Today was the deadline for entries to the 2000
word General Short Story Competition. These same stories can still be eligible
for entry to the March 2017 SAW Conference short story competition.
The theme for this meeting was set to coincide
with Halloween. As to be expected there were some truly terrible stories and
poetry. The President had to appeal for light relief at one stage.
Topics covered included illegal immigrants, guardian angels, smarties, death and dreams in many forms, Robin Hood, guisers, St Mungo's fish, Hieronymus Bosch, dementia, the Flintstones and the emotional roller coaster of spouses, families and cockatoos.
A massive seventeen pieces were read out and
still with time for comment and critique in between.
Had it been a competition between Dark 'n Gloomy
Rovers versus Light 'n Ridiculous United, the Rovers would probably have won 3
- 2 in extra time.
We were left to ponder; in these days of equal
opportunities, is it still correct for 'death' to always be portrayed in the
guise of a man?