I’m just back from the Scottish Association of Writers (SAW) 43rd annual conference at Erskine Bridge Hotel. And what a weekend it was!
Ayr Club was already celebrating Marion Montgomery’s success on winning the scholarship. Every year a different competition is chosen as the scholarship competition and the winner receives free accommodation for the weekend. This year, the competition was poetry – a poem of no more than 40 lines. The scholarship competition always attracts a large entry and this year there were 54 poems to be adjudicated.
After dinner we all met in the Kilpatrick suite to hear the first five adjudications.
The Constable Trophy – The Stag – is presented to the best first 10,000 to 15,000 words of a general novel plus synopsis. There were 17 novels submitted.
The Pitlochry Quaich is for the first 10,000 to 15,000 words of a crime novel plus synopsis. There were 5 entries for this competition.
T. C. Farries Trophy – The Crystal Thistle – is awarded to the winning first 7,000 words of a children’s novel plus synopsis. There were 5 entries for this competition. This was the next success for Ayr club. When they announced that the winner was Janice Johnston I nearly fell off my chair!
The drama competition changed this year. Instead of a full 45 minute, one act play they were looking for 5 -10 minute sketches. And the adjudicator had 26 to choose from. She picked 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4 commended pieces. Ayr club triumphed again with both Helena Sheridan and Catherine Lang being commended.
The final competition of the evening was the book review – between 350 and 600 words on a book of the reviewer’s choice. The club was thrilled when Jennifer West picked up 2nd prize in this competition.
Next, we had the evening speaker, the very talented Cathy McPhail. She entertained us with lots of ‘what ifs’ and where she’s found the best ideas for her 30 plus novels. I think we’ll all have to start doing school visits!
A packed night – but it wasn’t over yet. The top seven drama winners were asked to perform their sketches for our entertainment. This was the first time this had been tried and it was definitely a success. Helena and Catherine, along with the other prize winners, had us laughing and crying with their pieces.
And that was only the Friday night. I bet you can’t wait to hear about Saturday.
Janice Johnston