Zhang wins 2023 Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize

Overland has announced that Annie Zhang is the winner of the 2023 Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize, for her story ‘Who Rattles the Night?’.

Zhang is a writer and editor living on unceded Wangal land. Her work has previously appeared in publications such as Island, Kill Your Darlings and the Big Issue, and she was a WestWords Western Sydney Emerging Writer Fellow in 2019.

In ‘Who Rattles the Night?’, a couple learns to live with ghosts in their new home. Zhang’s story was chosen from a shortlist of eight announced earlier this month.

Two runners-up were also announced: Madeleine Rebbechi for her story ‘A Map of Underneath’, and Sheila Ngọc Phạm for her story ‘Whack-a-Mole’.

The prize, which seeks short fiction of up to 3000 words themed loosely around the notion of travel, has a first prize of $5000, with the two runners-up receiving $750 each. The 2023 judging panel included Patrick Lenton, Alice Bishop and Sara Saleh, who reviewed over 500 entries.

Overland will publish ‘Who Rattles the Night?’ in its print publication, while the two runners-up will have their stories published online.

Last year’s Neilma Sidney Short Story Prize winner was Claire Aman for ‘Golden Hour’.

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