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Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition
Honors Emerging Writers
When Lorian Hemingway judged Hemingway Days’ first
short story competition in 1981, she and her fellow judges
sat in a Florida Keys cottage reading and evaluating
the few dozen entries with care. They couldn’t possibly
imagine that the competition would grow into one of
America’s most prestigious literary contests.
 Now, more than a
quarter-century later, the short story contest draws between 600 and
900 entries each year from around the U.S. and other
countries as far-flung as India and Romania — and Lorian
and her small judging panel still give every one of them
their complete attention and respect.
Since its beginnings,
the short story contest has been dedicated to recognizing and
supporting the work of emerging writers whose fiction has
not yet achieved success. For some, this recognition is
the first validation of their worth as writers.
The first-place winner
each year receives $1,000. Second- and third-place winners
receive $500 apiece, and others are awarded honorable
mentions.
Coordinating the competition is a pleasure and a passion
for Lorian, whose books have been nominated for a PEN award and a Pulitzer Prize.
“Reading a
story of talent and craft, and knowing that perhaps you
can help further the career of a gifted writer, is truly
one of the greatest joys,” says Lorian. “I consider it my
job to honor the talent of emerging writers—and if those
who enter this competition are compelled to continue to
write as a result of receiving the recognition they so
deserve, then we are each richer for it.”
The co-director of the
competition is Key West writer and publicist Carol Shaughnessy. The longtime judging panel includes editor
and award-winning short story writer Jeff Baker as well as
writer Cristen Hemingway Jaynes.
To date, the Lorian
Hemingway Short Story Competition has awarded more than
$50,000 to emerging writers of merit.
2007
Winners
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