Ink of Ages Update #6 🎉 The shortlist is here!

Welcome to the 6th issue of the Ink of Ages Update, a monthly email by me, Joanne Taylor, with a focus on writing, reading, and well ... more writing. Thanks for being here! If this email was forwarded to you, you can sign up here.

13 January 2025

Happy New Year!

Today we've released the 2024/25 shortlist! If your story was shortlisted this year, congratulations! There were so many amazing history and mythology stories to choose from – thank you to everyone who shared their creativity with us this year.

The 2024/25 Prize shortlist

You can read the opening lines of the shortlisted stories on the results page of the Ink of Ages website! Maybe you'll find a favourite:

Main contest shortlist

Zannanza – Anna McHugh

Federico – Joao Costa

The Salamander of London – Peter Hankins

Shining Light – Richard Garcka

The Diary – Matt Roberts

Møya – Senthan Thomas Sivasangar

A Mountain God's Dilemma – Paul Burdick

Bog Child – Mairi McCurdy

Fidelity – Morna Sullivan

Shrouded Thebes – Loïs Raoult-Sambourg

Encrusted – Michael Kowalczyk-Barker

The Deluge – Abaan Zaidi

Echoes of Hunger and Hope – Lara Mennel

This is the End of the World – Rhianna K. Clary

To End a Nightmare – Miriam Culy

The Sound of Salt – Will Reardon

Youth prize shortlist

Shattered Souls, Eternal Light – Faaris Jamali

The Defeat of the Emperor – Cassandra Hughes

Sweet Venom – R. M. Ahmed

The Broken Rope – Tabitha Jorimann

The Weaver – Jenna Davis

The Land We Dream Of – Tatiana Randjelovic

The Magic of a Myth – Yau

Wedding Flowers – Emily Peters

The Tortured Artist – Iris

The Spinster – Somya

To Forget – Sophia Campbell

Maidens, Men and Raging Seas – Prisha Roy Mahapatra

The Secret of the Louvre – Kayla Williams

What happens next

Shortlisted stories have been passed along to our panel of specialist judges, some of whom have been reading over their Christmas holidays! They will choose a first, second, and third-place story, and two highly commended stories. The youth category will have 5 champions. Winners will be announced on or around 24 February 2025, and we'll email shortlisted authors a few days in advance.

Happy reading!

Joanne

PS. An apology. I made a mistake scheduling the "your story didn't make the shortlist" emails and they went out later than they should have (wrong time zone, rookie mistake 🤦‍♀️). I always try to ensure people find out privately first, but this time it didn't quite go to plan. I'm really sorry if this affected you.

Ink of Ages Fiction Prize is run by World History Encyclopedia and generously sponsored by Oxford University Press. You can read last year's winners on the contest website. Or this year's brand new shortlist opening lines!