We are open for submissions for our 12 May 2024 event on the theme of Change/Changes/Changing

Our 27th event is on Sunday 12 May 2024 and is on the theme of Change, Changes or Changing. Submissions are OPEN. We close on Sunday 24 March at 23.59.

Writers, please view the change theme as widely as you like - everything from climate change and changes in society to changes of season, lives, mood, mind, direction, opinion, heart, habits, behaviour, plan, sides, gear, appearance, clothes, home, rooms, courses, schools, nappies, circumstances, state, name, law, train, flight, diet, hairstyle, tastes, styles, roles, partner, places, spots, the guard, physical, mental or emotional changes. You name it! You can decide.

Stating the obvious, it must be a short story.

Ten stories will be selected from those submitted and the authors will read their work to a packed audience of around 150 people. The event will be held at the Cotswold Playhouse in Parliament Street, Stroud on Sunday 12 May 2024 at 7.30pm (doors 7.00).

The rules and how to submit are here. As always, it will be free to submit and we will accept both unpublished and previously published stories.

I will be co-judging with the brilliant short story author and novelist Ali Bacon this time. Here are our judges.

It's important to check out my tips for writing for SSS which are here.

Under our legendary Rule 11 (now 12!) the authors who read at the November 2023 event are unable to submit to this event.

Ali and I are very much looking forward to reading your brilliant stories.

John

What they said about 'Love is Strange' our Nov 2023 event - Audience quotes.

"A variety of stories from excellent writers and readers and with top class organisation."

"What a fantastic evening."

"I thought it was an absolute triumph and enjoyed all the stories immensely."

"Some wonderful stories - from the beautiful to the sad and uplifting. An inspiration."

"Great evening. One of the best I have attended."

"It's been a great evening with great stories and a great atmosphere, and I loved John Holland's humourous introductions. A big thank you to all who organised it."

"Wonderful variety of thought-provoking stories, brilliantly read and some, quite frankly, hilarious."

"Great night. I really enjoyed it."

Thank you to everyone who attended our event 'Love is Strange' which was our 26th event and also part of the Stroud Book Festival. 

There was a sell-out audience of 150 firework refuseniks at the Cotswold Playhouse on 5 November. And what a warm and responsive audience it was!

Happily, SSS accepts previously published stories so here's a link to our final story of the evening Obituaries by Rebecca Klassen published by Well Read online mag in April this year. A brilliant 947 words -https://issuu.com/wellreadmagazine/docs/april_2023_magazine_final/s/22827354

Below are images of the ten authors who read their wonderful stories. They are in the order in which they read.

Grateful thanks to Angela Fitch for the images.

Georgia Boon who read 'For Darkness is as Light to You'

James Sinkinson who read  'A Second Shot'

Alfie Fox who read 'Date Night'

Gillian Metheringham who read 'Your own Pre-Meditated Pelt'

Mark Rutterford who read 'She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not'

Sean W. Quigley who read 'The Dreaming'

Steve Wheeler who read 'The Composer's Tall Trees'

Keith Errington who read 'Prey for Love'

Sallie Anderson who read 'At the Nail Bar'

Rebecca Klassen who read 'Obituaries'