The Circle has long helped build writing skills. It’s one of the best things about being a member of a writing group, to give and receive feedback to hone the craft. 2020 saw many of our members win prizes and/or be included in anthologies, so we thought we would add a ‘brag’ page to our website.

Competition winners 2020

Gemma Al-Khayat 

The Fresher Prize: Shortlisted  title The Inconceivable. 

Gloucestershire Writers : Long-listed  title  My Favourite Husband

My Favourite Husband is being published in an anthology called ‘Wrong Way, Turn Back’ by Pure Slush.

HG Wells prize: Short listed, results 22 November and will be published in an anthology

Retreat West Microfiction competition (October). Longlisted title  Oculus Rift  

Cheryl  Burman (Mayo)

Graffiti Magazine Annual Short Story March 2020 Runner-up title  The Moon’s Silver Path Published October 2020)

Flash 500 Quarterly Flash Fiction June 2020 Longlisted title  1941

Secret Attic Monthly Short Story August 2020. Winner & Published in Booklet 4 Title: Sabrina’s Rising (also to be published in Resilience anthology)

Historical Writers Association Annual Short Story September 2020 Longlisted  title The Making of a Wise Woman

Ottery St Mary Writers Short Story Competition September 2020 First Prize Title  Orchard Kingdom

Flash 500 Annual Novel opening + synopsis competition. December Award: Shortlisted Title The Shanty Keeper’s Wife

Short stories Dragon Gift and The Moon’s Silver Path read by Jacqueline Belle YouTube – go here for links

Jean Cooper Moran

July Mid-Somerset Festival Class: Senior Poem Distinction Title Hiawatha Tree

July Mid-Somerset Festival Class: Senior Monologue Commended Title Finding Grandfather

July Yeovil Literary Prize Short Story competition Shortlisted Title The Killing Sky

Secret Attic Monthly Short Story July 2020. Award: Publication in Booklet 3 TitleThe Career Girl

August Writers Bureau Short Story Competition First prize Title Walking Water

Hammond House Publishing international Literary award. Award: First Prize (poetry) Title Walkabout

Globe Soup February flash fiction competition Awards: Runner up title The Road Trip

Felicity Edwards

Secret Attic Monthly Short Story August 2020. Award: Publication in Booklet 4 Title No Regrets

Secret Attic Monthly Short Story September  2020. Award Publication in Booklet 5 Title Ballroom Dancer

Secret Attic Monthly Short Story November  2020. Award Publication in Booklet 7 Title The Party

Phil Jones

Hammond House Publishing international Staying Home competition. Award: One of three prize winners Title Staying Home

Secret Attic Monthly Short Story July 2020. Award Publication in  Booklet 3 Title The Interview

Jolie Marchant

Secret Attic Monthly Short Story September  2020. Award Publication in Booklet 5 Title Alpha to Zulu: Alphabet Phonetic Frolics 

Val Ormrod

Hammond House Publishing International Literary Award Shortlist (poetry) Night Crossing published in Leaving –Award  Winning Poetry2020

Mid-Somerset Festival March 2020 Award: 1st Prize Poetry: Too Much Love

            2nd Prize Monologue: Thank You for Calling

Evesham Festival of Words Short Story Competition April 2020 Award:           Shortlist The Perfect Wife

Fish Poetry Prize May 2020. Award Shortlist Last Will and Testament

Welsh Poetry Prize May 2020. Award Special Mention The Race

Gloucestershire Writers Network Competition July 2020

            Highly Commended Poem Hidden

Ottery Writers Poetry Competition September 2020.Award Highly Commended Lights Out

Living Levels Poetry Competition December 2020. Award Runner-up Windmill Reen

Hammond House Publishing International Literary Award 2020. Shortlist (poetry)  Island of the Living Dead

Storytime for Grown-ups read by Jacqueline Belle on YouTube.             Poem Footsteps (winner of Ware Poets International Competition 2019)

Carol Sheppard

Oct 2020 – poems included in  The Trawler 2020

ISBN: 9781913195120 Available from all Amazon sites

Alpine Fellowship March 2020. Longlisted. Title Next door neighbour

April 2020 Contributed to Sally Jenkinson’s cut out poetry project

Butchers Dog poetry journal June 2020 Longlisted Title Crossbones Girl

Gloucestershire Poetry Society competition June 2020 Shortlisted Title Pike

Of Earth and Sky project August – Nov 2020. Title of  part of the poem The Journey

Buzzwords competition shortlisted October 2020. Title River Serpent

October 2020 – Short story Aiden & Aura read by Jacqueline Belle – YouTube