It’s that time again, our second annual Short Story Competition is now open for submissions, and this year we’ve bumped the first prize up to £500! What are we looking for: the best short story of up to 2,500 words. Stories can be any genre, but as we’re always on the lookout for the Best Short Story, we advise not sending bribes. They’re welcome, obviously, but we retain the right to keep them even if you don’t win.

Prizes:
1st Prize – £500
2nd Prize – £100
3rd Prize – £50

Closing Date: 27th January 2012

Results: All three winning entries will be published in the April 2012 issue of Words with JAM.

Judge: Douglas Jackon
Doug Jackson is the writer of four successful historical novels and one mystery thriller. He was born in Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders and history has always been in his blood. He left school aged 15 and spent three months restoring a Roman camp in the Cheviots before joining the local paper because he enjoyed writing and had no idea what to do with his life.
Reporter, sub-editor, chief sub and night editor, he eventually spent nine heady years as assistant editor of The Scotsman. In 2005 he began what he describes as ‘digging an escape tunnel on the train with my laptop’, which was actually The Emperor’s Elephant, a project that turned into the novels Caligula and Claudius. In July 2009 he gave up the day job when he received a contract to write a new trilogy. The series began with Hero of Rome and has now been followed by Defender of Rome. His first thriller, The Doomsday Testament, written under the name James Douglas, was published in August.
CLICK HERE for more entry information.