Winner of 2025 Short Story Competition
The Book Links Short Story Competition is for writers aged 18+, writing stories suitable for children of any age up to 15 years old. This year, we had a record 75 entries into our short story competition.
The shortlist was announced Saturday, 3 May 2025 at the Write Links meeting.
The winner was announced at the annual Narelle Oliver Lecture on Wednesday, 14 May 2025.
2025 Winner
Danielle Cerin writing we DC Nash – Benji’s Revenge
The prize was $250.00.
Read the story. BENJIS-REVENGE
An Interview with our winner
A bit about me
I live in Sydney with my husband and super cute dog called Foof. I have a corporate day job, and volunteer with Girl Guides Australia. I spend my evenings and weekends thinking up stories and working on my manuscripts, as well as entering writing competitions. In the last four years, I have placed in six comps (either shortlisted or as runner-up), which has been really motivating. But the QLD BookLinks competition is my first WIN!
How long have I been writing for kids and what type of stories do I like writing?
I have been writing for four or five years now, all within the junior fiction and middle grade space. I usually focus on magical realism and humour, but I have recently finished writing a more serious middle grade crime novel.
The inspiration for Benji’s Revenge
I had an image in my mind of a brain standing on a kitchen counter with eyeballs and nerves for arms and legs, threatening someone with a fork (not sure where that came from). I thought it was funny, so had to work out a story where that situation would occur.
A short story writing tip for others
This is my own little checklist that I use to keep my short stories on point — feel free to use or adapt it.
Checklist:
- is there a clear inciting incident?
- is there a compelling conflict as a result of the incident?
- is there a shift, change, or a twist at the end?
- is there a clear theme?
- is there a strong, consistent voice throughout?
- is the time and place clear?
- are there elements that could be cut without impacting the overall story?
2025 Shortlist:
Ali Rutstein – It must have been the broccoli
Alicia Maskley – Lafaek
Danielle Cerin – Benji’s Revenge (Winner)
Honourable mention:
Louise Dark – About a beetle
Marian McGuinness – Kids in the Cosmos
Pamela Jones – The Mammoth Hair Affair
A short video of Mia Macrossan making the announcment, including a few coughs along the way by the photographer.
