One of the biggest awards in writing for Caribbean authors is the Commonwealth Short Story Prize. Held annually since 2012 it rewards great writing and supports writers at various stages of their careers.

As in most professions a prize means validation. But it also means opportunity and money. A new writer may find it delivers their work to new audiences. Because the Commonwealth competition is divided into regions and then there is the major winner, the accolades are shared to multiple writers get the spotlight.

Guyanese writer Subraj Singh won the Caribbean writers’ prize for his story Margot’s Run. Trinidadian writer Lisa Allen Agostini who was the Caribbean judge on this international panel describes it as thus:

”Margot’s Run‘ is the story of a mother’s breathless dash through the Guyana landscape in an effort to outwit an Ol‘ Higue which has been attacking her infant son. Part of Guyana’s folklore, the evil, bloodsucking Ol’ Higue has two vulnerabilities—both of which Margot and her allies exploit to destroy the demon. This action takes place on the night of Guyana’s first Independence Day, just as the white colonists are leaving after exploiting the country and its people for generations. The majority of the story is written in a single sentence, which burns as bright as the light of the Ol’ Higue’s fireball. A brilliant work, ‘Margot’s Run‘ delivers an action-packed narrative as it lays bare the vampiric nature of the colonial system, using a traditional folk character and evocative writing about the Guyanese landscape to do so.’ 

The entire story is available to read on Granta’s website. Granta is committed to discovering and sharing new writing from around the world, so this partnership comes with a lot of potential.

Singh took to his Facebook page to say how much he appreciated the congratulations and to share the link to the story.

The Commonwealth Short Story prize has supported Caribbean writers in the 13 years it has been around. Past winners include Trinidad’s Portia Subran in 2024, her husband Kevin Jared Hosein won the overall prize in 2018 with Passages. Two years earlier he was the Caribbean winner with his story The King of Settlement 4.

As a truly global award, where all the winners’ work is easily available, the Commonwealth Short Story archive is a fine way to get one out of a reading rut. An intrepid writer may wish to work ones way through the winners’ works, or even the shortlist, if one is up for a bigger challenge. Because this prize solicits entries from all over the Commonwealth you have a global menu easily available for your reading pleasure, especially if reading widely is your goal.