Ringwood-based author Damhnait Monaghan has been shortlisted for the highly coveted 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize, a prestigious literary competition aimed at celebrating the best in unpublished short fiction from across the Commonwealth.
Monaghan’s story, Nualu Nu, was selected from a record-breaking 7,920 entries, marking a nearly 10 percent increase in submissions compared to last year. The competition, which attracts writers from the 56 member states of the Commonwealth, is known for its commitment to accessibility, accepting submissions in a variety of languages including Bengali, Chinese, Creole, and French.
The Commonwealth Short Story Prize is widely regarded as one of the most accessible and inclusive literary awards in the world. The competition recognizes a diverse range of voices and experiences, with shortlisted stories often exploring pressing global themes such as exploitation, racism, and greed, as well as the more universal concepts of kindness, humor, and courage.
Dr. Vilsoni Hereniko, chair of the judging panel, emphasized the power of a well-crafted short story: “A great story moves us, causes us to think, and sometimes changes us. When a whole life, or a slice of life, is distilled into a short story, we marvel at the writer’s ability to find the perfect sequence of events and fit them into the short story form.”
Monaghan’s achievement comes amid growing recognition of her literary talents. As a regional finalist, she now joins an elite group of authors in the race for one of five regional awards. The regional winners will be announced on May 14, with the overall winner revealed on June 25.
The 25 shortlisted stories will be featured in adda, the Commonwealth Foundation’s online magazine, offering readers a glimpse into the diversity and creativity of contemporary global storytelling.
