Ruth Bushi, a 49-year-old writer from Carlisle, has won the short story category of this year’s Bridport Prize, overcoming years of repeated rejection. Her story, The Honeymoon, stood out among thousands of entries submitted from around the world.
Ms Bushi, who has been writing for most of her life, described the process as lonely and at times discouraging. “There comes a point where you start to wonder if you’re wasting your time, or that you’re too old,” she said. Despite these doubts, her determination to continue writing led to her success in the prestigious competition.
The Bridport Prize, established in 1953, is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading creative writing awards. Past winners include notable authors such as Kate Atkinson and Kit de Waal. The competition offers categories in short story, flash fiction, poetry and novel, with a combined prize fund of £20,000.
The Honeymoon explores the journey of two colleagues who smuggle a young boy through a country affected by war. Judges described the story as “a sly examination of those who call themselves heroes, and the real human cost,” highlighting its insightful and impactful narrative.
Ms Bushi admitted that entering the Bridport Prize was almost a final attempt after years of unsuccessful submissions to other competitions. “Struggling to put words on paper, finding the time, battling the doubts, the endless rejection: none of it is easy,” she said. “No-one is more shocked than me to have won – and it almost never happened.”
She hopes her achievement will encourage other writers who have faced similar challenges. “I feel incredibly grateful, and urge any discouraged writers out there to keep going,” Ms Bushi added.
Kate Wilson, programme manager for the Bridport Prize, said discovering new writing talent is a key aim of the competition. “Winning the competition has been a stepping stone for many writers who have gone on to get published and have successful careers,” she said.
This year’s announcement of winners took place over the weekend, recognising outstanding work across all categories. Ms Bushi’s success demonstrates the value of persistence in the creative process and highlights the role of competitions like Bridport in supporting emerging writers.
