Meet the finalists of this year's Florence Staniforth Student Fiction Prize.
As we approach the annual celebration of literary talent at the College, we are thrilled to announce the shortlist for this year’s Florence Staniforth Student Fiction Prize. Year after year, this prize sees an incredible collection of short stories from Lucy students across all disciplines. From dark humor to reflections on current and recurring social issues —our students continue to impress with their creativeness and talent.
The Florence Staniforth Fiction Prize has a record of spotlighting emerging literary talent with previous winners having explored a variety of themes, each bringing their unique voice and perspective to the forefront. This year’s competition has been no different, with submissions being not only entertaining but also thought provoking and offer fresh insights into the human experience.
Meet the 2024 shortlisted talents
This year’s lineup of candidates is as diverse and dynamic as their writing. Each has brought something special to the competition, promising a tough decision for our panel of judges. The shortlisted students are;
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Sarah Ibbetson: After a career spanning three decades as a night-time taxi driver in the Lake District, Sarah is now pursuing an MSt in Creative Writing. A proud mother of four, supported by her husband, Sarah spends her time writing fiction and working on her dissertation.
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Dave R. Christiansen: A current student in the MSt in Creative Writing program, Dave is an avid reader of science fiction and fantasy. Residing in Provo, Utah, he lives with his family and dogs, constantly coming up with more story ideas than he can pen down
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Connor MacInnis: Connor is on his way to completing an MPhil in Film and Screen Studies and is simultaneously writing his debut novel—a satirical mystery set in the Hamptons, blending his academic pursuits with a love for storytelling.
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Sade Fawehinmi Olapade-Olaopa: A chemical engineer, scientist, and writer, Sade is in her first year of an MSt in Creative Writing. With a diverse background that spans several continents, Sade’s writing is inspired by the collection of places she has called home.
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Emma Perfect: Emma Perfect studied English at the University of Manchester and spent several years as a journalist at The Times, ELLE, and some other magazines that shut down, probably before you were born. She now runs a copywriting agency and is in the second year of the Cambridge MSt in creative writing.
Fellow Emerita Dr Isobel Maddison says: ‘Over the past few years the Florence Staniforth Prize has increasingly attracted a range of compelling short stories from our talented students. Undergraduates & post graduates, in any discipline, are eligible to enter & this has led to stories covering a range of topics. Dark humour, current and recurring issues have all been explored, alongside mysterious and esoteric happenings. Each year the standard has been extremely high & the judges, including Fellow Emerita Dr Isobel Maddison, Elizabeth Speller and Dr Clare Walker-Gore, have enjoyed reading the submissions enormously. Congratulations to all our entrants.’
Anticipating the Winner
Congratulations to all the entrants for their outstanding contributions and best of luck to the shortlisted candidates. Your stories have already made an impact, and we look forward to celebrating your achievements on the day of the prize announcement!
Stay tuned for the announcement of this year’s winner and the prize details. The winner of the Student Prize will be awarded £100 and will be announced on the same evening as the main Fiction Prize award ceremony.