Challenge Reading
4.6.09: Deal, Durban or Down Under?
Vivid settings are crucial in
creative writing. They can bring the ‘action’ alive, act as a mirror reflecting
the writer or main character’s emotions or play an active part by influencing
the story. Our June challenge was to write a piece in which the location really
comes to life. It seemed to appeal to our members as we had sixteen entries,
all written to a high standard, and the widest variety of pieces we've ever had
submitted - short stories, poems, non-fiction stories, non-fiction,
experimental prose poetry and an excerpt from a novel. Locations ranged from
Japan to Germany to the Grand Canyon to inside someone’s head.
The winners were:
First: Stuart Groom Praying for Clouds
This non-fiction story, a vivid
description of a visit to the Grand Canyon, was a worthy winner. Stuart had
chosen an impressive setting and captured the drama and danger of the place. We
saw the dawn painting the sides of the Canyon from the top down as the sun rose
and went back through time as we walked down past the various geological
layers. Skinny dipping in the Colorado River, bring it on!
Joint
Second: Gary Studley 'Bingo Hall' An experimental prose poem with an
innovative structure, alternating paragraphs describing the past and present
history of Deal’s old Bingo Hall, Gary’s entry delighted with the sheer
exuberance and inventiveness of its language.
.
Lorraine Lloyd
‘The Detainee’ Lorraine’s story was clearly plotted and beautifully realized. It
conveyed a sense of bleakness and claustrophobia that reached out and grabbed
the reader as the delicate relationship between her two characters unfolded.
My congratulations not only to the three winners but to all who took part on producing some excellent work. Marilyn Donovan