It felt eerily strange to be back on a Zoom meeting without it being a lockdown situation, but for the purpose of the Drabble Competition Night, it worked perfectly. Twenty tuned in (3 adjudicators, 16 existing members and a new potential member, Natalie). There weren’t many technical issues, initially anyway, for those not used to this platform.
Nigel introduced the three adjudicators for the live Drabble Competition, all Scottish Association of Writers (SAW) committee members – Wendy Jones, Janice Johnston, and Susan McVey. Maggie M decided on the running order of the night and eight people had prepared a Drabble of exactly 100 words on the theme of “Ambiguity”. Fiona A’s business “Little Bundle Box” sponsored the competition and donated a trophy for the winner.
It was decided there would be a first, second and third place. Everyone read their entry twice to give us all a chance to digest, and this was the fairest way to do it, rather than some perhaps having an advantage by having it on screen.
Throats cleared, glasses on ……
Laura started us off with a piece called “Shoes” describing their glass heels, worn by someone perhaps successful, beautiful but that the story of the feet that wore them was still to come.
Next, Matt read out his piece entitled “Between Quiet and Quarrel,” about the fallen in the military and those mourning them.
Nigel read out “Dancing a Polka on a Pinhead” which was dialogue between two people interpreting a situation very differently, one very offended, the other refuting that any offence had been committed.
Maggie B’s “Always Check Before Pressing Send” had us wondering where the all-important question mark was.
Marion read out “Monday Night Weigh-In” with reference to Slimming World, cheat days and the character Thin Lizzy.
My own drabble was entitled “Knees”, about the outcome of a telephone conversation between a mother and her daughter.
Next, Maggie M read “A Confusion of Super Heroes” where Batman was really Robin!
Lastly, Gavin read “The Dreichit Depths” set in a boat, on a calm, true blue sea that did not seem peaceful.
A third and final read out of all the pieces was requested before Judgement Time. Unable to set up a breakout room, a problem-solving exercise was successful, and the adjudicators left the Zoom meeting to discuss and deliberate in their own pow-wow while we had a coffee break.
On reconvening, the results were revealed – in third place, Maggie Morton. The comments were that her drabble made the adjudicators laugh, they enjoyed the juxtaposition, language and described the piece as light and entertaining.
In second place was Marion. The adjudicators also found this funny, and Wendy revealed that her first single was Thin Lizzy’s “Whisky In the Jar”. This, she said, did not influence her judgement!
And the winner, drum roll ……. Matt, for the second year running. His piece was described as touching, well written, powerful and had plenty of ‘show not tell’ which was a difficult task in 100 words.
Well done, Matt, Marion, and Maggie M. The adjudicators said their decision had been unanimous but that it had been a difficult one as every entry was worthy and “cut the mustard”.
Some tips and feedback were that in a drabble every word count, and to try to avoid repetition as it can waste precious words. It was argued that some pieces were better served by being read out, but others might have been more effective if we had read them off the screen, but it was agreed at the outset not to do the latter for fairness.
It was a shorter than usual night and we were done before 9pm after Nigel reminded us there were only three club events left this session, culminating in the Annual Awards Dinner – a night for celebration and tuxedos AND to meet our new committee. Rather than wishing us a safe journey home, he asked us to take care and not fall down our stairs as some were on Zoom in their bedrooms!
An entertaining night and congratulations again to all the competitors and especially the winners.
Linda Hull