Born to Write
Last week, I witnessed something miraculous: a room full of writers giving birth to entire worlds in just 100 words.
The Ayr Writers’ Club’s Ayrshire Drabble Scribble Competition was a celebration of the ‘newborn’ – fitting, as we were all mothering tiny stories into existence for the coveted Little Bundle Box Trophy. Judging our literary offspring were Fiona Atchison and her daughter Debbie Harvey Barnes from Little Bundle Box, alongside Matt Glassford, manager of Ayr Waterstones: a trio clearly well-versed in nurturing both bundles of joy and bundles of books.
Thirteen entries – a baker’s dozen (and let’s be honest, writers are a snack-hungry bunch) – vied for the prize. First place went to Maggie Morton for Cropped, a piece so moving the judges ‘almost welled up’ – and coming from people who swim in words daily, that’s no small leak. In just 100 words, Maggie managed to conjure a tender portrait of a grandmother recovering from cancer and a grandson who still instinctively rubs her head (a gesture typically reserved for the smooth pate of a newborn baby). It was poignant and proof that love, like a good story, never stops growing.
Second place was scooped up by Fiona McFadzean for Strength for Today with Bright Hope for Tomorrow – a title that sounds like it should be stitched on a very brave quilt – and third went to Thomas Malloch for My First Memory. The judges praised every entry, reminding us all to ‘keep on writing,’ even when the words sometimes feel as slippery as a newborn straight out of the bath.
The second half of the night brought a new challenge: a quick write based on a choice of four opening lines. I found myself torn between ‘Mother died today…’ (too heavy?), ‘The wind swirled around me and the world went black…’ (too melodramatic?), ‘In the beginning, I left messages in the street…’ (too cryptic?) and ‘I write this sitting in the kitchen sink…’ (just weird enough to work).
Somehow, in mere minutes, my fellow scribblers spun these baby sentences into full-grown stories – amazing how a few lines can kick down the doors of the imagination. As Carrie said, ‘It’s incredible what you can do with so few words.’ (And honestly, haven’t most great adventures started that way?)
Presidents Linda and Carrie wrapped up with a reminder that tickets are still available for the Awards Dinner on 14 May at the Carlton Hotel in Prestwick. Next week, it’s Trophy Winners Night and trust me, if last week was anything to go by, you’ll want to be there, pen in hand and heart wide open.
See you at the cradle of creativity!
Gill Hyslop