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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 17th 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 in recognition of their achievement.

Please contact the Competition Secretary if you have any queries – competitions@ayrwritersclub.co.uk

1.  Book Review (Catherine Lang Bioforce / A.Vogel Trophy)

350-500 words. Any book published after 1st January 2022.

Adjudicator: Nigel Ward

Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 27th September 2023

2. Drama / scriptwriting (Ayrshire Chamber Trophy)

10 minute script. Theme – Dramatic Monologue

Adjudicator: Alan Bissett

Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 11th October 2023

3. Scottish Article (JR & CH Mair Quaich)

1200 – 1500 words. Theme – Open

Adjudicator: Mary W Craig

Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 1st November 2023

4. Poetry (Marion Montgomery Award)

Maximum 30 lines. Theme – Lost and Found

Adjudicator: Gail Anderson 

Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 29th November 2023

5. Women’s Magazine Short Story Trophy

1500 – 2000 words. Theme – The Proof of the Pudding is in its Eating.

Adjudicator: Anne Stenhouse

Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 13th December 2023

6. General Short Story (Ellie Hamilton Trophy)

Maximum 2000 words. Theme – Open

Adjudicator: Michael Malone

Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 10th January 2024

7. Non-fiction Article (Elsie Miller & Jenny Cadas Trophy)

1200 – 1500 words. Theme – Coastal

Adjudicator: Gill Sherry

Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 24th January 2024

8. Children’s Fiction (Scotland’s Artists Trophy)

1st Chapter of a novel 8-11 years – 1000 words. Theme – Adventure

Adjudicator: Elizabeth McKay

Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 14th February 2024

9. Novel Trophy

2500 – 3000 words, plus 3 paragraph synopsis. Theme – Crime Novel

Adjudicator: Jonathan Whitelaw

Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 20th March 2024

10. Flash Fiction (Leigh Trophy)

225 – 250 words. Theme – Open

Adjudicator: Linda Brown & Carrie Watts

Submission Closing Date: Wednesday 3rd April 2024

11. Ayrshire Drabble (Little Bundle Box Trophy)

Exactly 100 words. Theme – will be announced two weeks prior to “live” event.

Adjudicator: Matt Richardson & Kirsty McClymont

Presentation Date: Wednesday 17th April 2024