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Perth PH2 8EP
t: +44 (0)1738 477062
e:Local Studies
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27 Wilson Street,
Perth PH2 0EX
t: +44 (0)1738 643687
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William Soutar Writing Prize 2020
Culture Perth and Kinross would like to invite individuals to take part in their prestigious writing competition �The William Soutar Writing Prize� in 2020. This highly regarded writing competition attracts writers from across the globe to take part, as well as many local Perth and Kinross entrants.
This recent period of lockdown has left many feeling isolated. But we are not alone; we are collectively sharing a unique experience. The competition seeks to encourage entrants to write and perform creatively as a way to connect and share experiences. Culture Perth and Kinross would like to hear about the insights individuals had during lockdown, from realising a pet prefers an empty house in the daytime to the company of its owners, to an appreciation of kindness and getting to know the local community; Culture Perth and Kinross would like to hear what entrants experienced and learned during the lockdown.
Those who wish to take part should send us a short spoken-word video recording of no more than 90 seconds. The recorded piece can be poetry, story, or spoken performance, and should be written and performed by the competition entrant. Entries should be in English or Scots language. All video entries should be accompanied by a written transcript of the performance and completed entry form.
All submitted entries will be uploaded to Culture Perth and Kinross YouTube channel and we will invite members of the public to view and vote on which videos will be shortlisted for the judges. The competition always secures a high calibre of judge and this year is no exception with Asif Khan, Director at the Scottish Poetry Library, being secured to assess this year�s shortlisted entries and select a winner.
The Writing Prize this year will be open to two age groups, 17 and under and over 18�s, with a single winner in each category.
The William Soutar Writing Prize is free to enter and the closing date for entries is Friday 13th of November 2020.
For further information, entry forms, and competition rules see the website link below. Please note, the Friends of William Soutar Society is NOT involved in running the competition.
website linkWilliam Soutar Writing Prize 2018
Prize Winners
Announced as part of the Soutar Festival of Words at the AK Bell Library on Friday 26th April 2019, where competition judge Samuel Tongue presented the prizes.
| 1st Prize | |
| A | Matt Bryden |
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|
| 2nd Prize | |
| B | Julia Webb |
| Local Prize | |
| C | Roderick Manson |
| Highly Commended | |
| D | Ian Garbutt |
| E | Maria Isakova Bennett |
| F | Sheila Templeton |
| G | Sylvia Anne Telfer |
| Commended | |
| H | Carolyn Gillespie |
| I | Lauren Pope |
| J | Ruth Aylett |
All of the above poems will be available as an E-book through CPK libraries to read later this year. A special thanks to Aberdein Considine and the Gaelic Book Council for supporting the competition this year.
William Soutar Writing Prize 2016
Prize Winners
Announced as part of the Writers’ Day Programme at the AK Bell Library on Saturday 27th August, where competition judge Alex Gray and Culture Perth and Kinross Board member, Councillor Bob Band, presented the prizes.
| 1st Prize | |
| Delivery | Alistair Lawrie |
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|
| 2nd Prize | |
| Madeira Cake | Linda Menzies |
| Local Prize | |
| Souterrain | Sarah Isaac |
| Highly Commended | |
| Breathless | D R D Bruton |
| The Tree Surgeon's Tale | Lorna Dixon |
| Father | Sarah McLean |
| Commended | |
| The Hunt | Rachel Boak |
| It's Almost Time | Roddie McKenzie |
| A Soldier's Side | Sarah McLean |
| Please Do Not Touch the Ground | Grace McLennan |
| In the Mists of Time | Anne Orchardson |
| A New Life | Abigail Shepherd |
| Where Detective Inspectors Go On Holiday | Fiona Thackeray |
Winning entries, as well as a selection of the highly commended, commended and shortlisted stories will be published in ebook format, which will be available through the ebook section of the library webpage.
William Soutar Writing Prize 2015
Prize Winners
Announced as part of the Writers’ Day Programme at the AK Bell Library on Saturday 29th August, where competition judge John Glenday and Provost Liz Grant presented the prizes.
| 1st Prize | |
| Bulbs | Deborah Benson |
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|
| 2nd Prize | |
| This Year | Miranda Harris |
| Local Prize | |
| Jamie at the Piano | Jennie Turnbull |
| Highly Commended | |
| Santa Croce, Firenze | Fran Baillie |
| Fishing Pools | Alison Grant |
| An Overtaking | Joan Johnston |
| In the Blackhouse | Jon Plunkett |
| Iris | Elizabeth Rimmer |
| Commended | |
| Ploughing | Deborah Benson |
| Call | Sarah Marina Blake |
| In the Course of Conversation | Irene Evans |
| Swimming | Alison Grant |
| The Painter and his Son | Stephanie Green |
| It’s said there are a thousand stars for every grain of sand | Pippa Little |
| The Estuary 1914 | Jim Mackintosh |
| The Milesian Philosopher’s Tomb | Roderick Manson |
| Visiting Peploe | John C Robertson |
| Nae Hero Him | Jim Waite |
Winning entries, as well as a selection of the highly commended, commended and shortlisted stories will be published in ebook format, which will be available through the ebook section of the library webpage.
William Soutar Writing Prize 2014
Prize Winners
Announced as part of the Writers’ Day Programme at the AK Bell Library on Saturday 30th August, where competition judge Zoe Strachan presented the prizes.
| 1st Prize | |
| Birds Don�t Sing in the Dark | DRD Bruton |
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|
| 2nd Prize | |
| Treading Water | Catherine Turnbull |
| Local Prize | |
| Making Jam for Circus Folk | Fiona Thackeray |
| Highly Commended | |
| A Baker�s Son | LM Morgan |
| Commended | |
| Hardware | Sarah Isaac |
| Pinecones | Vicky Mackenzie |
| Shortlisted | |
| A Game of Shells | Alison Gray |
| An Understanding | Tracy Fells |
| I didn’t know till later, that it didn’t have to mean anything | Laura Tansley |
| Lone Wolf | Tracy Fells |
| Salt Stories | DRD Bruton |
Winning entries, as well as a selection of the highly commended, commended and shortlisted stories will be published in ebook format, which will be available through the ebook section of the library webpage.
William Soutar Writing Prize 2013
Prize Winners
Announced at the Writers’ Day on 31st August 2013, where competition judge Brian Johnstone and Provost of Perth and Kinross Council Liz Grant presented the prizes.
| 1st Prize | |
| Land Girls | Nikki Magennis |
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|
| 2nd Prize | |
| Sin Eater | Lynn Myint-Maung |
| Local Prize | |
| Trick Performed on Smeaton’s Bridge | Heather Reid |
| Highly Commended | |
| Miracles of Light | Polly Atkin |
| Landnam | Lindsay MacGregor |
| Christopher | Elizabeth Rimmer |
| The Sun Bathers | Roy Marshall |
| Commended | |
| Dust to Dust | Helen Addy |
| Le Chaos de Mour�ze | Jean Atkin |
| Quercus | Rosemary Badcoe |
| Leukin to Sea | John Brewster |
| The Waff | Ian Hunter |
| Spinning with Gravity | Nikki Magennis |
| Bearing South | Susan Mansfield |
William Soutar Writing Prize 2012
Prize Winners
Announced at the Writers’ Day on 25th August 2012:
| 1st Prize | |
| Tea at the Ritz | Diane Chorley |
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|
| 2nd Prize | |
| When Mozart steyed the nicht in Methil | John Brewster |
| Local Prize | |
| Fox’s Cabin | Joanne Bales |
| Commended | |
| Outlawed | Robin H. Rodger |
| Surgery | J.K. Fox |
| Annie’s Tale | Elizabeth M. Taylor |
| Bonny Peggy Alison | Mary Johnston |
| Thon muckle bonnet | Elizabeth M. Taylor |
William Soutar Writing Prize 2011
Prize Winners
Announced at the Writers’ Day on 26th March 2011:
| 1st Prize | |
| am aa din | John Brewster |
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|
| 2nd Prize | |
| Saddam Hussein�s Overbite Speaks Out | Josh Ekroy |
| 3rd Prize (and Local Prize) | |
| Joint winners: | |
| Scenario | Irene Evans |
| What Part of No�? | Heather Reid |
| Commended | |
| Wilfred Owen�s Last Letter | Roy Marshall |
| In Bed He Smells Like a Butcher | Heather Reid |
| East Neuk Storm | Vicky Paine |
| Mouche Volante | Sharon Black |
| Mad person in your temple | Deborah Trayhurn |
Membership of FoWSS is free, and you have the opportunity to organise or participate in projects designed to promote Soutar and his works. In addition, members receive an annual newsletter, notification of all FoWSS events and publications, and are invited to an annual Soutar Tea held at the Soutar House. Please use the Contact page if you would like to find out more about FoWSS.