Flash fiction/non-fiction competition launched to celebrate Black History Month
12 Sep 2023
The competition is open from 18th October 2023 and is for undergraduate students in SALC.
To celebrate Black History Month this year, we are holding a Flash Fiction or Non-fiction Competition for all undergraduate students in the School of Arts, Languages and Cultures.
How to enter
- Choose any topic inspired by Black History Month and write up to 250 words (not including the title). Any entry exceeding 250 words (not incl title) will be discounted.
- Entries are open from 18 October to 25 October 2023.
- All entries should be original and unpublished.
- Entries should be sent as an email attachment as a WORD doc file to salc.iag@manchester.ac.uk
- Entries should be sent from your University of Manchester email account
- Please include Flash Fiction 23 Competition or Flash Non-fiction 23 Competition in the subject heading of your email.
Prizes and publication
- First Prize Fiction winner £100 (voucher) and First Prize Non-Fiction winner £100 (voucher)
- Second prize (Fiction or Non-fiction) £50 (voucher)
- Third prize (Fiction or Non-fiction) £25 (voucher).
The winning entries will be published on SALC’s social responsibility webpages, University webpages for public access and on the Manchester Review.
Winners will be announced in December 2023.
The judging panel:
Dr Henry Ajumeze (Drama)
Henry is a poet, with a published collection Dimples on the Sand. He is also an expert on the intersection of postcolonial theatre and environmental humanities, including pre- oil and oil modernity Niger Delta drama. He has studied at universities across the African continent, in Ghana and at the University of Cape Town in South Africa.
Dr Andy Boakye (Religions and Theology):
Andy is a London born and bred New Testament critic. His research interests include the origins of Christianity, the Pauline letters resurrection theology, masculinity studies, intertextuality and the historical Jesus. He is a former rugby player, connoisseur of obscure hip-hop music and a Spurs supporter.
Dr Clara Dawson (English and American Studies)
Clara has published on her favourite Victorian poets Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning but has also worked with Lancashire Wildlife Trust to create a series of events designed to raise awareness of bird conservation issues and bring together both poets and conservationists. She has worked at universities across the globe, in the US, Europe and Hong Kong.
Dr Sheena Kalayil (UCAE & MLC)
Sheena’s third novel The Wild Wind is based on her nomadic childhood, spent shuttling between Zambia and Zimbabwe, where her parents were teachers, and Kerala, India. Her short story The Eighth Jew (BBC Radio 4) was chosen as Pick of the Week by hip-hop artist Testament, but her short story An Evening with Riz Ahmed (Extra Teeth Magazine) failed to elicit any interest from the real Riz Ahmed. She is SALC’s lead for Equality Diversity and Inclusion.