This year's Award is based on the subject of 'work' and all stories should fit loosely into that title. The organisers suggest that you don't take the subject too literally, just think about what work has meant in your own life and imagine what it has meant in other people's. Stories should be no more than 3,000 words long and the overall winner will receive £7,500 and a trip to the Orange Prize for Fiction Award ceremony in June. Five runners-up will each receive a £500 cash prize. Further payments will be made to the writers of the best stories which will be featured in a collection, entitled 'Work', published by Polygon next summer. The winners and runners-up will be presented with prizes at an awards ceremony in Edinburgh in July 2006. Entries will be accepted from those born in Scotland, Scottish residents and Scots living abroad.

For further details and to receive an entry form contact The Scotsman & Orange Short Story Award, PO Box 105, Edinburgh, EH8 8YN or phone 0131 620 8620. Deadline for applications is Friday 10th March 2006.