A selection of quotes from contest judges’ feedback, critics’ reviews and course tutor comments on Phil’s writing.
“I chose ‘Red Eye Reduction’ to be the overall winner because the story managed to combine so many elements with apparently so little effort. Structuring the narrative around the entirely visualisable but oddly abstract activity which is computer picture editing, the writer was able to handle characterisation while pulling in the other thematic strands with humour and panache.”
—Helen Lynch, Book Week Scotland 2014 competition judge, author and lecturer at University of Aberdeen.
“Satirical and humorous in tone, Olsen has a real gift for creating empathetic and believable characters.”
—Sarah Schofield, Introduction to Threads: Short Stories by New Liverpool Writers.
“A highly original and superbly crafted story, humorous in style while challenging in its themes. Ideas on life, death and time are woven expertly throughout the story, giving the humour depth and a sense of poignancy.”
—Emma Segar, ‘Writing Novels and Short Stories’ lecturer, University of Liverpool.
“Phil Olsen’s The Chat Room was perhaps the most intriguing work of the night; a surreal, Lynch-lite short journey into an unusual town. How does Joy know Ike’s favourite dish, even though he’s never been in her café before? What caused the mysterious craters that Harlowe (TV actor David Lonsdale, best known for Heartbeat) is giggling about over his daily toastie? It was well-realised, funny, a little disorienting, and the pay-off was satisfying.”
—Vicky Anderson, reviewing ‘It’s Play Time’ for Made Up Liverpool.
“Very funny characters, dialogue and descriptions – I could smell the sea air.”
—Bill Dawson, ‘Scriptwriting for Film and TV’ lecturer, University of Liverpool.
“This story is wonderfully strange, imaginative, and engaging. I loved how there is this sense that everything is both familiar and unfamiliar at once—how you were able to make the familiar strange. It is a good feeling to have as a reader!
The opening paragraph is marvelously hallucinatory, and you do excellent work creating a believable alternate world.”
—NYC Midnight judge (Final Round), Short Story Challenge 2019
“This story was extremely enjoyable to read. It was witty and genuinely funny; the office environment and conflict didn’t need much explanation, leaving the author room to dedicate most of the story to the hilarious micro-aggressions of the Plan B team. The author has a good handle on comedic pacing and shifting time; transitions occured naturally throughout.”
—NYC Midnight judge (Round 1), Short Story Challenge 2018