Surrey Group: Short Stories

Join the Surrey Group on Tuesday 14 October from 12pm to hear from Sarah Hegarty, novelist and short story writer, judge for the 2025 Yeovil Literary Prize, and reader for the Bath Short Story Award, on what she’s learned about one of the most elusive literary forms.

Publishers say short stories are having a moment (again). Perhaps they’ve never really gone away. In a few pages, a successful story can illuminate a life, or deliver a punch to the gut. The best linger, long after the final sentence. But what makes some stories work and others not?

Sarah’s short fiction has been published in Mslexia and The Mechanics’ Institute Review and various anthologies, and her non-fiction in 100 Voices (Unbound). Her work has twice won the Yeovil Literary Prize and been shortlisted for the Bridport, Exeter and Manchester Prizes. After graduating in Modern Chinese Studies she worked as a journalist. She has an MA in Creative Writing and teaches creative writing.

Her collection Magpie and Other Stories was shortlisted for the 2025 Rubery International Book Award and is published by Troubador.

You can find Sarah on social media at @sarahhegartywriter

We’ll meet at The Seahorse, 52-54 The Street, Shalford, Guildford, GU4 8BU.

All writerly and bookish guests welcome!

To join us, click the Going button below and enter your details in the RSVP form so we know how many people to expect. Please email Howard Matthews with any questions.