This annual prize honours the best story to appear in The Dundee Review within any given calendar year. Every story published will automatically qualify for the Ninewells Literary Prize – this means no further action will be required on behalf of our authors.

Each year, the Editorial and Production Team will enlist the support of an external guest judge who has direct experience with creative writing, whether as an educator, practitioner, or publisher. The judging panel will comprise three members (the General Editor, the guest judge, and one other member of the Editorial and Production Team). No members of the judging panel will be eligible for the prize themselves, even if they have a published story in the mix.

Scoring will run on a 0-10 scale (lowest to highest) and will be formed by three categories (quality of writing, originality, gothicness) for a highest total of 30 points. Such scoring will be undertaken independently by the assigned judges before they meet collectively. Where scores are tied, the judges will rank their top three favourites. Where there is a stalemate, the General Editor will decide the outcome.

The winner will be contacted by us in early January in any given year, the published text will gain extra branding on our page shortly thereafter, and the news will be circulated on our social media and beyond.

The prize comes with a cash award (currently estimated to be £100).