The Rhys Davies Short Story Competition has announced its shortlist for 2025. The award, which recognizes the best unpublished short stories in English by writers aged 18 or over with connections to Wales, is celebrating its 12th contest since being relaunched in 2021 by Swansea University’s Cultural Institute.
The competition includes stories up to 5,000 words and features a diverse range of themes and styles. This year's shortlisted works are "At Friday Club" by Ralph Bolland, "Colonial Gifts" by Alan Bryant, "Swim" by Miranda Davies, "Politics" by Jonathan Edwards, "Activity Week" by Sybilla Harvey, "Fern Baby" by Natalie Ann Holborow, "Fat Slug Lady" by Sian Hughes, "Dead Friend's Coat" by Kate Lockwood Jefford, "The Man on the Train" by Keza O'Neill, and two entries from Jonathan Page: "Last Words" and "The Readers." Tess Powell's story titled "Fruits of Our Labour" also made the list.
The winner will receive £1,000 and their work will be featured in The Rhys Davies Short Story Award Anthology 2025. All shortlisted stories will be published in this anthology edited by Dr. Elaine Canning and introduced by guest judge Cynan Jones. Each finalist will also receive £100.
Cynan Jones remarked on the entries: “Reading through this year’s entries, I was really struck by the trepidation... that seemed to shadow many of the stories... These are stand-out examples of how impactful a short story can be.”
Dr. Canning commented: “The stories which feature on the 2025 Rhys Davies Competition shortlist transfer the reader across place and time... It is an honour to include the work of the finalists in a special anthology dedicated to this Competition – many congratulations to them all.”
Rhys Davies was born in Blaenclydach in 1901 and was known for his prolific writing career spanning more than 100 stories among other works.
The winner announcement is set for September 2025 with an anthology launch scheduled for October at Waterstones Swansea.