{"id":14471,"date":"2022-04-29T08:25:00","date_gmt":"2022-04-28T22:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/?p=14471"},"modified":"2022-05-04T13:11:04","modified_gmt":"2022-05-04T03:11:04","slug":"northern-beaches-writers-competition-judges-report-artwordsproject","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/zenashapter.com\/blog\/northern-beaches-writers-competition-judges-report-artwordsproject\/","title":{"rendered":"Northern Beaches Writers\u2019 Competition \u2013 Judges\u2019 Report #ArtandWordsProject 2022"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/a>
Image: \u2018Magical Tree\u2019 by Liliarta Visions<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Wow, what an exciting month it\u2019s been reading all the entries for the inaugural Northern Beaches Writers\u2019 Competition! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the 2022 Northern Beaches \u2018Art & Words Project\u2019, the competition invited writers to submit both<\/em> a written entry of up to 2,500 words on the theme of \u2018tree\u2019, and<\/em> an image that reflected and enhanced that entry. Tree \u2013 tree of life, family tree, trees, tree network, tree diagram, decision tree \u2013 entries could be non-fiction, fiction, or fiction inspired by true events, all genres and styles were welcome, and the writers of Australia did not disappoint!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I read entries about bushfires, bushwalks, tree houses, tree escapes, dryads, fairies, horticulturalists, mythical trees, enchanted trees, symbolic trees, cultural trees, and even a future without trees. There were environmental tales, trees with significance to family and relationships, stories about the Covid-19 pandemic, cancer and grief. The trees themselves varied \u2013 cherry trees, Christmas trees, coconut, fig, flame, gum, ironbark, jacaranda, mandarin, mulberry, palm, pepper, sequoia, and more. There were insightful non-fiction accounts of trees, stories told from the perspective of trees, as well as engaging settings beside lakes, swimming pools, Scotland Island, Jindabyne, rural Australia, and\u2026 a cemetery!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Since the competition was supported by both myself and the Northern Beaches Writers\u2019 Group, each and every entry was read by a total of seven judges, reading completely blind \u2013 so for any entry to even make it onto the shortlist was a huge achievement. The creative standard was also extremely high, with entries from all over New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia, Victoria, the Australian Capital Territory, and Tasmania. I\u2019m so very proud of the results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Congratulations to everyone who entered, and of course the winners!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1st<\/sup> Place<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Flame Tree\u2019 by Lisa Cortez<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2nd<\/sup> Place (Joint Winners)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Agonis Flexuosa\u2019 by Rosanne Dingli
\u2018The Blood Tree\u2019 by Jennifer Nash<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Northern Beaches Commendation Award<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

\u2018It Won\u2019t Come When You Call It\u2019 by Caroline Sully<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my ever-patient husband and children for their continual encouragement of and interest in my endeavours advocating for inclusive creativity opportunities in my community. This competition took about 55 hours to arrange and judge, and I acknowledge and appreciate your support of that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Thank you also to the amazing judges who joined me in this quest, for your time, reliability and impressive dedication!<\/p>\n\n\n\n