The Miniature Short Story Competition has announced the winner and runners up for 2024.

This year writers were challenged to create a short story of now more than 50 words focusing on the theme of ‘Heatwave’.

The winner entry came from Elisa Hall with her story Heatwave 1994.

That summer sweat droplets rolled across my skin mingling with yours. The air was thick with humidity as we slept, hair sticking to us, dreams making you twitch. A song, ‘Protection’, drifted up the stairs, which was what we needed as boys were thrown from the cliffs.

There were also four well deserving honourable mentions.

Seth Malacari – Christmas Day

Christmas Day is in full swing. High thirties, no breeze. Nan is complaining, Mum is in the pool, Dad is sweating in the kitchen, Uncle Mick is drunk, and I am treading carefully through the wrapping paper holding my girlfriend’s hand, hoping my family sees this love as a gift.

Kristof Mikes-Liu – Mid-July, Evening Mass

It’s cold. Like seasonal heating, my longing breeds sinfulness.
I fumble prayer. My supplications freeze.
His arm brushes mine. Fleece-lined coats separate our flesh.
I savour the idea of a man’s body against my own.
This man’s body.
A midwinter heatwave erupts inside my skin.

Antony Phan – Purple Crown
Grandfather’s gate in Vietnam was ablaze with purple bougainvillea.On our last day there, we took a cousins-only group photo.Someone suggested we hold the fiery flowers to our ears for fun.My mother hissed.In the photo, everyone holds bright purple crowns.My gay hands hold nothing.

Sam Elkin – Hoctapod

‘My tattoo’s gone!’ Miffy screamed.I examined her shoulder. The swirling electric pink and blue Octopus, whose tentacles had once run from her elbow to collarbone was missing.Moments later we found it in the sink, cooling off in last night’s dish water.‘More of your trans magic?’ I asked.

The first prize for the competition was $500, while the four ‘Highly Commended’ entries all got $50.

OIP Staff