DINESH ALLIRAJAH PRIZE FOR SHORT FICTION - Winner Announced! 🎉✍
We are pleased to announce author
@matgrowcott as winner of this year’s Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short
Fiction for his story ‘In His Life.
"I was so thrilled to be shortlisted, the thought of winning barely entered my mind. I could have fallen off my chair
when my name was announced..." - Mat Growcott
“We admired the careful control of tone and exposition, the elegant structure, and the writer's
unflinching attention to the complications of the story's central relationship...” – Prize Judges
This year’s shortlist was incredibly competitive, with the judges enjoying each story immensely. Runners up for the
2026 Dinesh Allirajah Prize for Short Fiction are:
Louisa Hann – ‘The Jumper’:
“A standout short story which takes the idea of fandom and flips it into something
unique. In little over 5,000 words the writer explores fame, adolescence and notions of accepted girlhood with truth,
warmth and humour.”
Alison Armstrong – ‘Jack Be Nimble’:
“A beautiful, lyrical story that builds to a fiery crescendo. I was deeply moved by
the bond between the main character and the calf he raises. Foot and mouth disease was such a formative part of
people’s experiences back in 2001, and this story hauntingly captures the impact of that earlier pandemic on people
and animals.”
A massive Congratulations to all the shortlisted authors: Mat Growcott, Louisa Hann, Alison Armstrong,
@dhartleywriter ,
@shekinarose ,
@ben_daggers and
@ruthannereads .
The public prize-giving took place online on May 6th and included readings from the winning story and feedback from
the judges panel, featuring last year's winning author Edward Hogan, Editor-in-Chief of the
@newnottinghamjournal @andrewtuckerleavis , Comma Press author
@luangoldie and poet Dr
@yvonnereddickwriter of the
@unilancashire .
Growcott will receive the grand prize of £500, and all 7 stories will be published in a Comma Press eBook
to be released later this month.
#dineshallirajah #dineshprize #writingcompetitions #writingawards #writingprizes #shortstories #shortfiction #writersofig #writersofinsta #writingcommunity #amwriting #writersofinstagram
