Over the years I’ve written over a hundred short stories, mostly for competitions. The competitions I’ve entered the most are from Writing Magazine, usually – but not always – with a word count of around 1500. Some of the stories were pretty bad, probably because I tried to squeeze too much into the word limit. It’s easily done!

But don’t worry, I’m not going to inflict those on you! By contrast, a few of my stories have won competitions, and a number of others have been runner-up or shortlisted. I’ve now published the best recent ones in TMT2 – More Ten-Minute Tales, which you can get here. The earlier ones are in Ten-Minute Tales (2017), exclusive to Amazon.

By way of a taster you can find some of the stories – including some older ones – below.

In these works any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

Billy Mac

A little triptych featuring Billy Mac, Bren and Tommy.

• Billy’s New Hill won the “cliffhanger” competition at the Swindon Festival of Literature, 2010.
• Billy’s Big Dance was shortlisted in the Writing Magazine 750-word competition, Feb 2019.
• Billy and the Storm was shortlisted in the Writing Magazine 750-word competition, Nov 2022.

(All of those are in TMT2. Billy’s New Hill is also in Ten-Minute Tales.)

Five-Minute Tales

Aunt Tracey’s Voyaging – SF. Aunt Tracey wants to keep her independence. (In Ten-Minute Tales)

Une Rencontre – Ex-lovers meet. Shortlisted for the Writing Magazine 750-word competition, February 2023. (TMT2)

Ten-Minute Tales

A New Deal – Shortlisted in the Writing Magazine “Dystopian” competition, September 2020 (TMT2)

Bucket List – Shortlisted in the Writing Magazine 750-word competition, July 2024

The Case of the Colour-Blind Captain – Another case for Holmes and Watson. (Ten-Minute Tales)

Daddy’s Coming Home – Won the Writers’ Retreat (see links page) short story competition in 2019. (Ten-Minute Tales)

Facing the Cliffs – Won Writing Magazine‘s sea story competition in 2003. (Ten-Minute Tales)

Generosity – Runner-up in Writing Magazine‘s crime story competition in 2013. (Ten-Minute Tales)

La Manche (2021) – Climate fiction. What will climate change bring for the dispossessed? (TMT2)

The Slot at the Bottom of the Door – The loneliness of a hostage? Shortlisted for the Writing Magazine “kidnapped” competition in 2005. (Ten-Minute Tales)

Spirit of the Game – Be careful who you challenge . . . Shortlisted for the Writing Magazine summer ghost story competition in 2004. (Ten-Minute Tales)

Ultimate Combat 7 – Be careful what you wish for.  Shortlisted for the Writers’ News (subscriber-only) “jealousy” competition in 2004. (Ten-Minute Tales)