ORMSKIRK WRITERS' JO COWELL COMPETITION PRESENTATION EVENING. Dec 1st 2008.

Alison Chisolm, Judge of competion, said she found it both a privilege and a very responsible task to be chosen as our adjudicator and was very pleased to be back with friends in OWLS. She looked for 5 main elements when judging and they are as follows.

1. An inspired idea with originality.

2. Vivid concrete images.

3. Technical accomplishment

4. Thorough revision.

5. Ultra memorable.

She then read the 2 highly commended, one of whom came from Lytham.

3^rd was Roger Elkin Staffs. “Putting Graham in the picture”

2^nd was “Tea” by Anna Whitly from Cardiff

1^ST was our own Carol Fenlon with “Lithopedion.”

Carol was duly presented with cheque and shield and as it was also her birthday we sang to her.

After the tea/coffee break Alison read the shortlisted poems discussing and answering questions regarding why they hadn’t made the top 5.

Footnote. Jo Cowell Competition judges are never allowed to know any entrant's identity until after the winner has been proclaimed.

Networking Day

Here are a few pictures from the recent Networking Day in November where writing groups from all over the Northwest got together to listen to a speaker from NAWG, the National Association of Writing Groups, give some readings of their material and generally make contact with one another and have a natter.