Judges’ Comments – Dennis Flannery

This time last year we were acknowledging successful student writers and looking forward to the school holidays and the New Year.  None of us I believe could have anticipated the tumultuous year that we have had so far and how our lives have been changed for now and for years to come.

However this situation did not put our young writers off and the Judges have been ….now what would be an effective word here? ..’impressed’ (an OK word but it doesn’t capture our overall response) OR possibly ‘amazed’ or ‘overwhelmed’? Let us go with the Judges generally were ‘gobsmacked’ by the outstanding collection of entries by students in the 3 categories.

As you can see the English language provides us so many choices.

And so we are here this evening to celebrate and acknowledge these young writers.

I would like to take a short detour to consider the big question, ‘Why do writers write?’.

Why do Published Authors write?

A recent American Research Project asked over 100 published authors why do they write.  Here are a couple of replies. Perhaps our young writers and even older writers here this evening might relate to these replies: 

• ‘I think any writer will tell you that it’s a need that goes to the depths of a writer’s soul. At least it’s that way for me. It’s in my DNA. I can no sooner not write, than not breathe. It’s that simple.’
• ‘I have to write. My mind is filled with characters and curiosity. I’ve tried “not” writing off and on for years and I became a grouch with a capital G and very difficult to be around. I started writing in second grade, screenplays that were put on by the neighbourhood kids for our parents.’
• ‘I write because there’s something inside of me that wants to get out.’
• ‘I write because it is a way for me to release my emotions and innermost thoughts. When I’m upset, angry, depressed, anxious, or am feeling any other extreme emotion, I turn to my writing as a way to release it and unleash all the thoughts swarming around in my mind.’

Can you relate to these reasons for writing?

Probably for similar reasons to the ones mentioned and because you have something to say, a story to tell, a memory to save. But also I contend because you have a teacher, a friend and family members who encourage and support you to write.  But more on this later.

Here are some short excerpts from some of this year’s entries.

Your challenge is to identify the Year Group from which each piece come from:

‘Thirty-one percent and charging, that’s all the information that the phone, held firmly in front of David’s face, had to convey. Blue light spilled over his features as the grot covered ceiling lamps of the subway station tried their best to illuminate the filth infested benches near the timetables.’ (Yrs 7/8)

‘A gentle breeze shuffled through the long grasses and it was as if a thousand people had begun to whisper. The wind traced small ripples into the still surface of the lake, and the distant lilt of scarlet erythina trees was faintly perceptible. Overhead, the afternoon sky was relenting, as it began descending beneath Kigali’s jagged mountain peaks. The entire community had gathered in the clearing, and the air was heavy with anticipation.’ (Yrs 11/12)

‘Summer
I was ten when I learnt how to ride a bike.
I scored a G-shaped cut into my knee the first time I tried, so naturally I was terrified. I remember shaking all over as Dad clipped my knee pads into place, crying when I mounted the cherry-red bike I’d gotten for my birthday and laughing after I was pushed off.
It felt like flying.”’ (Yrs 9/10)

‘I glimpse the white lights, the flashing sirens; I feel the tightness in my chest. I try to breathe; my lungs contract. I try to talk; my throat screams. Mum is above me, her lips are moving, trying to tell me something; I can’t hear. She’s probably crying, or not; she never cared about me anyway.
I try to breathe, slowly this time, hoping only for a wisp of precious air. I retreat into my mind, searching for all the things I’d lost.’ (Year 7)

What did the Judges have to say?

Here is a selection of comments from the Judges’ feedback:

‘..thoughtful use of language, mature themes, unique ideas, and command of the genre.’

‘.. excellent descriptive writing and coherent narrative structure.

‘..impressed by the writer’s craft on display.’

‘..this year’s entries covered a broad range of harrowing and at times grim subject matter.’  (eg. Relationships, Families, Death, Genocide, Lost Love, War & Destruction, Seasonal Change)

‘..excellent use of language and imagery.’

‘..word selection and sentence construction were indicative of the maturity of senior student writers.’

‘A powerful narrative where the writer maintains the emotional intensity of the heart wrenching situation through evocative and descriptive language.’

‘The writing is vivid and engaging. Well crafted, creative and thought provoking.’’

‘This piece immediately engages the reader.  It is clever, imaginative and deceptively simple.’’

‘The heartbeat of a busy station is observed and captured through the progress of a mobile phone charging.’

‘The piece is a frightening expose of fear escalating out of control.’

‘When some commentators question the literacy skills of high school students these young writers prove them wrong.’

Special Mention

Special Mention must go out to the young writers’ families and teachers – these writers have been encouraged to write, have been given opportunities to write, have been supported through the writing process. And through Litlinks they have been given an opportunity for their works to be read more widely.

Their work will be available soon on the Litlinks website.

Thank you

Finally a special thank you to Roger and Maxeme from Paperchain Books Manuka – one of those bookshops where you can quite easily lose a couple of hours looking for a book (as well as spending a few dollars!!!).
Thank you for your ongoing support in enabling ACTATE through LITLINKS to highlight, promote and encourage young writers. Your support is much appreciated also I am sure by families and teachers and especially by the young writers themselves.

And now for a Special Presentation

Tonight we are presenting a special prize acknowledging a friend and colleague who died recently after a lengthy and courageous battle with CANCER.  She was too young.  Her incredible commitment and expertise in encouraging her students to write and also in supporting teachers to make a difference will be missed.

Viv’s family is here this evening: Tony Jeffery, her husband and daughters Claudine & Adeline.

I would like to invite Tony to come forward to present the Viviane Gerardu Writing Encouragement Award to Clare Russell from Campbell High School and say a few words.

Thank you.