Writing award
Hertfordshire Creative Writing Award Winners Announced
Eighteen year old Natasha Fricker from Harpenden won a prize of £600 in the shortest short story and fifteen year old Laura Whetherly also from Harpenden won a prize of £2000 short story category in the University of Hertfordshire’s Creative Writing Awards - receiving each. Judges selected the winners from 200 entries from students aged fourteen to nineteen.
Natalie Fricker won her category with her story entitled ‘Goodbye Purple Skies’. Laura Whetherly won the first prize for her short story; ‘Our Father’, which traced the journey of a sailor on Columbus’s ship the Pinta. Jonathan Pinnock, a winner of the first University of Hertfordshire Creative Writing Award in 2007 attended the ceremony, and he said: “It’s great to see such talented young writers involved in the competition. Winning the University of Hertfordshire Writing Award back in 2007 spurred me on towards taking my writing seriously”. He is about to have his second book published and was recently announced as one of 3 winners of Salt Publishing's Scott Prize.
The twenty shortlisted writers attended a development day at the University, where they were taught how to improve their writing style before submitting their final pieces. The winning stories have been read to a public audience by professional actors Matt Broad, Syreeta Kumar and Jaqueline Roberts. The performances were directed by Janet Rawson of Twisted Events Presents.
Writing Award
Presented by the University of Hertfordshire …
The third UH Writing Award provides a valuable and unique opportunity. The enthusiasm and spark shown by the young people who have participated in the past awards has been infectious and inspiring for the audience, youth group leaders, teachers and school pupils. For many, participating in the Award is a once in a life time experience helping to improve their confidence and enthusiasm for writing.
The Writing Award short story competition is open to 14-19 year olds in the Eastern Region and any one in that age range who has applied to the University of Hertfordshire for 2011 entry.
Local schools may wish to take advantage of a range of workshops, and activities offered by the University.
Twenty contestants who submit the shortlisted entries will be invited to a development day at the University, to hone their skills and improve their stories.
They also will be invited to the presentation evening where the winning stories will be read by professional actors to an audience in the Weston Auditorium and the winning entries will be announced.
There are two categories to the award this year.
Category 1
The shortest short story which should be between 4 and 100 words. The aim of this story is to be as brief as possible. Examples are available in pack.
Prizes:
1st £600
2nd £300
3rd £150
Category 2
A short story which should be no longer than 2,000 words. Examples are available in pack.
Prizes:
1st £2,000
2nd £1000
3rd £500
Finalists in the Short Story Category
• Alicia Hempsted
• James Mottram
• Tayla Kenyon
• Laura Whetherly
• Sarah Callow
• Hannah Warley
• Katy Hyams
• Christopher Pearce
• Martin Coulter-Dunne
• Oscar Farley
• Aimee Ellam
• Harry Crabb
• Archie Guinchard
• Eleanor Trent
• Christopher Bennett
• George Allen
• Jenessa Williams
• Holly Pullinger
Finalists in the Shortest Short Story Category
• Dylan Clark
• Bethan Thomas
• Amy Whitby-Baker
• Abigail Smith
• Megan Steinberg
• Hannah Warley
• Rebecca Burge
• Natasha Fricker
• Oscar Farley
• Holly Pullinger
Support for teachers
Throughout the programme, you will have access to a range of specially designed online and paper materials, including a range of exercises to help you inspire your students to write.
You can arrange for your students to attend a special writing workshop, led by professional writers and lecturers. If your students are chosen as finalists they will have the opportunity to take part in a development day to refine their work.
Writing Award Entry Pack
Timings 2011
- Jan 2011 Workshops for students begin in schools - Contact J.E. Matthews for details (J.E.Matthews@herts.ac.uk).
- Friday 18th March 5.00pm Deadline for submissions
- Wednesday 27th April 2011 10am – 4pm The Development Day
- Monday 9th May 2011 Deadline for submission of final drafts
- Monday 6th June 2011 The Reading and Award Ceremony
At the end of the performance all finalists will receive a certificate.
More information
For more information contact, J.E.Matthews@herts.ac.uk
