Where else would you find a headlining trio of celebrated crime novelists, a creative scribble of writing workshops, Poetry X-Factor, Literary Bingo, a trophy table glittering with glory, a fiendishly difficult Literary Quiz, three non-fire-breathing Dragons and more than one hundred enthusiastic writers from all over the country ? Only at the Scottish Association of Writers Conference, held at the Westerwood Hotel, Cumbernauld over 20th -22nd March.
Fifteen AWC members immersed themselves in the jam-packed programme of events across a hectic weekend of creativity. Simon Brett, acclaimed and prolific cosy crime novelist entertained delegates with an entertaining talk, packed with anecdotes after Friday’s dinner. Crime author Marion Todd gave an insight into her police procedural novels and her writing experience on Saturday evening.
Marion hosted AWC’s President’s Party – the club’s traditional get-together before both dinners for a wee swally of wine – in her room and, by all accounts, everyone enjoyed themselves. I didn’t need Marion’s room number – I merely followed the sound of hilarity echoing along the long corridor.
Workshop topics included: Fantasy worldbuilding, humorous writing, speculative fiction, poetry, self-publishing, pitching to magazines, scriptwriting, children’s fiction and crafting compelling non-fiction. I attended Simon Brett’s ‘Controlling the Flow of Information,’ where the ‘master of cosy’ guided his class – with his trademark wry wit – through plotting a ‘cosy’ murder at a writers’ conference in a golf resort hotel! Conner McAleese brought energy and sharp insight to his workshop on Speculative Fiction – an imaginative session that sparked ideas.
Other events on the programme :
Literary Bingo – ‘Eyes down’- was I the only one waiting on Enid Blyton?
Poetry X-Factor – poetry performances from six talented poets including our own Maggie Bolton and Greta Yorke.
A BIG fundraising raffle.
The Literary Quiz tested everyone’s knowledge. (Just who was the protagonist in 1984?)
An Authors Q&A panel – entertaining, informative with especially lively discussion on the topic of AI.
Dragon’s Pen Competition – four brave writers pitched their novels in exactly 3 minutes to three expert Dragons – crime writers Alex Gray, Marion Todd, and author Anne Hamilton.
Of course, the eagerly awaited results of the SAW competitions were announced over the weekend, and four AWC members won 1st place, (as well achieving places in other categories.) Congratulations to:
Helena Sheridan – the Under 7s Story
Fiona Atchison – Flash Fiction
Susan McVey – General Article
Linda Brown – Humorous Short Story
Maggie Morton, (Commended Book Review & Under 7s Story), Fiona Atchison (2nd Under 7s Story), Matthew Richardson (2nd General Novel), Helena Sheridan (Highly Commended Drama Play), Susan McVey (3rd Speculative Fiction, Highly Commended Speculative Fiction and Highly Commended General Short Story), and Bernadette Wardrop (Commended Poetry), and Linda Brown (Commended General Novel), and Greta Yorke (Highly Commended Poetry). Huge well done to them and all our entrants.
AWC scored in the Drama, General Novel, Speculative Fiction, General Short Story, Poetry, and Book Review.
The winning trophies were presented at Saturday’s Gala Dinner.
Naturally our AWC night owls (you know who you are) congregated later in the bar for G&Ts, red wine and whiskies with some of the adjudicators.
The Conference closed on Sunday afternoon with a motivational address from Alex Gray, who spoke warmly about SAW’s role in her own writing journey. More than twenty years ago, at her very first SAW Conference, Alex won the Women’s Short Story competition. She left determined to win the Constable Stag trophy for a novel the following year – and did. Now, with more than twenty published crime novels, Alex’s story is certainly inspirational.
Susan and I drove back to Ayrshire buzzing with writing plans for the rest of the year.
I got home around 5pm, and by 8 o’clock was zonked out on the sofa – a sure sign of a fabulous weekend.
Linda Brown
Well done Ayr Writers! Gosh did you have a successful conference. Delighted to read about your many successes spread across the club from some of the ‘auld yins’ to many names new to me.
Success is certainly apparent in this wonderful writing club.
Keep up the good work and your superb reputation.
Regards