The Southern Cross Short Story Competition, run by Ballarat Writers Inc., closed on September 30. Writers were asked to submit up to 3000 words on the theme Turning Away.

We had an impressive 215 entries for the competition! They came from every corner of the country and as far away as the UK and South Africa, with a huge diversity in the types of stories submitted. Competition readers were impressed by the depth of writing talent, so long-listing in a such a competitive contest is a credit to these writers.

Congratulations to the final 20 long-listed submissions. These will be short-listed and announced in the lead-up to our 24 November meeting at which the results will be declared. Judge Julie Koh will have the enviable task of selecting the winner. She will also be awarding prizes for second and third place, as well as two Highly Commended certificates.

The longlist is, in no particular order:

The Cakemaker by David Campbell
Dogs by Timothy Loveday
Be Your Own Hero by Vicky Daddo
Driving by Christine Kearney
Body Parts by Helga Jermy
Dreams of Police by Tobias Barnfield
Millie Lorraine by Josephine Sarvaas
Orbit by Jake Dean
Listing by Ian Reid
The Look of Love by Elizabeth Egan
The Hard Saying by Samuel Medley
Wheeler by Benjamin Forbes
The House Three Houses To The Left by Ivana Crol
How To Spot a Bruise On a Diamond by Paulette Smythe
Turning Away by Roland Renyi
Epilogue by Rosemary Stride
Feeling Through The Blue by Taylor Mitchell
How To Leave Your Childhood Behind by Ros Thomas
I Will Not Become You Brittney Crellin
Whole by Cynthia Fenton