txtlit.co.uk - The UK's Easiest to Enter Writing Competitions

Winning Entry:

Mistakes have cost me my car, house and wife. But enough is enough. Or is it? I nod to the dealer, resolving - one last time - to let the cards decide.

Congratulations to to Paul Ramplin, winner of the June Txtlit competition, which had the theme The Mistake. Full time Dad, Paul found Txtlit purely by accident and, having always liked writing, was drawn to the idea of the easy to enter concept that Txtlit provides.  He admits however that he finds the process of telling a story in 154 characters far harder than actually submitting it. Paul mostly write story books for his three children so they'll be over the moon when he tells them that he's won! 

We were impressed with the range of plots that we received for the June competition but we decided that Paul Ramplin was a worthy winner with this entry. There are no twists in Paul's story. We learn very quickly that our character is a compulsive gambler and over time has lost everything dear to him; the order in which the losses are listed in order of increasing significance. The phrase 'I nod to the dealer' tells us so much and although our character has stated that enough is enough, he just can't help himself and once again leaves his fate to the turn of a few cards. Paul has expertly created a sullen, almost dark atmosphere within the story and we know that relying on the next deal will be our character's next mistake. 

Other Shortlisted Entries:

My life's been one big screw up. I always let everybody down. But as they place you in my arms I know you'll be my saviour, my perfect mistake.

By Andrea Hayward of Bury St Edmunds 

I keep screaming, aware that I sound just like the other newborns. Knowing I'll never see her again, I watch as my mummy walks away with the wrong baby.

Also by Paul Ramplin
 

Found at the coast, these undulating banks of wind-blown sand are often topped with wispy clumps of tall grass. This is the Dune competition, right?

By Matthew King, St Albans 

Winning Entry:

'Whatever you do, don't forget to lock the cage.' The words boiled inside Eric's head as the beast rose above him, baring bloodstained fangs.

Well done to James Emberson for winning the May Txtlit competition, the theme for which was forgotten. James, 23, is currently studying towards a Masters in Creative Writing at Brunel University and found Txtlit through the short story website www.theshortstory.org.uk (Thanks for the link). He has entered various other short story and flash fiction competitions but enjoyed the challenge of getting his idea into 154 characters and found Txtlit by far the most accessible. James is currently working on his first novel (which falls under the banner of 'psychological horror') as part of his Masters studies.
 
We like this story because it has an uncomplicated construction but still manages to deliver an unexpected ending. The scene is set with a single line of dialogue and we deduce that there may be consequences for forgetting to lock the cage. We are also allowed to assume that it will be forgotten. How Eric is feeling is made clear with the description of the words 'boiling' in his head as he faces certain doom. The finer details of Eric's demise is left to our own imagination though we are given enough of a description of the beast to draw our conclusions. A neat story that doesn't try to be too clever.

Other Shortlisted Entries:

Did I? Did I? Yes of course I did. Last month or last week. DEFINITELY paid - I think. 10 yards and closing. Keep calm. 'Your driving documents please?'

By Ed Kirkham 

I just want a cuddle, for him to want me like he used to. He never even looks at me anymore. I guess he's just got too grown up for his old teddy bear.

By Jill Hughes
 

He searched frantically in the desk drawers for his World Cup ticket. 'Have you forgotten where you put it?' his wife asked, idly stroking the shredder.

By Catriona Gordon McMillan 

Winning Entry:

The phone lines were closed and the votes had been counted. The judges gazed at the girl trembling in the centre of the stage. 'Guilty' they pronounced.

Congratulations for the second time go to Priya Venkatesan. April's winner Priya also won Txtlit back in December 2008. A keen sampler of London's nightlife, Txtlit remains the only competitions that Priya has entered, though she says that winning gives her confidence to enter others. We recommend that she does as there is clearly some talent lurking in there somewhere.
 
Priya's entry was a worthy winner because it ticked all of the boxes for what a Txtlit micro story should be. An introductory sentence that sets the scene by cleverly leading us to call on our own experiences and knowledge to create the situation. Then the story continues to what appears to be a natural development as we, and who we think is a contestant of a talent competition, await the outcome of the votes. And finally POW! We are hit with an unexpected concluding line that delivers a twist that totally shakes up our pre-conceptions and re-configures the entire story with a single word. A great story that mixes modern culture with a hint of science fiction; though how many of you found yourself visualising Simon Cowell reading out the verdict?

Other Shortlisted Entries:

I knew it was wrong. I just couldn't go against the crowd. I gave THEM the choice. So, once the jeering had died down, it was done - Barrabus was free. 

By Richard Turner, Wigan

Ready to give her acceptance speech. The masses daring to hope for the changes promised. Lunchtime lemonade for all. Class 5 would never look back again.

By Lisa Vercelli, Wakefield
 

The hot air balloon plummeted to the ground and the three men argued frantically. The vote was cast, tearful goodbyes followed and the unlucky man jumped.

By Paul Ramplin 

'I like that one.' The other voters were inclined to agree and it was unanimously decided that the winner of April's competition should be Paul Ramplin.

Winning Entry:

Holding the photo of my 6 year old son I weep as the man he has become is bundled into the police car. Love did the right thing but still my heart breaks.

Well done Lynda Earl for this winning entry to our March competition which had the theme of 'love'. Lynda lives in Kent with her three teenage boys and works as a secretary for the NHS.  Having always enjoyed writing short stories and poems mainly for her own pleasure, this is the first competition she has won. It's also the first time she hasI entered a txtlit competition, and admits to being amazed and delighted.
 
March wasn't the first time that we have run a love themed competition and we were thrilled by the diversity of plots and scenarios of the competittion entries. Lynda Earl's entry gave us the agonising choices that love sometimes leads us to. Her story sets out a very clear image and tells us just enough for us to broadly understand the current situation, keaving us to surmise the finer details of how we have arrived here. For any mother, seeing her son being taken away by the police must be heart-wrenching, but we then discover that it was the mother's own actions, motivated by her love for her son, that has brought about his arrest. A neat, uncomplicated story that still manages a sligh twist.


Other Shortlisted Entries:

'But I love you' I wept, staring after him as he backed away hopelessly, unhearing. As he screeched away I prayed the box could keep my fur from the rain.

By Georgia Munns, Buckinghamshire

 'I said I'd love you 'til death,' he crooned, stroking her neck. 'But see, I don't love you anymore.' His grip tightened. 'And I always keep my promises.'

By Chloe Banks, Bristol
 

She cooed at her perfect new baby with his toothless grin and she knew. She would love him far more than the woman she'd just stolen him from ever could.

By Sian Altman 

Bob and Sue made LOVE on the table then collapsed on the sofa. The day had been long and hot and the four stone letters had not been easy to carve.

By Tim Ellis from Haslemere