Oops! Writing Contest Goes Belly Up!

Many writers, aspiring and regularly published, have a fondness for entering writing competitions at some stage of their careers. This is often done as a 'test' of ability, or as a writing exercise. Being shortlisted or a winner looks good on a writing CV, will boost a reputation and in some instances such as, the Bridport Prize, can earn you as a writer a considerable sum of money and kudos.

No matter the field or genre you write in, there will be a competition somewhere, at any given time each year. But what happens when things go wrong, or come back and bite the hand of the organisers, as happened recently.

At my local writers group this week an author colleague - Kate Bousfield - told me about the Willesden Herald writing contest which sees to have gone belly up this year in spectacular fashion. This contest started out with the best of intentions and the final judging of the shortlist was to be carried out by Zadie Smith, herself a Willesden girl. Unfortunately the standard of entries was deemed not literary enough to anoint a winner. Taking this stance seems to have caused a 'hullabaloo' Kiran Desai would be proud of.

Everybody, including Uncle Tom, seems to have an opinion on the matter and blog posts litter the internet (e.g.) Some of the gossiping is over the top and picking out the sour grape posts could become a national sport. The Willesden Herald itself believes it has published the final word on the contest, although I very much doubt it. I do know however, that another well known Willesden luminary, the late great Alan Coren, is probably rolling in his grave with laughter.