RTÉ is inviting entries to one of Ireland's longest established and most significant literary prizes, the RTÉ Short Story Competition in honour of writer and broadcaster, Francis MacManus - find out more here.
Below, competition judge and acclaimed author Tristan Rosenstock explores what constitutes a good short story, while offering a few tips for budding authors...
One of the early champions of the short story in Ireland Pádraig Mac Piarais proclaimed in 1905 that "we believe this is the form in which the renascent prose literature of Ireland is likely to achieve its chief success". Now, he wasn't to know what Joyce was planning to do with the novel. But 120 years after Pearse made that announcement, we can safely say that the contribution Irish writers have made to the form is every bit as remarkable as Pearse imagined it would be.
Pearse was highly alert to the connections between the oral storytelling tradition and this form which really took off throughout Europe and further afield from the second half of the 19th century.
A good story by the fireside would have typically taken between 20 – 25 minutes to recite, which is often how long it takes to read a short story. But fireside storytelling was essentially that; telling a story. This happened, that happened and then that happened. For me, a short story is not always about story. The short stories that stay with me are ones in which mood, tone, and character are to the fore. I want characters to remain with me, to be left imagining what fate awaited them.
As you're writing your story, read it aloud. If a sentence feels clunky as you read it be sure it won’t land well on the ear.
Níl aon amhras ná go bhfuil an gearrscéal faoi bhláth i measc scríbhneoirí na Gaeilge, agus tá bailiúcháin bhreátha tagtha inár dtreo le cúpla bliain anuas ó ghearrscéalaithe aitheanta agus ó scríbhneoirí atá ag teacht in inmhe.
In Irish, we've had some stunning debut collections in recent years from the likes of Róise Ní Bhaoill, Michelle Nic Pháidín, Majella Ní Dhomhnaill and Gearóidín Bhreathnach in which many of the stories tackle some of the challenges of modern life, such as the never-ending juggling of motherhood. They also shine light on some of the darker elements of navigating a night out, with date-rape drugs being the weapon of choice for a sexual predator, as we see in Ní Bhaoill’s award-winning Imram agus scéalta eile.
Meanwhile, writers like Alan Titley, Mícheál Ó Ruairc, Mícheál Ó hUanacháin and Dáithí Ó Muirí continue to amaze us again and again and lure us into the superanatural realm and other unexplored terrains.
TELL US YOUR (SHORT) STORIES
— RTÉ (@rte) March 26, 2025
The 2025 RTÉ Short Story Competition is now open for entries 📝
Recognising and rewarding the best new Irish fiction writing for radio.
Short story deadline Friday 23rd May. See https://t.co/ZnXVs3qjFX pic.twitter.com/a44FH2Jx2t
Cuirfear fáilte roimh ghearrscéalta Gaeilge, ar eagla go gceapfaí a mhalairt.
But back to the oral origins and what makes this competition so uniquely special is that the short stories that reach the shortlist will be both heard and read. As you’re writing your story, read it aloud. If a sentence feels clunky as you read it be sure it won’t land well on the ear. A radio short story may have a connection to oral storytelling after all. Watch out for overpopulating your story and try to put manners on your characters (even the brats) to ensure they’re not all talking at one another.
Even Cillian Murphy would struggle to read lots of dialogue between multiple characters. Your story must engage the ear, and also keep eyes glued to the page. No pressure, then. Ádh mór!
Find out more about the RTÉ Short Story Competition 2025, and how you can enter here.
