As part of the Stockton & Darlington Line bicentenary celebrations, Darlington-based writing group Stop Write Hear is proud to present the Write on Track S&DR Bicentenary Writing Competition.
We’re looking for poetry, short stories and memoir pieces related in some way to trains and railways. These don’t need to be specifically about the Stockton & Darlington Railway - we just want to see a clear link to railways, tracks, trains within the work.
The competition is open to anyone living in the areas along the original 26-mile route of the 1825 trainline (see T&Cs for full list of postcodes) and is free to enter. All entrants are in with the chance to win a cash prize, as well as to have their work professionally recorded, to perform it at the awards ceremony, and to have it displayed at stations along the S&DR.
We believe everyone has a story to tell, and encourage everyone from seasoned writers to those just finding their voice to submit their work. With three categories - poetry, short story and memoir - there’s something for everyone, and we can’t wait to see the talent we know this region has to offer!
Entry deadline: midnight, 15th Dec 2024
CATEGORIES AND PRIZES
SHORT STORY
Maximum 2,000 words (no minimum)
You may submit only one story
PRIZES:
1st prize: £200
2nd prize: £150
3rd prize: £100
2x highly commended: £50
POETRY
Maximum 40 lines per poem
You may submit up to three poems
PRIZES:
1st prize: £200
2nd prize: £150
3rd prize: £100
2x highly commended: £50
MEMOIR
Maximum 2,000 words (no minimum).
You may submit only one memoir piece
PRIZES:
1st prize: £200
2nd prize: £150
3rd prize: £100
2x highly commended: £50
Winners, runners up and selected entrants will also have the opportunity to perform their work, have it recorded, and have it published, as well as displayed in train stations along the original S&DR route.
This competition and its corresponding events are a project by Stop Write Hear, and have been made possible with the support of Tracks Darlington, and through funding from S&DR Heritage and Community Fund, Bishop Line Community Fund and Creative Darlington.
