The Scottish Association of Writers (SAW) Conference offers the opportunity to learn a little more about the craft of writing, during a weekend programme of workshops, delivered by the country’s foremost writers in their fields.
It is also a chance for Scotland’s writing club members, nation-wide, to compete for the coveted trophies and prize-winning places, in the competitions.
Here are the detailed results, with the adjudicators’ comments.
CRIME NOVEL – Pitlochry Quaich (open) – ADJUDICATOR: Stella Oni
I was so impressed by the quality of writing for this prize. I was looking for originality. I was looking at character, plot, theme. And that the language was flawless.
Highly Commended – Linda Brown, Broken Memories – A well written and engaging novel that tackles sensitive subjects extremely well.
Commended – Susan McVey, The Blood of the Lamb – A wonderful novel opening that I’d like to read more of.
Commended – Linda Brown, Opening Pandora’s Box – The pacing is fast in this novel. It delivers from the first page and continues throughout the whole story.
YOUNG ADULT NOVEL – Silver Thistle – ADJUDICATOR: Caroline Dunford
This is a difficult category to write for. Young adult books need passion in them, and they need to be relatable.
Everyone put their heart and soul into their writing. They were all imaginative, all different, and all had links to what young adults are interested in.
I looked for good writing of the type that I thought would capture a young mind. I looked for dialogue that would work well for today. And I looked for the unexpected, things that take your breath away.
Second – Susan McVey, Resurrection – This work goes somewhere very dark. Imagine you’ve killed one of your peers in childhood, and, six years later, just when you feel like you’ve got away with it, that person turns up. And no one knows why.
DRAMA – Helensburgh Shield (open) – ADJUDICATOR: Fay Rowland
I loved the creativity and the variety of all the entries. I’ve laughed, cringed in fear, and I’ve cried. So many well-observed characters from every single piece.
Third – Alan Boyd, I. Me. Rona Magee – This was an examination of the expectations that society places on women. There are two perspectives, one with no dialogue at all – just silence. We have an anti-hero and we have a sniffle-making ending. There’s excellent characterisation throughout.
UNDER 7s SHORT STORY – ADJUDICATOR: Maggie Bolton
I enjoyed all of the stories, they were so varied. So many interesting characters and situations. I was looking for a book that can be read to children, one that had a good flow, and gave the illustrator something to work with. It was so very difficult to choose between the entries.
First – Greta Yorke, The Prickle Picker – I loved this one and I’d like to illustrate it. It’s a story of a mischievous fox that tries to frighten all the younger animals. And it’s got a great tongue-twister of a title.
Second – Marion Husband, Is This the Way to Brodie Castle? – This was a nice Scottish geography lesson, as we travelled through the story with a little boy, meeting all the nice people along the way. It was delightful.
FLASH FICTION – SAW Council Trophy – ADJUDICATOR: Women Who Write With Elves
There were 48 entries to this competition, and I read each one of them seven or eight times. I looked for skilled use of language, good grammar, spelling. I also wanted to think about characterisation, and, in 250 words, that’s a magic skill that so many people succeeded in.
I had a marking system. Out of the 48 pieces of fiction, six entries received full marks – it was so difficult to choose between them, and so, in the end, I chose the ones that made the biggest impact on me.
Highly Commended – Nigel Ward, A Thespian Captured in Print – What a great idea this one was. Ingenious. A series of newspaper plots, what a clever story. Really nice. Thank you for letting me read it.
WOMAN’S SHORT STORY – Margaret McConnell Trophy – ADJUDICATOR: Sandra Ireland
It was a great pleasure to read these entries. Each story was like a personal companion. The standard was extremely high.
I awarded points for six judging categories, this helped me to be a bit more objective in making my decisions. I was interested in theme and originality – was I given a new window on an old subject? What was the setting? Did the story allow me to think differently – I liked female characters that had energy and a presence of mind, ones that I could root for. How was the writing style? (everyone got good marks for style). And was the ending satisfying for me?
Third – Nigel Ward, Into a Different Country – A great tale, so timely and fresh. It had the voice of an aspirational woman which I very much enjoyed.
Highly Commended – Linda Brown, No Chatty Cathy for Katie – I felt like I was in safe hands with this story. I was transported back to years ago. A feel-good tale. It was like a warm hug.
SELF-PUBLISHED BOOK – Barbara Hammond Trophy – ADJUDICATOR: Dawn Brookes (The adjudicator wasn’t able to make the weekend, due to unforeseen circumstances.)
Second – Greta Yorke, Halloween Quest
BOOK REVIEW – May Marshall Silver Book Trophy (open) – ADJUDICATOR: Eastwood Writers
We were struck by the high standard of entries, and we deliberated so much. All entrants should be proud and are to be congratulated.
First – Chris Palmer, The Moth and the Mountain
GENERAL ARTICLE – Alistair Walker Trophy (open) – ADJUDICATOR: Mary Craig
Forty-three articles, and not a stinker amongst them. And I have been extremely picky. As an editor, I can tell you that you always need to pass the troll at the entrance gate, and the only way to do that is with a really good article – honest writing that runs free – which is what I got. It was a privilege to read them.
First – Nigel Ward, A Glen’s Silent Call – A very brave writer – they wrote a whole article endorsing the merits of not-reading. It was a plea for us to look and listen to the stories that the landscapes have for us. Nature itself tells a story, and we should all listen.
Highly Commended – Ann Burnett, Naked Lobsters and Corrugated Bottoms – A beautiful article written, self-deprecatingly, of holidays. I laughed along with the author, enjoying the whole journey.
Commended – Marion Husband, African Blackwood – Beautifully written, the narrative flowed back and forth. It took me back to my childhood holidays. A gently written article, so refreshing. What a lovely ending, it took me by surprise.
GENERAL SHORT STORY – John Severn Inkwell – ADJUDICATOR: Catherine Czerkawska
All of the thirty-six entries were extremely varied and original, of a very high standard. So many of the stories were a little bit grim in their theme, so I have to say that, for me, the ones that were amusing, as well as well-written, did stand out.
Short story writing isn’t the easiest form to work in, they are extremely hard to do. Yet, throughout the whole range of entries, there were some wonderful, highly imaginative stories which I enjoyed reading very much – if your critique is short, it means you don’t really need to do much to it. Those that went on to be placed were very good indeed.
Commended – Nigel Ward, Outsiders – This one stayed with me. I really wanted it to be something longer, but it stands alone. The setting and the characters are weird and wonderful.