SPC Writing Students Win Prestigious Awards
One of SPC's Writing Diploma students, Deanna Robertson, has been awarded 1st place in the nonfiction category of the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild short manuscript prizes. Furthermore, two students who took SPC's summer workshop with Seán Virgo have won in the short fiction category: Michele Yeager took first place and Peggy Worrell received third. Congratulations to all!
To view all winners please go to the Saskatchewan Writers' Guild website at http://www.skwriter.com/?s=abouttheswg&p=news&id=59
When commenting on Deanna's work, judge Joanne Arnott said, "The author presents a series of vignettes, couched in contemplations of aging in a social context and the potential for wisdom. Beginning with an unflattering portrait of a love-connection that breaches social distance, and moving steadily through three primary relationships (life-partner, father, mother), and the self, the stories are linked by a focus on the interplaying elements of intimacy and change. The deft parallels and recurrent looks at creativity, distance, and deep human connections left me with a resonant sense of what is important in life and the web of dynamic relationship that is the greater answer to the questions this author poses."
Armin Wiebe was the judge for Michele Yeager's work: ""Fences" is a marvelous mix of voice, character, authentic detail, and story. The initial situation rings true; the sense of place rings true; the conflict rings true; and the magical ending rings true. The writing flows smoothly, but is not so slick as to take the slightly raw edge off the narrator."
Armin Wiebe was also the judge for Peggy Worrell's work: ""Proudflesh" engages the reader with a gathering of commonplace details that create a brilliant surface that almost conceals the underlying depths of pain and the little bits of joy that nudge the main character back to a sense of self-worth."
