Writing Prize

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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 link

William 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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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