HAMMOND HOUSE 2023/4

Well, what can I say?

I'd been thinking for a long time about whether (and how) to get my work 'out there' and after a couple of Courses at the University Centre Grimsby (one in Scriptwriting, something I've never done at all before) and then a generic course on 'Creative Writing' (both were evening courses), I thought I'd actually get of my behind and give it a go.

I entered the following categories for the Hammond House International Literary Prize:

Performed Song
Poem (under 40 lines)
Short Story
Song Lyrics

In fact, the only one I didn't go in for was the Short Script as I didn't have time (or an idea) what to write for one!

Now, this International Prize garners entries from over 30 countries and has been in existence for over 5 years and grows year by year. I wrote one set of lyrics, entered a song of ours ('Prison Rain') and created a bespoke story that I was very happy with. Several poems were also entered and everything was set to a theme - 'Fate'.

I had to look at poems that would fit into that wide topic and found some that I thought were worth an entry. I then sat down and came up with an idea for a short story which was incredibly interesting and enjoyable. The title was 'Timing' and it was on the limit of 5,000 words. It had been a while since I'd written something new so that in itself was deeply rewarding.

Of course, even though I was very happy with it, it didn't 'do' anything in the competition but I wasn't (that) downhearted) and felt I'd created something to be proud of. After all, a thing to remember about anything you create is that a person's reaction will be entirely subjective. It either connects or it doesn't. It might even connect on one day but not another, you might have your work seen by the 'right' judge or someone who will never 'get' your work.

It doesn't mean your work is unworthy, just that it wasn't what was looked for on that occasion. Such is life (as Kurt Vonnegut sort of wrote). As usual nowadays, I got the timing of the publication of the shortlists for all categories wrong and spent a few weeks thinking I really wasn't good enough as none of my entries had 'done' anything.

Then one day a fellow writer from one of the courses sent me a message on 'WhatsUp' and congratulated me on my being shortlisted for a poem and a song. I was washed away with pleasure and amazement at the same time. I was even more surprised to realise after a short while that two of my poems had been shortlisted!

Anyway, late February 2024 saw the awards ceremony event to which I was invited and it was a great day. I met some lovely people (a couple of artists that were running a stall around the Louth Portrait Group (held in a Gallery at Spout Yard where Lisa used to Volunteer) and had a great experience.  

 The experience was enhanced for me when we won the Third prize for recorded song for 'Prison Rain' which was immense. I knew we got that as it was announced before, but I wasn't expecting an award for being Shortlisted for my poetry!

It was incredibly tiring and it washed me out for days after, but it was so much fun and fired my enthusiasm for doing it again. Although the concern is that I'll not reach the same level of success next time - but that's a worry in the future!

Thanks for reading this, keep being nice to each other.

​Alan