On the 17th of April, 2024, 23 stories were announced as the shortlisted selection by an international judging panel from 7,359 entries in a record-breaking year.  

According to the Commonwealth website, this year’s shortlist hails from 13 Commonwealth countries. Writers from Mauritius, Rwanda and St Kitts and Nevis feature for the very first time.  

Many of the stories are told through the eyes of children—tales of parents splitting up, of school, and of the often baffling behaviour of adults around them. Older characters also appear—sometimes destructive, sometimes inspiring. Five of the stories reflect on motherhood in very different ways. Others tell of forbidden love in a hostile world. Topics range from music, football, art, film, the impact of electricity arriving in a village, and even one woman’s passion for tea.  While romance and thrillers feature prominently, nearly a quarter of the shortlisted stories are speculative fiction. 

“This is a dream list for lovers of the short story form. You’ll be amazed and thrilled, startled and shocked, and heartbroken and humbled in equal measure by the skill and talent, imagination and creativity.” Chair of the Judges, Jennifer Nansubuga Makumbi.

Short stories can be tricky, especially with good plots. Learn the best ways to write short stories that will catch readers’ attention. 

The 2024 Commonwealth Shortl Story Prize shortlist include:

• ”A River Then the Road” , Pip Robertson (New Zealand)
• ”Dite” , Reena Usha Rungoo (Mauritius)
• ”Nobody Owns a Fire” , Jennifer Severn (Australia)
• ”Mananangal” , M Donato (New Zealand)
• ”Wrinkle Release” , Stefan Bindley-Taylor (Trinidad and Tobago)
• ”So Clean” , Anna Woods (New Zealand)
• ”You Had Me at Aloe” , Ark Ramsay (Barbados)
• ”Terre Brulée” , Celeste Mohammed (Trinidad and Tobago)

• ”Thambi, Thambi” , Bharath Kumar (India)

• ”Aishwarya Rai” , Sanjana Thakur (India)
• ”Mother May I” , Ajay Patri (India)
• ”When Things End” , Sarah Balakrishnan (Canada)
• ”What Burns” , Julie Bouchard (Canada)
• ”Your Own Dear, Obedient Daughters” , F.E. Choe (Canada)
• ”Milk” , Eaton Hamilton (Canada)
• ”Sookie Woodrow Goes to Heaven” , Ceilidh Michelle (Canada)

• ”The Devil’s Son” , Portia Subran (Trinidad and Tobago)

• ”Fadi” , Azags Agandaa (Ghana)
• ”House No. 49” , Olajide Omojarabi (Nigeria)
• ”A Song Sung in Secret” , Jayne Bauling (South Africa)
• ”The Goat” , Jean Pierre Nikuze (Rwanda)
• ”The Marriage Proposal” , Heather Archibald (St Kitts and Nevis)
• ”The Woman Upstairs” , Audrey Tan (Singapore)

Five regional winners will be announced on 29 May 2024, and the overall winner will be announced on 26 June 2024. You can follow up on the winner announcement through the Commonwealth Foundation (FKA Twitter) page. Congratulations to all the shortlisted, and we look forward to this year’s winner announcement.