The Rape and Abuse Line announces the opening of the annual short story competition which closes on 31st October 2008 and will be open to writers submitting a short story of between 1500 and 1800 words. The rules can be downloaded from their web site (see below). Please read them carefully before entering your stories.

The organisers would like see a short story continuing on from the opening few words ‘If it hadn’t been for that telephone call………..…’

This could be a received call bringing good news, bad news or any thing in between. The telephone call may only be the start of something more important; it may refer to a call that the lead character makes and which has life changing consequences for themselves or someone else. The scope is endless so unleash your imagination and put together a gripping or entertaining tale.

The subject does not have to be related to our organisation or what we represent and can cover any topic connected to a telephone call that the writer imagines.

The judge will be the novelist and popular columnist Jane Wenham-Jones (www.janewenham-jones.com ) and our main sponsor is the David St John Thomas Writing Trust in Nairn, to whom we are extremely grateful for the donation of the cash prizes.

Borders Books, Boots and Tesco have also donated prizes which are listed in the rules and to whom we also extend our thanks for their support.

This is a great opportunity to put your imagination to good use and to exercise those writing abilities that perhaps you thought you had left behind at school. If you are a regular story writer then here is an opportunity to compete against other authors for cash prizes and a chance to be the first winner of the Rape and Abuse Line writing competition.

Pick up your pen or set to work on your computer and write a story that is stimulating, entertaining, humorous, thought provoking or simply a good read. The prizes alone make entering the competition worthwhile. The achievement and satisfaction of writing a good story will be even greater.