No festival is complete without a writing contest and SLF is no exception.
We have two key contests:
- Write Up for High School students in the Upper Hunter
- Farmers’ Short Story
Write Up
One of our feature events, open to high school students across the Upper Hunter, ‘Write Up’ returns for the 2022 Festival.
We’re looking for Upper Hunter high school students who have the gift of the gab…but with a pen (or keyboard). Continuing our Storyline theme, we’d like to hear your story! Tell us about you, your family, and your connection to ‘your place’ here in the Upper Hunter.
How has the Hunter shaped you?
What has your experience been of life so far?
Share the highs and lows, your fears and aspirations, and most importantly, share a glimpse of YOU in your story
The writing competition is open to all high school students in the Upper Hunter and Muswellbrook LGA.
Entries are open now and will close at 11.59PM on 27 February, 2022.
Prizes worth $500.00. The winners will be announced 13 March at Scone Arts & Crafts.
Farmers’ Short Story
The short story writing competition is back bigger and better for 2022!
This year we are extending entries to the entire Upper Hunter electorate, and doubled the first prize to $1000.00.
This initiative forms part of our community outreach and is also an important nod to our literary links – Patrick White, Judith Wright, whose families were farmers in the Upper Hunter, and Barbara Baynton, born in Scone and noted for her short stories.
The farmers’ short story writing competition is open to any farmer – of any agricultural and primary production genre, be that herding sheep, raising tender steaks, producing the firmest tomatoes, abuzz with sweet honey-bees, brewing and distilling the nectar of the gods, or training the fastest racehorses in the country. We want to hear about your farming life here in the Upper Hunter. Your story can be heartfelt, tragic, funny, or a rambling narrative.
Tell us a story in 750 – 1500 words what it’s like living on the land. Stories that link to our theme of Storylines are especially encouraged.
Entries are open now and will close at 11.59PM on 27 February, 2022.
2020 Winner
Farmers’ Short Story writing competition winner and Merriwa local, Annie Rodgers, reads her winning story at the Bush Poets Breakfast.
