10-Word Short Story Competition 2019

10-WORD SHORT STORY COMPETITION Top 20 Best Entries

SINGAPORE BOOK COUNCIL The Singapore Book Council (SBC) is an independent charity with IPC status. Established in 1968 to support Singapore authors and literature, SBC aims to Build Our Imagine-nation by developing creativity, imagination, original thought and empathy through writing, reading, illustration and storytelling. We are committed to developing the literary arts sector through our festivals, training workshops and courses, as well as book awards to recognise excellence.

Because It All Starts With A Story.

10-WORD SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2019 For three weeks from 4 February 2019, a featured word was announced on the Singapore Book Council Facebook page, and young writers were invited to submit a short story consisting only 10 words, with one of the words being the featured word, throughout each week.

This is a selection of the 3 weekly best and 11 runner-up entries to the competition.

The 3 featured words were: Family, Open, Time.

OPEN: SNGAPORE YOUNG WRITERS LAB Explore and develop your craft and love for writing at Open: Singapore Young Writers Lab. Organised by the Singapore Book Council, Open is a developmental platform for writers between 13 to 25 years old. Comprising talks, workshops and mentorships, the year-round programme spans across forms, genres and languages. Open focuses on various forms of writing, including creative writing, screenwriting, translation, and books review, and participants will delve into a wide range of genres such as science fiction, speculative fiction, poetry, graphic novels, and creative nonfiction.

For more information, visit www.bookcouncil.sg/programmes/opensingapore-young-writers-lab

FEATURED WORD: FAMILY TOP 3

His aching back, drenched with sweat; a fighter for family.

Isabelle Yuen University of Western Australia

Whatever happens? It all comes down to one word: Family.

Lau Yan Xi Anglo-Chinese Junior College

FEATURED WORD: FAMILY TOP 3

Three bowls for three people.

One house for one family.

Rachel Yee Management Development Institute of Singapore

FEATURED WORD: FAMILY RUNNER-UP

Broken bonds, shattered stronger; Crushed trust, torn tougher; Family holds.

Benjamin Yuen Raffles Institution

FEATURED WORD: FAMILY RUNNER-UP

Waking up to a new family: finally found my forever-home.

Fumiko Nanyang Technological University

FEATURED WORD: OPEN TOP 3

Raindrops streak down open spaces, teardrops cluster on empty faces.

Beverly Wong Changkat Changi Secondary School

“Open the door!” I heard the drunk and the belt.

Jerilyn Tan Jie Ying Changkat Changi Secondary School

FEATURED WORD: OPEN TOP 3

Mere three seconds left. One opportunity.

“Pass here, I’m open!”

Mark Alfonso Beatty Secondary School

FEATURED WORD: OPEN RUNNER-UP

He who comes with an open mind reaps the most.

Chia Seng Hing Beatty Secondary School

FEATURED WORD: OPEN RUNNER-UP

What’s the password?

Abracadabra? Open sesame!

The door opened immediately.

Cristina Gale Beatty Secondary School

FEATURED WORD: OPEN RUNNER-UP

The door opens. Footsteps resound.

He stiffened. Could it be...?

Gladys Koh Wei Le Raffles Girls’ Primary School

FEATURED WORD: OPEN RUNNER-UP

Opening my heart, to a new me and the world.

Michael Ho St Andrew’s Secondary School

FEATURED WORD: OPEN RUNNER-UP

Open the doors and hear the screams as they echo.

Tan Joo Cher Grace Singapore University of Social Sciences

I open a door, another one and another one and… Toh Yong Sheng Marsiling Secondary School

FEATURED WORD: OPEN RUNNER-UP

I stand in the open but my world is closed.

Zachary Tan Gin The Winstedt School

FEATURED WORD: TIME TOP 3

Well, isn’t it the time to cut some thyme up.

Er Lucas Holy Innocents’ High School

“Run. Never look back.” She spoke for the last time.

Konada Asher Joseph Mayflower Secondary School

FEATURED WORD: TIME TOP 3

I hate time for reminding me to go to school.

Lee Qi Xuan Holy Innocents’ High School

FEATURED WORD: TIME RUNNER-UP

In retrospect, time surprisingly changed myself into a better person.

Muhammad Syafiq Bin Supri Marsiling Secondary School

FEATURED WORD: TIME RUNNER-UP

Gave you my time but you didn’t spare me seconds.

Tiarra Tynisha Binte Mohammad Roszel Beatty Secondary School

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