Club Competitions
Ten competitions, for 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 the Savoy Park Hotel, Ayr.
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 eleventh competition 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 on Wednesday 20th April, and all entrants will read their drabbles, live, for a panel of SAW Council adjudicators. First, second and third placings receive prize-winning book tokens, and the winner is presented with an engraved Little Bundle Box Trophy in recognition of their achievement.
2. Poetry (Jenny Cadas Trophy)
Maximum 30 Lines. Theme – Nature and Belonging: Prescence.
Adjudicator: Nalini Paul
Submission Date: Wednesday 27th October 2021
3. General Short Story (Ellie Hamilton Trophy)
1500 – 2000 words. Theme – New Beginnings
Adjudicator: Rosemary Gemmell
Submission Date: Wednesday 1st December 2021
4. Non-Fiction Article (Elsie Miller Trophy)
1200 – 1500 words. Theme – Memoir: Celebrate
Adjudicator: Carol McKay
Submission Date: Wednesday 22nd December 2021
5. Drama (Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Trophy)
Dramatic Monologues. 2-5 characters. 10 minutes (or 10 pages) duration. Theme – Rashomon Style
Adjudicator: Lawrence Crawford
Submission Date: Wednesday 12th January 2021
6. Novel (Novel Writing Trophy)
First 2500 – 3000 words from the beginning of a novel, plus 3-paragraph synopsis. Open Theme.
Adjudicator: Laura Marney
Submission Date: Wednesday 26th January 2022
7. Children’s Fiction (Scotland’s Artists Trophy)
Maximum 1000 words. A Short Story suitable for 8-12 year olds. Theme – Inspired by a Folk Tale
Adjudicator: Paul Bristow
Submission Date: Wednesday 9th February 2022
8. Scottish Article (JR & CH Mair Quaich Trophy)
1200 – 1500 words. Open Theme.
Adjudicator: Sergio Burns
Submission Date: Wednesday 2nd March 2022
9. Women’s Magazine Short Story (Women’s Magazine Short Story Trophy)
1500 – 2000 words. Open Theme.
Adjudicator: Kate Blackadder
Submission Date: Wednesday 16th March 2022
10. Flash Fiction (Leigh Trophy)
200 – 250 words. Theme – Fifty
Adjudicator: Wanda McGregor, Angus Writing Circle
Submission Date: Wednesday 30th March 2022