On
29 February, we all gathered with bated breath to hear the results of
our first competition of the year, a 2000-word short story,
incorporating the 'given phrase', “and then the whispering
started”. The judge was acclaimed local writer Alexandra Benedict
(or A K Benedict), whose latest thriller, 'Jonathan Dark or the
Evidence of Ghosts', has recently been published by Orion and is
receiving excellent reviews. Alexandra gave us all encouraging and
constructive feedback, praising our work for its array of convincing
characters, fluid narrative, clear structure and deft use of
language. She also gave useful suggestions on how to improve our
stories, e.g. by making sure that titles grab a reader's attention,
that details are selected carefully, that well-worn phrases are
avoided and that endings are strong. Alexandra then announced the
four winners: in first place was Maddie Blake's 'The Song of the
Tree', praised for its authentic dialogue and atmosphere of mystery
and yearning. 'The Song's Sake', by Elizabeth Allen noted for its
beautiful and assonance-rich language, was second. Sarah Corrie's
brave and honest 'Shut Up You Bitch Or the Neighbours Will Hear You'
was third, and 'This Won't Last' by Jill Fricker, with its original
point of view, was fourth.
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