Fresh Pressure and Estonia Novel have announced the third edition of the short story competition 'Fresh Story', designed to promote creative writing among the younger generation. The competition invites entries from youths aged 15 to 19, allowing them to explore freely chosen themes. This initiative encourages young writers to express their thoughts and creativity through short prose, thus contributing to the literary landscape in Estonia.

The judging panel for the competition includes esteemed writers Ester Urbala and Armin Kõomägi, along with editors from Fresh Pressure, Paul Raud and Helena Aadli. Paul Raud, the editor of Fresh Pressure and an accomplished writer and translator, emphasized the importance of working with short prose and the novella form. He believes that engaging in such writing can significantly broaden a young writer's perspective, enabling them to hone their skills in a manageable but impactful format.

Raud points out that while a strong novella can be written in a couple of days, it offers endless opportunities for refinement and revision. Each sentence holds weight, demanding focus and dedication from the writer. Most importantly, he highlights the need for strong empathy to deeply understand the characters and narratives they are creating. This competition is an important step in nurturing literary talent among Estonia's youth, fostering both their personal development and the richness of the nation's cultural narrative.