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AyrWritersClub

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

1.  Flash Fiction (Leigh Trophy) 

Max. 250 words. Theme – Open 

Adjudicator: Allison Symes

Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 25th September 2024

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