Student wins international creative writing award for short story

A Canadian student has won an international creative writing award alongside an established poet in the annual Aesthetica Creative Writing Award 2015. Jasmine Sky Ruff, from Vancouver, was selected for her short story, 'Polaroid Venation', about two brothers, one of whom is taken into care. Ruff is a student of creative writing and English Literature at the University of British Columbia, and 'Polaroid Venation' is part of her collection of short stories in progress.

Meanwhile, Leland James won the poetry section of the competition for 'At the Nursing Home – inside an old man vacant by the window'. James’s poems have appeared in publications world-wide and received numerous international honors. He is the author of three books of poetry.

Both their pieces, alongside numerous finalists, are published in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual 2016 which collects the work of 60 international writers.

The Aesthetica Creative Writing Award is an international competition that attracts submissions from emerging and established writers from around the world. It is hosted by Aesthetica Magazine. This year’s winners receive £500, a selection of books from Bloodaxe Books and Vintage Books, and a subscription to Granta Magazine.

Short Fiction Judge and literary editor of The Independent, Arifa Akbar, said: “I was impressed by the overall standard and quality of this year's fiction entries which made it all the harder, but in the end, more rewarding, to judge. Re-reading was often required. There are some popular themes among the selected stories, while each winner has a clear and distinctive voice of their own.”

The competition received 2,000 entries from over 40 countries including Australia, Canada, the USA, Spain, Sweden, Japan, Egypt, Ireland and across the UK. The final selection features university students alongside established professionals.