My name has finally reached the pages of a women’s magazine (check the small print at the bottom of the photo). In September, I entered the annual Elle magazine talent competition with a 500-word short story inspired by the hashtag #relationshipgoals. The story titled Five Days to Go imagines the hopes and aspirations of a teenage Muslim girl planning to become an Isis bride. With so much in the press about young girls and their misplaced dreams of supporting Islamic State, it seemed appropriate to explore this through fiction. Told through first person narration, readers gradually realise what this British Muslim girl is planning.
The competition judges included Jessie Burton, author of The Miniaturist and Kate Mosse, Novelist and Chair and co-founder of the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction so I’m thrilled to think they’ve read my work. I am one of five runners-up and have won a monogrammed Smythson Notebook worth £135. Congratulations to the winner, Lia Louis.
the writer is a lonely hunter 
Congratulations, Gail. This is a great achievement. I hope you post the story.
As you say, it’s fantastic that people whose work you admire have read and appreciated your writing. Well done Gail.
Congratulations, sounds like a very interesting story!
Well done, that’s brilliant. Yes, please post the story.
Many congratulations. What a fab achievement.
Brilliant – well done. I want to read it!
Congratulations, Gail.
Wow, Gail that’s wonderful. Well done!
[…] WWG we were very pleased to hear that one of our group, Gail, had her story, ‘Five Days to Go’, shortlisted for the recent Elle writing competition. […]