Launch of Henley Literary Festival Short Story Competition

The Dragonfly Tea Short Story Competition in association with Henley Literary Festival returns for its second year with new inspiration, a stellar judging panel and top prizes.

Henley Literary Festival’s Events Director, Harriet Reed added: “We received more than 1,000 entries for the inaugural competition, all of which were of truly impressive quality, so are really excited to sit down at the end of summer, cup of tea in hand, to read this year’s entries. Like us, Dragonfly are a small, family-run organisation, with an infectious passion for tea and everything that goes with it – not least literature – so it’s a delight to partner up again and hopefully discover more untapped talent!”

Georgia Ginsberg from Dragonfly Tea explains: “It is said that ‘each cup of tea represents an imaginary voyage’, and we couldn’t agree more. For thousands of years tea drinking has been the perfect partner for dreamers, explorers, readers and writers alike. We are excited to build on this great tradition for the second year running and hope to spur the creativity of all budding storytellers. Let your imaginations take us on a voyage of discovery!”

A celebration of the intriguing and magical world of tea, this year’s theme for adult writers will be ‘Discovery’ – from grand voyages to everyday encounters, from inspiring inventions to quiet epiphanies – while children are encouraged to pen a tale of ‘Adventure’.

Open to all talented but as-yet-unknown writers, the 2016 competition will be decided by a panel of esteemed judges including Sandra Parsons (Literary Editor at the Daily Mail) and Helen Lederer (writer and comedian) who’ll be announcing the winners at a special Henley Literary Festival event this September.

Adult entrants are invited to write a story of up to 3,000 words, with three winning entrants taking home prizes ranging from £250 to £1,500. The winners of the three children’s categories (for 4-7, 8-11 and 12-15 year-olds) will take home £50-worth of book vouchers, plus £100 in vouchers for their school.

Visit the Dragonfly Tea website to learn more and enter your story for free by 29 August.