UIST BOOK FESTIVAL
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The Uist Book Festival exists to support the continuing development of the artistic and creative traditions of Uist and Benbecula. The Festival takes place from 17-24 November 2019, during the Scottish Book Trust’s Book Week Scotland. Uist Book Festival aims to be informal, friendly and inclusive, from the casual reader to the most avid bookworm.
às An Tobar 2019 Writing Competition winners
The winners for the Às an Tobar writing competition have now been chosen.
The adult prize winners of 2019 were:
The adult prize winners of 2019 were:
- Norman MacLean prize for Gaelic prose: Joan MacDonald, “Biadh an Dara Duine”
- Gaelic prose Highly Commended: Màiri E. NicLeòd, “Còmhradh”
- Normal MacLean prize for English prose: Heather Beaton, "Calum. The boy who blethered."
- Katharine Barr prize for English poetry: Finola Scott, "Amie Prays for Silence"
- English poetry Highly Commended: Catherine Eunson, "Sounding"
Às an Tobar 2018 writing competition winners
The winners for the Às an Tobar writing competition have now been chosen.
The adult prize winners of 2018 were:
The adult prize winners of 2018 were:
- Mòrag NicNèill (Gaelic poem): 'Sibhse aig a bheil Òige'
- Heather Beaton (English short story): 'The Tale of Finn and the First Uibhisteach'
- Finola Scott (English poem): 'Red-throated Fledglings'
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Adults
- Separate streams for poetry (no line limit) and for short stories (up to 3,000 words)
- Gàidhlig and English language streams
- Poetry: Katharine Barr Prize for Poetry (1 x £50 prize in each language stream)
- Short Story: Norman MacLean Prize for Short Story Writing (1 x £50 prize in each language stream)
- Authors may also be highly commended in each category (no cash prize)
- Judges: Pauline Prior-Pitt (English language poetry); TBC (English language short story writing); Mòrag Dhòmhnallach (Gaelic language poetry); Rosemary Ward (Gaelic language short story writing)
- Entry fee: £5 per entry
We all love a good blether – the chance to have a chat about something on our minds – and the Hebridean ceilidh is legendary for the opportunity it affords to tell a story (or two!), regardless of how tall or shaggy. And perhaps especially if they are tall or shaggy. A good blether can put a smile on our face, inspire us to greater achievements or help us feel that we are not alone; it can help us connect with the people and the world around us, make us feel included and valued, and give us a better sense of who we are and how we might better realise our hopes and dreams. That’s just our thoughts – we want to hear what ‘blether’ means to you and the characters in your stories.
Perhaps you have in mind some sort of a resolution to a situation, a new goal or fresh assessment of self, or of beliefs and aims. Perhaps that blether has outcomes that are not the ones that most immediately appear or which, perhaps temporarily, put your characters in some sort of jeopardy. Perhaps the blether takes the form of noises heard whispering in the wind, or a conversation with a fictitious character or, otherwise, with a well-known public figure, that encourages or motivates in some way those people who are involved with it.
Either way, take the opportunity to tell us a story about a ‘blether’; and, in the process, we invite you to have a good blether with us.
For some examples of poems and stories featuring a blether, see the Scottish Book Trust website.
Juniors
- Primary 1-3: Draw a picture of your favourite book and write a few words about it
- Primary 4-7: Write a short story of up to 500 words, or a piece of poetry, on the theme of blether
- Secondary: Write a short story of up to 500 words, or a piece of poetry, on the theme of blether
- Gàidhlig and English judged streams for Primary 4 through Secondary; single stream for Primary 1-3.
- £20 book voucher for winning entries in each age group and language stream (6 in all)
- Judges: Neil MacDonald (Primary 1-3 & Primary 4-7 Gaelic), Susan Jones (Primary 4-7 English, Secondary English) TBC (Secondary Gaelic)
- No entry fee
A ‘blether’ means having a chat with someone. It can be about anything you want. It can be about telling someone about something that is important to you – or it can be you listening while someone tells you about what is important to them.
You can have a blether with someone at school (a friend or a teacher, in the classroom or in the playground); in the home (with a friend, or a brother or sister, or parent or other older relative); and you can have a blether, kind of, with a pop star, sports star or even an international (super)hero. They might want you to sing in their group, play in their team or help them take on and defeat evil somewhere in the universe.
What did you say while you were having that blether? What about the person you were blethering with – did they hear you? What happened next and how did things change?
We’d like you to tell us about a blether you’ve had with someone. You can write a short story about it or a piece of poetry. If you’re a bit younger (if you’re in a primary class at school), you can paint us a picture of a book you liked. In that book you liked, how did everyone talk to each other?
A blether can be real, or you can make it-up; it can be about you – or it can be about someone else entirely. In telling us about it, or painting us your picture, be as imaginative and as colourful as you dare! Everyone has a good blether in them...
For some examples of poems and stories featuring a blether, see the Scottish Book Trust website.
Prizes
2 x £50 Katharine Barr prize for poetry (one in Gàidhlig, one English)
2 x £50 Norman MacLean prize for short story (one in Gàidhlig, one English)
6 x £20 book voucher for school competitions
2nd places Highly Commended.
2 x £50 Norman MacLean prize for short story (one in Gàidhlig, one English)
6 x £20 book voucher for school competitions
2nd places Highly Commended.
Important dates
- Entries accepted from: Sunday 1st September
- Competition closing date, by which all entries must be received: Monday 14th October (4pm)
- Winners notified directly on: Friday 8th November
- Public announcement made on the Uist Book Festival website on: Monday 11th November
Entry rules and submission
For entry rules and the submission form please download the appropriate PDF below:
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Your submission must also have enclosed the entry fee (if applicable). Cheque, cash, and card payment can be made in person at the Learning Centre. Cheques to be made out to Cothrom Limited.
Card payment can also be processed over the phone. For bank transfer details, email us on enquiries@cothrom.net or phone us on 01878 700910.
Entries can be submitted through email to enquiries@cothrom.net, by hand to the Learning Centre in Ormiclate, or through post to Cothrom Learning Centre, Ormiclate, HS8 5SA, South Uist.
Card payment can also be processed over the phone. For bank transfer details, email us on enquiries@cothrom.net or phone us on 01878 700910.
Entries can be submitted through email to enquiries@cothrom.net, by hand to the Learning Centre in Ormiclate, or through post to Cothrom Learning Centre, Ormiclate, HS8 5SA, South Uist.
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