erewash writers' competitions
Follow us on Twitter @EWGCompetition
  • Competitions
    • 2021 Free Entry SEASIDE Themed Writing Competition
    • Entry Form SEASIDE 2021
    • 2021 Open Short Story Competition with Helen Baggott
    • Entry Form Open Short Story Competition with Helen Baggott >
      • 2020 Free Entry Course Themed Writing Competition
      • 2020 Free Entry Festive Fright Themed Writing Competition
      • 2021 Free Entry Holiday Romance Themed Writing Competition
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • About our charity donations
    • Gallery
  • Privacy Policy
  • Winning Stories
    • Winning entries to Open Short Story Competition 2021
    • Winning Stories
    • Winner 2021 HOLIDAY ROMANCE
    • Winner 2021 COURSE comp
    • Winning Entries Summer Garden
    • Winners 2018 Open Short Story Competition with Helen Laycock
    • Winners 2018 Summer Garden free entry themed writing competition
    • Winners 2017 Open Short Story Competition with Anne Rainbow
    • Winner 2017 Pets Aplenty with Malcolm Welshman
    • Winners 2016 Open Short Story Competition with Patsy Collins
    • Winner 2016 New Writer Competition
    • Winners 2015 Open Short Story Competition with Simon Whaley
    • Winner 2015 Summer Loving with Andrew Campbell-Kearsey
    • Winner 2015 New Writer Competition
    • Winner 2015 Anecdote Competition with Maggie Cobbett
    • Winners 2015 Themed Flash Fiction with Shirley Haber
    • Winners 2014 Open Short Story Comp
    • Winner 2013 Open Short Story Comp - Helen Yendall (Open Cat)
    • Winner 2013 Open Short Story Comp - Eileen Holmes (New Writer Cat)
    • Winner 2012 Open Short Story Competition - Edna Forrest
    • Winner 2013 'START' Flash Fiction Comp - Tony Oswick
    • Winner 2012 'Creepy Christmas Chiller' Comp - Alyson Hilbourne (Adult Cat)
    • Winners 2012
    • Winner 2012 'Creepy Christmas Chiller' Comp - Alice Cattley (12-16 yrs Cat)
    • Winners 2013
    • Winning Entries for 'START' Flash Fiction Competition 2013
    • Previous Competitions Winners
    • 2017 BOOKS Themed Writing Competition >
      • Rachel Caine
      • Alison Baverstock
    • 2017 Open Short Story Competition with Anne Rainbow >
      • 2017 Entry Form
    • 2016 Competitions >
      • 2016 Open Short Story Competition with Patsy Collins
      • 2016 EWG New Writer Competition
    • 2015 New Writer Comp
    • Winners 2012 'Twin' Flash Fiction Comp - Anna Cullum and Shaun Avery
    • Winner 2013 'BURST' Flash Fiction Comp - Roger Woodcock
    • Winning entries for 'BURST' Flash Fiction Competition 2013
    • 2014 Open Short Story Competition with Malcolm Welshman
    • 2015 Flash Fiction with Shirley Harber
    • 2014 Flash Fiction with Maggie Cobbett
    • Winning entries 2014 Flash Fiction with Maggie Cobbett
    • Longlist, Shortlist and Winners 2013 Short Story Competition >
      • 2016 'Mum' Writing Competition Free Entry
      • 2015 ENTRY FORM New Writer Competition
      • 2015 Anecdote Comp with Maggie Cobbett
      • December Draw 2015
      • Previous winners
      • Winners - Second and Third Placed (Various comps)
      • 2013 'Full Stop' Short Story Competition - Helen Baggott >
        • Full Stop Comp - Judge's Report
        • Full Stop Comp - Winning Entry
      • 2013 Open Short Story Competition - Maria Smith
      • 2013 'Burst' Flash Fiction Competition
      • 2013 'Start' Flash Fiction Competition - Dan Purdue
      • 2012 Free entry Creepy Christmas Chiller
      • 2012 Free Entry Flash Fiction with Rosalie Warren
      • Archived info >
        • Latest News/Results
      • Open Short Story Competition 2012 with Keith 'Carrot Nappers' Large
      • 2015 Open Short Story Competition with Simon Whaley
      • 2015 Summer Loving Themed Short Story Competition with Andrew Campbell-Kearsey >
        • 2020 Free Entry Themed Writing Competition
      • Writing Courses >
        • Critique Service
        • Short Story Writing Course Local Classes
        • Previous competitions page still under construction >
          • 2018 Open Short Story Competition with Helen Laycock >
            • 2018 Entry Form Open Short Story Competition with Helen Laycock
          • 2018 Free Entry Themed Writing Competition >
            • 2018 Entry Form Free Entry Competition
          • 2017 Free Entry Themed Writing Competition >
            • 2017 Entry Form Live in the moment competition
          • 2017 Pets Aplenty Competition with Malcolm Welshman
        • new
  • Blog & Results
    • About Us
  • Twitter @EWGCompetition
  • New Page
Please find below a report by Helen Baggott, who judged our 2013 Full Stop Short Story Competition.
You can find more information about Helen on this page of our website 
 http://erewashwriterscompetition.weebly.com/2013-full-stop-short-story-competition---helen-baggott.html

or at Helen's website http://www.helenbaggott.co.uk/


You can download the original report here.
judges_report_-_full_stop_comp_2013.pdf
File Size: 16 kb
File Type: pdf
Download File

For some, a full stop indicated the end of something, but it can mean a
liberating experience, a release. 

It was clear that some writers had taken inspiration from that prompt, not
just slipped it in to their story to qualify. Those stories were most enjoyable
to read and it was obvious that great effort had been made to tell a tale,
create believable characters and leave me, the reader, in a different world –
albeit for the briefest of time. 

In third place: 

Beating the Bullet 

This was a poignant tale, but the writer didn’t drift off into
sentimentality. How would you deal with a limited life? Let it float away or
meet it head on? There was humour – tinged with pathos – and this made it an
ultimately uplifting read. It was worthy of its place on the shortlist and on
its second reading, still kept my full attention.   


In second place: 

Of Metro and Men 

A clever story, very clever. The writer created tension, polarised by the
enclosed setting. Whilst there was inevitability in its ending, I felt the
journey, literally, was well worth the fare.  


In first place: 

The Water’s Edge 

There were times when I was almost embarrassed to witness the obvious
unravelling of a life. This wasn’t a depressing tale, it was an intelligent
insight into obsession and wasted opportunities. The winning writer told a
life’s story in a few, short minutes, they created an intensity that almost
suffocated and pain that could be felt. Points weren’t laboured, there were no
heavy-handed clichés to get a message across – just a classic example of a
brilliantly executed piece of work. 

On its second read I was surprised at its brevity. I’d remembered love
affairs, holidays abroad, a promising career – and ultimately, that obsession
and the stopping of a life. To write a story that stays with the reader beyond
the closing sentence, weaving more thoughts through the imagination doesn’t
happen by chance – there wasn’t anything short about this story. 

What a pleasure to choose The Water’s Edge as the winner of this
competition.

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.