Short-form writing prize that honours much-loved Manchester critic returns
The QuietManDave Prize 2022 has opened for entries - a writing award that seeks new literary talent, named in honour of a much-loved Manchester critic.
The QuietManDave Prize offers awards of £1,000 for Flash Fiction and Flash Non-Fiction under 500 words, as well as runner-up prizes. The deadline for entries is Friday 1 July. The Prize is run by the Manchester Writing School at Manchester Metropolitan University, in partnership with the Manchester School of Theatre, and named in honour of Dave Murray, a writer and theatre blogger, and lover of flash fiction and non-fiction, who passed away in 2019.
The prize celebrates new and emerging short-form writers and was developed in recognition of Murray’s achievements and his passion for writing, something which he embraced later in life. Murray kept culture lovers in Manchester entertained and informed through the QuietManDave blog, which featured evocative writing about new places, theatre shows and other creative events going on in the region. The prize was initiated and is funded by his family, including his wife Vanda Murray OBE, a senior non-executive director with several organisations and former chair of Governors at Manchester Metropolitan University.
The Prize runs every two years and was launched in 2020, receiving more than 700 entries from around the world. Elisabeth Ingram Wallace scooped top prize in the Flash Fiction category with her story Granny Smith, Queene, while David Calder picked up first place in the Flash Non-Fiction category with These Insane Animals, or, A Strange Interlude.
On winning, Ingram Wallace said: “The QuietManDave Flash Fiction Prize is unique in celebrating a life through words; a precious legacy in support of writers, and the scope of the Flash Fiction form. I am honoured to be shortlisted during this inaugural year, among writers I love and respect, some I am excited to discover for the first time. I will treasure up this experience as a highlight of 2020.”
Reflecting on his win, Calder said: “To be honest, until I saw the call for the QuietManDave Prize, I didn’t know ‘flash nonfiction’ was a thing. I read the call as permission to perform some exploratory surgery on a seemingly insignificant moment that had lodged itself in my memory. I learned a great deal from the process and from reading the other finalists’ extraordinary work. If you are wondering whether to submit, allow me to tell you: you should.”
Vanda Murray said: “We, Dave’s family, are thrilled with the response to the this prize and we know how much it would have meant to him. Dave wanted to encourage new writing and the prize is creating a brand new generation of writers. Thank you to everyone for getting behind it and making it a success.”
The judges for 2022 will include short story writer, essayist and poet Kate Feld, and Senior Lecturer in Drama and Contemporary Performance at Manchester Metropolitan Shane Kinghorn, who has worked as a director and dramaturg (a literary advisor or editor found in theatre, film or opera companies).
The 2022 Prize is open to entries until 1 July. There are no restrictions on form, with the Flash Non-Fiction category open for everything from creative non-fiction – which weaves fact into the form of a story using the tools of fiction – to blog posts or theatre reviews, which were QuietManDave’s particular passions. Submission guidelines are available on the Prize website, alongside shortlisted pieces and a video of the digital celebration event from last time.
The Prize is open internationally to writers aged 16 or over – with award judges keen to encourage, discover and celebrate new writers, particularly those who have come to writing later in life or may be writing or sharing something for the first time. Sponsored entry is available for those who would not otherwise be able to participate. The winners will be announced at a gala event, open to the public and free to attend, on 27 October at Manchester Metropolitan University’s spectacular new Arts & Humanities building, Grosvenor East – home of the Manchester Writing School, Manchester School of Theatre and Manchester Poetry Library.
Find out more and enter your writing by 1 July here: QuietManDave Prize · Manchester Metropolitan University (mmu.ac.uk).
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