Speakeasy Competition 2009

Speakeasy Open Creative Writing Competition 2009

JUDGES REPORT

The economic climate has a lot to do with the low number of writers entering this year. A total of 68 short stories and just 44 poems from a grand total of 59 people.

Nevertheless, the standard was generally quite good. I was rather disappointed in standards of presentation.

There were poor photo-copies with some of the letters missing from the right hand side. Many entries put two people speaking on the same line. Some entries were in very small type font and several more were rather dog-eared.

All this makes me wonder why people bother to send in their work. Surely the reason you enter a competition is to put your work up against other writers. If everyone presents their finest efforts and sticks to the entry rules then their work will be judged entirely on its merits. Which, I would think, is why people enter in the first place?


But now to the winners

SHORT STORY

1st prize ‘An ugly way to go’ by Iain Pattison.
Iain tells a tale of subversive ‘Che Guervra’ figure in a Southern American nameless country. The scene is set at his execution by firing squad. An odd setting for a comic story but somehow it worked. It was well written and has some delightful cameos of his past life. A true ‘twist in the tale’ story which had me laughing out loud. A worthy winner.

2nd Prize ‘The Money’ by Peter Birkett.
The story takes place on a ramshackle remote farm somewhere ‘up north’. Some delightful dodgy family members with probably one brain cell between them and their long suffering mother/wife. Stolen money and many daydreams leaves the reader in a quandary – should the money be returned/given over to the police/or spent? This could be straight out of Emmerdale. I’ll leave you to read the story to find out.

3rd Prize ‘The Stationmaster’s Daughter’ by Catherine Edmunds.
A chilling tale of abuse of a girl/young woman, violence and revenge well told from the woman’s perspective. Another story set ‘up north’ amongst railways and farmland. Read and shivers will run up and down your spine.

Highly Commended ‘Simply looks like fun’ by Andrew Campbell-Kearsey.
A lovely story with some glorious undertones that change a pompous set in his ways, man. Lovely descriptions of the beach barbeque.

Highly Commended ‘The Well at Wilentrap’ by Michael Lloyd
This is a very unusual story and I really liked it. Set in another country Michael made the story come to life.

POETRY

1st prize ‘The cake plate’ by Noel Williams.
Noels poem took me there. I saw the things mentioned. I felt the experience. An emotive poem worthy of the first prize.

2nd prize ‘The chocolate song’ by Lyn Rivers.
Such a funny poem – the rhymes and double rhymes were marvellous, and to manage to get so many famous brands into the work was no mean effort. I counted 13 plus some non-branded treats (oh no, she’s got me at it now!)
OK, it’s a funny poem but take another look at it. The rhythm is superb and it tells a story. Certainly a worthy second prize.

3rd prize ‘May day’ by Patricia Krebs.
Another wonderfully evocative poem that takes the reader to shoreline. Patricia makes the reader breathe in the salty air. ‘the sea, such an aching blue, looks good enough to drown in’ – what a line?

Highly Commended ‘Estival day’ by Patricia Krebs.
I first read this poem quite separately from Patricia’s 3rd prize poem. Again, the sheer emotion of this work really had me being there, enjoying the time with the poet. I predict the poetry world will be reading a lot more from this lady.

Highly Commended ‘Took opium – saw elephant’ by Steve Allen.
A fantasy or reality? Let the reader chose. A well crafted work cleverly written. I really liked Steve’s ‘laid back’ style.

Highly Commended ‘The cow that liked me’ by Rebecca Cockburn.
Rebecca takes us on a pleasant ramble in the country-side. Her observations are a delight. Noting the puffing schoolboys and the sheepish schoolgirls, she takes us onwards over potholed crumbly mud into the cow field. Marvellous. I’m off to wax my walking boots!

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