1. Book Review (Catherine Lang/Bioforce/A Vogel Trophy)
Min. 350 – Max 500 words. Any book published after January 2024.
Adjudicator: Nigel Ward
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 17th September 2025
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
For the first time, AWC will hold a Poetry Slam Competition on 15th October 2025. Entrants will be invited to perform their original work, with the audience deciding on the winning performance. A small prize will be awarded.
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 1st April 2026, and all entrants will read their drabbles, live, for a panel of guest adjudicators. There will be small prizes awarded on the night for this fun event.
Please contact the Competition Secretary if you have any queries – competitions@ayrwritersclub.co.uk
1. Book Review (Catherine Lang/Bioforce/A Vogel Trophy)
Min. 350 – Max 500 words. Any book published after January 2024.
Adjudicator: Nigel Ward
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 17th September 2025
2. Flash Fiction (Leigh Trophy)
Max. 250 words – Theme: The Forgotten Path
Adjudicator: Matt Richardson
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 2nd October 2025
3. Poetry (Marion Montgomery Award)
Min. 2000 – Max. 2500 words Theme: Open – Must contain a min. of six Scots or Doric words
Adjudicator: Lesley Benzie
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 15th October 2025
4. Non-Fiction Article (Cadis/Miller Trophy)
Min. 1200 words – Max. 1500 words. Theme: A landscape that defines home
Adjudicator: Stephen Rutt
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 12th November 2025
5. Novel Trophy
Max. 3000 word plus 3 paragraph synopsis Theme – Historical Fiction based on a real-life character
Adjudicator: Steven Veerapen
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 26th November 2025
6. Genre Short Story
Max. 2000 words.
Genre: Horror – Theme: open
Adjudicator: Lyndsey Croal
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 21st January 2026
7. Children’s Fiction (Scotland’s Artists Trophy)
Min.1000 – Max. 1500 words. Theme – Age Group: Young Adult – Theme: Beneath the Surface
Adjudicator: Ross Sayers
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 4th February 2026
8. Scottish Article (JR & CH Mair Quaich)
Min. 1200 – Max.1500 words. Theme: Open
Adjudicator: Chris Palmer
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 25th February 2026
9. General Short Story (Ellie Hamilton Trophy)
Min. 2000 – Max. 2500 words. Theme: Open
Adjudicator: TBC
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 11th March 2026
10. Drama (Ayrshire Chamber Trophy)
3-5 min. Script – Theme:A Secret Revealed
Adjudicator: Morag Fullerton
Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 1st April 2026
Live Competitions
1. Poetry Slam
Max. 30 lines – Theme Open – must be own work – Free to enter
Adjudicator – Audience vote
Presentation Date: Wednesday 15th October 2025
Small prize given on the evening – no points awarded towards awards.
2. Drabble
Exactly 100 words. Theme – To be announced 2 weeks prior to the live competition.
Small prize given on the evening – no points awarded towards awards.
Adjudicator: TBC
Presentation Date: Wednesday 1st April 2026