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‘We think our writers and storytellers are essential in their own way’

Milford Foundation trustee Sarah Norrie says the foundation is delighted to help support this long-running short story competition. The foundation’s purpose is to invest in the future of Aotearoa New Zealand and create opportunities for new generations.

‘‘New Zealand’s essential workers are rightly in the spotlight right now for the vital work they do for all of us. We think our writers and storytellers are essential in their own way – imagine life without them! It’s a credit to the Sunday Star-Times that its competition has already helped to launch the career of many admired writers.

‘‘The short story is a challenging form – but proves something profound and enduring can be said in relatively few words.

‘‘We’re looking forward to seeing what these writers come up with and helping to support their storytelling. Their stories deserve a wide and supportive audience and all of us at the Milford Foundation are very happy to be supporting that.’’

Penguin Random House New Zealand publisher and sponsor Harriet Allan said that in a world of restricted movement, a short story can take you through closed doors, across borders, back in time, to another planet, another existence, or into the future.

‘‘You are limited only by your imagination. And while you might feel cut off, maybe even have had to self-isolate, a story can let you communicate with countless people in a unique and powerful way. Through story you can touch, embrace or do battle with others, you can pull off your mask or put on countless new ones.’’

Don’t think you have a story in you?

‘‘Start with a single sentence,’’ says Allan. ‘‘Follow that sentence, or fight with it, or consider its opposite. You could put it into the mouth of a stranger and find out who this stranger is. You could place an ordinary sentence in an extraordinary setting, or a bizarre line in a humdrum world.

‘‘As a child, you no doubt regularly took a single block or lump of playdough or Plasticine and went on to create an entire universe: This initial sequence of words is likewise your starting point to do with whatever you like. You might even decide to rewrite or remove that first line once you go back to edit. When you get to that point, you’ll find it has become a story.’’

Focus

en-nz

2021-09-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-19T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://fairfaxmedia.pressreader.com/article/281883006476367

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