They’ve Got The Power: Winners And Finalists Announced

Stories in our latest ‘Wild Atlantic Writing Awards’ (WAWA) on the theme of ‘power’ proved to be both wide-ranging in terms of characters, plot and location, as well as highly engaging as reading entertainment. 

We at ‘Ireland Writing Retreat’ want to thank each and every person who submitted a story. It takes both discipline and emotional and intellectual energy to complete any story, and bravery to show it to someone else for judgement. 

In this respect, you are all winners, so be proud of yourself for taking the plunge. Writing and re-writing is the only way to improve your story-telling skills, and keep the mind active.

As judges will tell you, choosing finalists, not to mention the ultimate winners in any writing competition is never easy, reading pleasure and appreciation being so subjective.

With that in mind, please read below the first of two stories announcing finalists in both our flash fiction and creative nonfiction categories. And the ultimate winners in each category who will receive 500 euro in cash, or 1,000 euro off any of our writing retreats this year. 

To acknowledge the hard work of all finalists, we’re delighted to announce a 10 per cent discount to any of our writing retreats this year, which amounts to 265 euro.

Please find below a summary of the entries in the creative nonfiction category with reference to different aspects of the stories received. We hope this can help act as a guide to you as you continue your writing journey.

Part One: Creative Non-fiction Finalists and Winner

by Kathleen Shine Cain, Ph.D.

Member of the judging panel

What do a luxury hotel, a maternity ward, a playground, an art gallery, a schoolroom, and a boat have in common? All are settings for the demonstration of power, of course! 

Creative nonfiction entries in this edition of the Wild Atlantic Writing Awards reveal not only that power can be found in the  most unlikely places, but also that it can be wielded by the most unlikely characters. A grieving widow finds inner strength in the simple act of returning a lost ball to a group of children; an elderly sailor discovers that he can survive a brutal storm; a despairing mother abandons a suicide attempt because of her love for her child.

In some cases, those who are overpowered submit willingly, as with the art patron who absorbs the impact of a transformational painting, or the swimmer who trusts the natural forces beyond her control. And in others, power is shared, as with a devoted family acting together to support a dying matriarch.  

Power can surely be abused, but it can also backfire: An abusive husband controls his wife, but she bides her time until she decides that it’s time to escape. A schoolmaster belittles his students while teaching them chess, but two of those students ultimately put him in checkmate. Authorities insist that a new young mother must fill in the birth certificate blank for father’s name, and she does just that—with a “firm, long line.”  

The best nonfiction avoids lengthy introductions in favor of short opening paragraphs - in one case, a four-word sentence. Descriptions are brief, punchy, and not over explained. These writers employ vivid images: In one piece, a discarded wig transforms into a dead animal lying on a sofa. In another, cancer becomes “a rampaging bundle of tiny cells.” Yet another characterizes raindrops beating on boat’s cockpit as “a mini artillery barrage.”  

These pieces of creative nonfiction may feature different locales, varied situations, and a variety of characters. What they all share, though, is easy to see: power! 

Finalists for the Creative Nonfiction Category of WAWA on the theme of 'Power' are: 

Anne Howkins with ‘When You’re High as a Kite Forgiving Comes Easy,’ Annette Vaucansonn Kelly with ‘Earthbound,’ Jacqui Kelly with ‘Transference,’ Jane Gormley with ‘Mother / Mathair,’ Kieran Hayes with ‘King’s Gambit,’ Norman Rosolen with ‘The Black Clouds,’ Sophie Olszowski with ‘Honouring you, Mr Ox,’ Stephanie McLaughlin with ‘The Massacre of the Innocents- Léon Cogniet,’ Tess Wobbe with ‘Strangle’ and Thady Nealon with ‘In His Time.’

And the Winner is: 

Jane Gormley with ‘Mother / Mathair’

You can also avail of our special discount to have your stories edited by authors who will help you improve your work so it has an even better chance of winning future competitions. See details below. 

Part two of this WAWA announcement - finalists and winner of the flash fiction category - will be published soon. To be the first to find out, become a Friend of Ireland Writing Retreat (it's free).