Evgeniya Dineva, winner of the First Prize for her ‘Dolphins’ in the 2026 Rashko Sugarev National Competition for a Published Short Story, answered questions specifically for Untold Stories:
- What do you think about the Rashko Sugarev National Competition of NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’?
Such an important event as the Rashko Sugarev Competition offers young authors the opportunity for visibility; and it is extremely beneficial to our growth as creators. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the jury for their appraisal and recognition.
Over the years, some of my favourite Bulgarian writers have won the competition. I am glad that it is being held, and I will continue to look forward to it every year.
- Is writing a short story easy?
Any art is difficult. In a short story, every word, every sentence is of essential importance and requires attention to detail—both on the part of the author and the reader.
- What inspired you to write your story?
‘Dolphins’ was inspired both by a close friend’s childhood and by the work of another close friend who dedicated her life to caring for children—like the characters in my story.
- Do you think short stories have a future?
I totally agree with what Emil Tonev said in his speech at the award ceremony—namely that there are less and less short stories published in the media. But even so, we have a rich tradition of short-story writing, from which I continue to learn, and I believe that this literary form will be preserved in the future. This competition proves it.
- What will your next story be about?
Lately, I’ve been intrigued by the topic of unfulfilled expectations and by what our coping mechanisms are in cases where we cannot directly influence certain processes.
- What inspires you the most?
The people around me, the conversations I have with them, and the things they teach me. I have always believed that the meaning of human life is determined by the people.
- What do you dream of?
I wish we, as humans, would be more responsible towards others, towards our words and our actions. We live in a time where, despite globalisation, we are divided in many aspects, but I believe that we must consciously choose to be kind and understanding, even when it does not seem like the most obvious choice.
Evgeniya Dineva is from Sofia. She submitted two short stories In the NEF ‘13 Centuries of Bulgaria’ competition: ‘Dolphins’, published in the New Asocial Poetry magazine, issue 47, March 2024; and ‘Elena’s Self-Fulfilling Prophecy’, published in the Sea magazine, March 2025.
Questions posed by Theodora Bankovska