Written for success

TWO local writers have been named among the winners in a record-breaking competition attracting creatives from across the country.

The Queenscliffe Literary Festival’s 2021 fictional writing competition gained more than 160 entries in its second year with committee member Pip May impressed by the high calibre of submissions.

“Last year we had about 50 entries and we were pretty happy about that but to receive more than 160 is very exciting,” she said.

Titled ‘Penned,’ the competition challenged writers of all ages and backgrounds to create a story with a beginning, middle and end, in precisely 50 words.

“This was an inclusive competition that anyone could enter,” she said.

“What was exciting was some teachers grabbed hold of this competition and suddenly we were getting entries from schools.”

The competition was split into two categories, under 18 and 18-110 years old, with members of the QLF committee allocating one winner from each.

An additional two writers won the popular vote which was conducted over the QLF Facebook page and decided on by members of the public.

Former Bellarine resident Kate Molloy took out the open competition with her story ‘Moonahs’ while the popular choice awards went to Grovedale resident Sue Valenta for her untitled story and Charlotte of Queenscliff with her story, ‘Rethink.’

“The popular choice saw a spirited campaign with hundreds of votes rolling in right until the deadline,” Ms May said.

“It is a lovely warm fuzzy feeling when there is a local winner.

“Sue told me after she had won that it was the first time she ever entered a writing competition while Charlotte is an artist, who is doing great thing in the community, so that is lovely to see.

“It is also wonderful to attract the attention of people outside of the Bellarine and Victoria, which is fantastic to get that reach.”

The competition forms part of the sixth Queenscliffe Literary Festival that takes part over three weekends each year.

The volunteer committee is now working to secure a new date to complete the third weekend of the festival after changing COVID-19 restrictions forced them to postpone.

Ms May said the committee is intending to deliver the final weekend this year with the same line-up of special guests.

“It is really gratifying to have such a fantastic festival that goes over three weekends and so many people attending with record numbers,” she said.

“Most people have held onto their tickets which is lovely to have faith in us to pull this off, after all we are a committee of volunteers.”