Mansfield Readers and Writers presents an anthology of selected stories for each short story competitions:
- Scrub – our 2025 short story anthology
- Soul – our 2024 short story anthology
- Heart – our 2023 short story anthology
SCRUB
10 poems. 11 bush poems. 26 short stories.
Sit back with a cuppa and enjoy these short stories, poems and bush poems inspired by the theme of SCRUB in the inaugural High Country Words writing competition, the third writing competition run by the Mansfield Readers & Writers Festival.
With characters tearing through the Australian bush, scrubbing boats, or hiding scrubby souls, these pieces alternately deliver laughter, tears, or the desire to sit back and reflect on a special moment. Whether you meander through the scrub or race to the end, the journey will be its own reward.
SOUL
18 stories. 18 authors. 18 different ways to talk about soul.
Short stories from our 2023 short story competition, on the theme of ‘Soul’.
Food for the soul. That’s what you’ll find in this collection of short stories longlisted in the 2023 Mansfield Readers and Writers short story competition. The writers of these delicious stories start with imperfect families, add a dash of perfect love and mix a good dose of soul through all of it. This is a great collection to dip into, or devour in a single reading.
HEART
20 stories. 20 authors. 20 different ways to talk about heart.
Short stories from our 2023 short story competition, on the theme of ‘Heart’.
In this collection, stories responding to the theme of ‘heart’ will genuinely touch you, and in some cases deliver a gut punch. You’ll read stories of families, of lovers; of rescue, betrayal, and loss. Enjoy this heartfelt collection from the inaugural Mansfield Readers and Writers Festival short story competition.
How to purchase: Please email mansfieldreadersandwriters@gmail.com