Barnsley Young Writers, our in-house group for 14 – 19 year olds with a passion for creative writing, meet twice monthly to develop their talents with professional writers and often get mentored for entering national competitions. Most recently, members of the group submitted entries to the annual Hive Young Writers Competition.
Last week Hive Young Writers announced the winners of the competitions, which was judged by writers David Swann (Short Story & Flash Fiction) and Suzannah Evans (Poetry). Hundreds of young writers aged 14 to 30 from across the north and midlands submitted work spanning short story, flash fiction and poetry. A huge congratulations to all winning and commended writers.
We are extra excited because a number of young people from Barnsley Young Writers were placed either Highly Commended or Commended in the 17-19 Category. Here is what the judges said;
Highly Commended (17-19)
Weaving Worries – Sofie Stothers
“The iterative questions of this poem mimic worry in themselves, whilst also playing with more surreal structures and ideas.”
Your Hair Aged Six – Izzy Whiston
“A powerful poem of loss, and a beautifully drawn portrait of a life. The poem’s structure, returning to something as mundane as hair over a larger timeframe, grounds the reader in the real and means that when the loss is revealed, it’s incredibly impactful.”
Village Christmas – Laurie Smith
“This idyllic Christmas poem is perfectly paced as it reveals its sadness and longing.”
Commended (17-19)
In Your Living Room – Jason Parker
“A moving meditation about those we’ve known and the lives they lived before us. Reminiscent of Carol Ann Duffy’s great poem ‘Not Yet My Mother’.”
A List for My Senses – Sofie Stothers“A sensory list that almost acts as a calming reminder in itself; the details and specifics are what make this poem feel real to the reader.”
You can see all winners and commended placings at www.hivesouthyorkshire.com
The top three winning entries in each category will receive professional feedback & editing support and will be published in the next Hive Young Writers’ print anthology.
