Interview with 2025 Third prize winner - Morgan Brennan

 Meet the Winners!

Morgan Brennan lives in Berkshire and is a member of two brilliant writing groups. He has been writing short stories
and flash fiction since he retired. He has had stories published by Flash Fiction Magazine and Secret Attic and have been shortlisted in the Exeter Short Story competition before. Morgan has also been longlisted in The Writers & Artists Short Story competition and the Farnborough Flash Fiction competition.

How did you feel when you found out you’d won?
I was absolutely delighted. I hadn’t looked out for the results, so the first I knew was when I got the email congratulating me. I had been shortlisted a few years ago in the competition, but this was extra special.

Where did you get the idea?  
My fictional story of Malachy Doyle comes from an interest in the Troubles. I had viewed the BBC’s excellent documentary series, Once Upon a Time in Northern Ireland, and read Tim Pat Coogan’s seminal account of the period, The Troubles, Ireland’s Ordeal, 1969-95, and the Search for Peace. So I decided to create a character from those times, but to unfold the narrative of Malachy Doyle in an unconventional way. I begin his story in Third Person, mainly from Doyle’s point of view (POV), before moving to Second Person POV (the reader becomes Malachy Doyle). Then, symmetrically, I finish the story in First Person POV, as we hear from the character himself. Point of view changes can be jolting but also very powerful tools. The art is to signpost them clearly to ensure you keep the reader onboard and entertained.     

How long have you been writing? Is this your first win?
I have been writing for just over ten years now and whilst I have been placed in closed writing group competitions, this is my first open short story competition win.  

How would you sum up your story in a sentence or two?
A former IRA man has tired of the Troubles, but trouble won’t leave Malachy Doyle alone. He’s played the Game for both sides and now has to decide which way he’ll fall.     

What is your writing process. Pen and paper or straight to screen. Do you have a routine?   
It’s a very relaxed process and straight to screen. I’ll only write if I feel in the mood. Perversely though, I do like the pressure of an occasional competition deadline with its word limitation disciplines, and in that case, I’ll try and write or edit at least a few hundred words a day. I’m unusual in that I like the editing process. No matter how many times I revisit a scene, I can always find something to tweak. The art is of course knowing when to stop. And then importantly, to try and get my story in front of one of my writing groups for feedback. Whilst I may not always agree with them, there’s always a nugget or two to take away to work with.    

Do you have any advice for other short story writers?
Join a local writing group if you haven’t already (not online) and one that meets regularly. Keep putting your writing in front of them. Listen to their feedback. Sometimes it may not be what you want to hear but it’s the best way to develop your writing. Also take time to critique their manuscripts, which I have also found a great way to learn. Above all, don’t be cowed by convention. Write what you like to write and aim to develop your “voice”.  A style distinct enough that your writing cadre will know it’s one of your stories without even looking for the author’s name. 

Thank you, Morgan. You can read Morgan's story here.

That wraps up our 2025 short story competition. Thank you to everyone who entered. Next year's competition will open in December. In the meantime, Happy Writing!