Perdita Stott, London Independent Story Prize 3rd Round 2024 Short Story Finalist 'Salt'

London Independent Story Prize 3rd Round 2024 Short Story Finalist 'Salt', Perdita Stott

- When and how did you get into writing?

I’ve always loved to write and to read stories - I think it's one of the most natural and human things we do. I studied Creative Writing at university and then I discovered writing for theatre and comedy. I’ve taken three shows to the Edinburgh Fringe—two of which transferred to Soho Theatre in London. I love the creative collaboration that comes with making theatre. 

After becoming a parent, I found myself rediscovering my love of short stories - there’s an absolute magic that happens in miniature with a good short story. I’ve been lucky to have some of mine published recently [After, And Then There Were None, and A Handful of Sky]. Most recently, my story Old Bones placed second in the 2024 Writers & Artists Short Story Competition, and my poem A Life Made of Stars won third place in the 2024 Heroica Poetry Contest. My latest short story Hallow was published in MoonLit Getaway and will be included in their upcoming anthology. 

I’m now based in Dartmoor, where I run Moor Imagination, a creative writing business supporting emerging and community voices. As a writer with dyslexia, I’ve experienced many challenges and misconceptions, so I love helping others find confidence and joy in their storytelling. 

- How often do you write? Do you have a writing routine? And what inspires you to write?

I have two small children now, so my writing routine has changed drastically. I try to write a little bit every day, even if it's just a single line, to keep those mental muscles working. These days most of my writing takes place on the notes app on my phone, because our phones are always with us, aren’t they? Creativity comes in snatched moments, and I honestly think I could write upside down in a tree during a trombone concert now. I enjoy that I procrastinate less as a parent and listen to the curiosity of my brain more. I don’t think too hard about where my ideas come from in case being looked at makes them nervous and they run away forever!

- How does it feel to have your work recognised?

It feels amazing. All the creative people I know are pretty thick-skinned, but everyone needs a bit of encouragement now and again to keep us going. The recognition from LISP has given me such a mental, emotional and creative boost.

- What's the best and most challenging thing about writing a Story? 

The best thing is when you first get an idea. It feels like falling in love and all you can think about is that new idea.

The most challenging thing is guiding that idea into some kind of finished, polished version of itself.

-  How did you develop the idea for your LISP-selected story? Is there a story behind your story? And, how long have you been working on it?

I wanted to tell a story about the duality of human relationships and, how you can feel so many contradictory feelings. The way love can become tangled up with resentment and how two lives can become so woven together that, without even meaning to, you start to strangle one another.

The story came quite quickly. I wrote it in stolen snatches with this strong feeling of atmosphere and situation. I knew where the characters were going, and I just kept putting words down until finally they got there. Then I looked up, realised I had a first draft, and could see clearly what I had been trying to say.

- Can you please give us a few tips about writing a Story?

Let your brain play. Don’t start off trying to edit or correct an idea, just let it have fun. Editing and correcting are for later. The writing bit is playtime. Let your brain play.

- What's the best thing and the most challenging thing about competitions? 

The best thing is the opportunity for your writing to be acknowledged which will hopefully lead to more opportunities to write!

The most challenging thing is reminding yourself that, even if your work isn’t acknowledged by a competition, it doesn’t mean it’s not good. It can be amazing, just not right for that competition so keep trying and keep writing.

- Lastly, do you recommend the writers submit to LISP?

Absolutely! The competition is easy to apply to, the rules are clear and the community of writers you become part of is so diverse and welcoming. I would encourage any aspiring writer to take the opportunity to submit to LISP