Authors field dark haul

Death, destruction and dementia have been on minds in Manawatu this year – or those of its writers, at least.

With the winners of this year's Central Districts short story competition about to be announced, New Zealand author and judge Sue McCauley said there was a definite recurrence of themes.

"Death, destruction and dementia - they're all fairly anguished," she said yesterday.

"There was very little humour, which is a bit sad. But they may be a commentary on us or a sign of the times, who knows."

About 60 entries were received for the annual competition, run by the Central Districts branch of the New Zealand Society of Authors.

Those were whittled down to 20 and sent to Dannevirke-based author McCauley for judging.

"New Zealanders are accused of writing gloomy stories, but I think people write about anguish because it's an emotional subject and therefore there's good material," she said.

A good short story can take inspiration from real events, but should be fictional and told in the right narrative voice, McCauley said.

"[Some people] just take a chunk of life and write it as it is, and a short story isn't that."

The best stories give just enough information to keep the reader guessing, have a fresh angle, and carry the suspense right through to ending, she said.

Sue McCauley will announce the three best stories tomorrow at 2pm in the Palmerston North Library.

- © Fairfax NZ News