Featured image: Kathryn Aldridge-Morris

The QuietManDave Prize, honouring theatre critic and writer Dave Murray, is now open for entries for its 2024 edition, encouraging submissions in all forms of writing. Writers are invited to submit flash fiction and non-fiction entries until Friday 25th October, 2024.

The prize aims to encourage short-form writing with no limitations on style or form, offering two £1,000 prizes for the flash fiction and flash non-fiction categories, as well as additional runner-up prizes for each category.

aAh! speaks to former QuietManDave prize winner Kathryn Aldridge-Morris to get her thoughts on the competition experience, her creative practice, and any advice she has for other writers.

Hi Kathryn! What are you working on at the moment?

I’m working on a novella which is supported with an Arts Council England award I recently won in their last round. I also signed with Dahlia Publishing in the summer to publish my debut chapbook of flash fiction. It’ll be coming out next spring. So, I’ve been busy finalising the chronology of the pieces, thinking about cover art and working on a couple of additional stories to include. 

What has your journey to writing been like?

I was an ESOL teacher for many years and then around 12 years ago I became a full-time freelance writer of textbooks and online materials. A lot of the commissions required me to write to strict word counts including certain lexical or grammatical items, so when I started giving myself permission to spend time on creative writing, I suppose flash fiction seemed the natural go-to form with its constraints. During lockdown a lot of my publishing work slowed down, so it felt like this was the time to dedicate to my own creative practice. I found Jude Higgins running online writing groups and through her became part of a wonderful community of flash fiction writers. 

What prompted you to enter the prize? QuietManDave emphasises experimentation, approaching writing from unusual angles or from different life experiences, does this resonate with you? 

There are so many writing contests out there and I think it’s important for writers to be discerning about where they send their work to. The QuietManDave prize is the legacy of a man who was so important and loved by the literary community. And it’s connected to the Manchester Writing School and Manchester School of Theatre, which carry such prestige. Elizabeth Ingram Wallace is a former winner – a flash writer I really admire – so that was another thing that put this prize on my radar. I honestly think it’s one of the best writing prizes out there for flash fiction writers! Flash is the perfect container for experimentation in prose, and in life writing – so it’s wonderful to have a competition which recognises and honours this.

Can you describe your artistic practice a little? What forms or styles do you blend together and what themes do you tend to work with?

It’s funny how it was only when I was compiling my chapbook that certain themes emerged for me! I guess you need to see your body of work in one place to discern the patterns. A lot of my writing is concerned with the lives of women and girls, and the moments when they discover their agency— or lack of, as well as moments of realisation that a person or place which should represent safety is actually bristling with danger. I guess that’s where the undertones you talk about emerge in my stories.

Was it difficult approaching a prize with both a tiny word limitation but no limitation on style? How did you reconcile these two aspects? 

I never write specifically for a contest.  I write the story I need to write and then I’ll research where is a good fit to submit it to. More often than not, I’d prefer to send something to a journal if I love their vibe. I will never stop being thankful that I had something ready when the QMD prize opened!

The dreaded question, what is your writing process like?

I need to work in complete silence! I’ve got my study lined with books and a big window with lots of light. Running is part of my writing practice. When I get stuck on a plot point or can’t figure out an ending or title, I need to get outside – even in the rain – switch off, and by some alchemy, by the time I get home, something will have clicked into place.

What advice would you give to those keen to publish their work?

Read as much as you can so you can see what’s possible with your chosen form. Write what you feel passionate about – if a prompt doesn’t trigger something that moves you, ditch it. There are a million other prompts out there and not every prompt will inspire you to write your best work. Submit to a place because you love the writing, the look of the journal, their ethos. Definitely connect with other writers and find yourself trusted beta readers. 

And finally, who are you reading at the minute? 

I am a prolific reader of flash, so it’s hard to pinpoint one or two writers. I’m currently re-reading Jenny Offill’s Weather and just finished Flash Fusion (Dahlia Publishing), an anthology of South Asian writing which showcases some of the best flash fiction writers out there.

For more information about the prize and to enter, visit mmu.ac.uk/qmdprize. The competition closes at 5pm (UK time) on Friday 25th October, 2024