ERR News challenges readers to write short stories of a maximum 750 words that capture a particular aspect of life in northern Europe.

What it's all about

As a site that reports on Estonia to the rest of the world, we're interested in perspectives that go beyond conventional opinion pieces. Short stories, feuilleton-style pieces and satirical sketches - the contest welcomes all of these.

In the past few years, we've seen a wealth of English-language books by Estonian-based writers and other literary ventures. This is our modest way of encouraging that culture to spread and grow - and of course enrich the host country.

It's also our small token of appreciation for Estonia, which turns 95 on February 24. A little more than a month after Independence Day, Estonia's "re-independence" period will have lasted longer than the first, interwar era of freedom. We've picked that day, March 27, as the deadline for entries.

Meet the judges

Justin Petrone is the author of "My Estonia," "My Estonia 2," "Montreal Demons," and "Missionary Position." He is also a partner in the publishing company Petrone Print. He lives in Viljandi with his wife, the author Epp Petrone, and their three daughters.

Vello Vikerkaar is the author of "Inherit the Family: Marrying Into Eastern Europe."

Mike Collier is a British-born journalist and writer who since 2007 has been based in Riga covering the Baltic states. He has worked for the Press Association, BBC, DPA and AFP among others. Later this year, his novel "The Fourth Largest Rock In Latvia" is due to be published.


Details, rules and legal stuff

Grand prize: €200

Second and third place: Moleskine notebook with the ERR News logo - the classic choice for Left Bank literati, old-school reporters and the just plain fashion-conscious.

The winner and two runners-up will be invited to read either in person or by Skype video bridge at a special ceremony later this spring.

* There is no entry fee.

* Your submission is your entry form and indicates acceptance of these rules.

* The deadline is March 27. Submissions are to be sent via e-mail as an attachment to , or, if using a quality manual typewriter, by mail to:

ERR News - Flash Fiction Contest
Eesti Rahvusringhääling
Gonsiori 27
15029 Tallinn
Estonia

Notification of receipt of entry in either case will be solely by e-mail. Mailed entries must be received by the deadline.

* Judging will be anonymous. Provide your name and contact details in the body of the e-mail, or in the case of mailed entries, on a separate sheet of paper.

* The story must be no more than 750 words, and must be in English, except for one fun condition:

- One sentence in Estonian must appear somewhere within the story.

* Stories must be in good English. Because of constraints on judges' time, entries that have major problems with grammar, syntax or orthography will not be accepted regardless of literary merit.

* There are no restrictions on style, but entries should preferably reflect life in northern Europe.

* Stories must be previously unpublished.

* The author grants ERR an exclusive license for a one-year term to publish the work in any medium and by any process, following which ERR will retain a non-exclusive license to publish the work (i.e. retain the story in its archives).

* Judges may not enter. ERR News staff may not enter.

* The monetary prize is subject to the 21% Estonian income tax rate. Winners are responsible for any additional taxes for which they may be liable in other countries.

* Winners will be announced in April.

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