Club Competitions
Club competitions, for our club members only, are adjudicated by guest writers. They give members a chance to try their hand at different forms of writing. All entrants will receive an individual critique on their submission from the adjudicating judge.
First, Second and Third placings will receive a Waterstones book token. First placings are also presented with a writing trophy at our Annual Awards Dinner evening in May, held at a local hotel.
Most of the club competitions are similar to those that are held every year by the Scottish Association of Writers (SAW) and entries for club competitions can usually be entered into the national SAW competitions as well
Our final competition of the year is something a little bit different. It’s a free-to-enter Drabble Competition – a story written in exactly 100 words. The theme will be given out a few weeks in advance, members will bring their pieces to the club meeting on Wed 23rd April 2024, and all entrants will read their drabbles, live, for a panel of guest adjudicators. First, second and third placings receive prize-winning book tokens, and the winner is presented with an engraved Little Bundle Box Trophy at the Annual Awards Dinner.
Please contact the Competition Secretary if you have any queries – competitions@ayrwritersclub.co.uk
2. Drama / scriptwriting (Ayrshire Chamber Trophy)
3-5 Minute Sketch. Theme – Open
Adjudicator: John Binnie
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 9th October 2024
3. General Short Story (Ellie Hamilton Trophy)
Min. 2000 – Max. 2500 words Theme – Open
Adjudicator: Sarah Smith
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 30th October 2024
4. Women’s Magazine Short Story
Max. 2000 words. Theme – Humorous
Adjudicator: Scottish Association of Writers Council
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 13th November 2024
5. Novel Trophy
Max. 3000 word plus 3 paragraph synopsis Theme – Open
Adjudicator: CJ Cooke
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 4th December 2024
6. Book Review (Catherine Lang Bioforce / A.Vogel Trophy)
Min.350- Max.500 words. Any book published after 1st January 2023
Adjudicator: Sheila Grant
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 15th January 2025
7. Non-fiction Article (Cadas/Miller Shield)
Min.1200 – Max. 1500 words. Theme – Open, with the proviso – begin with a sentence of fact
Adjudicator: Catherine Czerkawska
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 5th February 2025
8. Children’s Fiction (Scotland’s Artists Trophy)
Max. 750 words Picture Book for Under 7s. Theme – Open
Adjudicator: Maria Cairnie
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 26th February 2025
9. Scottish Article (JR & CH Mair Quaich)
Min. 1200 – Max.1500 words. Theme – Open
Adjudicator: Ann Burnett
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 12th March 2025
10. Poetry (Marion Montgomery Award)
Max. 30 lines. Theme – Night-time
Adjudicator: Alison Chisholm
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 26th March 2025
11. Ayrshire Drabble (Little Bundle Box Trophy)
Exactly 100 words. Theme – To be announced 2 weeks prior to the live competition.
Adjudicator: Fiona Atchison & a staff member from Waterstones, Ayr
Presentation Date: Wednesday 23rd April 2025