I want leaves. I ache for leaves. The trees have been bare for so long. It feels like spring will never come. I’ll never be released from this icy prison. Every autumn, I …

  The garden. In the garden I am lonely. Lonely but for pasty petals and frizzled ferns and thoughts of you. There are dusty, crusty scattered leaves and my pale reflection in a slow stream. You hated the water, though I loved it. We were different, you and me. The …

Margot hands Carl the menu and says, with a lovely smile, “Be right back with your water.” While she’s gone, he examines it anticipatorily. It’s past eight o’clock, he worked ten hours non-stop; he’s hungry. It’s cold out and he wants something hot and filling before he goes home to …

I had never worn a costume into the bedroom before, nor did I ever intend to. But when the ten year hurdle comes around, compromises must be made. You have to keep the spice in the marriage or he will stray like a mutt, humping everything in sight. So I …

It only felt real when Susan saw the ‘for sale’ sign outside the house, the wooden stake driven through the dry lawn and into the clay soil. She drove up the driveway, put her shiny silver hybrid into park and sighed. They were really selling the house. This house had …

“We have found your tent, Miss,” the man at the door said. My tent? I couldn’t believe my ears. Didn’t he know? “Good thing you had the label sewn in.” Of course, my thoughts flew right back to that day, only two weeks before. It was a hot, sunny day, …