We’re very pleased to announce the winners of our 2022 writing competition on the theme Signs of the Zodiac.

Thank you to everyone for your entries, which were of a high standard in both prose and poetry. We were delighted to find we had hard choices to make. Here are the winners, with a brief comment from our judges.

Prose

1st prize Luna Dreena Collins

Original idea, stylishly written with well chosen phrases and lovely imagery, economical and understated – does not try to explain everything but leaves plenty of space or ‘lacuna’ for the reader to fill in for themselves. 

2nd Prize A Collision of Star Signs at the Rose and Crown Melanie Ross

An enjoyable story, well written with a light, humorous thread running through it and some fresh imagery, e.g. ‘Something molten shifted beneath her glacial exterior’.

3rd prize Wounded on the Beach Rebecca Klassen

A well-crafted story with realistic dialogue and dry, deadpan commentary from the first-person narrator rather than an emotional outpouring. Some great imagery like ‘the crab’s shell shattered like the top of a creme brûlée’. 

Highly Commended

Sagittarius Lover Audrey Tullet

An enjoyable romp through the Zodiac as the protagonist tries out men with different star signs and provides a dry commentary.

All the Stars in Heaven Penny Ellis

A touching story well told with a lovely but poignant ending.

Poetry

1st prize The Stolen Horse Adele Cordner

The Judges thought the winning poem The Stolen Horse was an impressive descriptive narrative poem on an unusual theme.  Mixing vivid images and striking language made the poem a worthy winner.

2nd prize Capicorn Man Christine Griffin

Capricorn Man, in second place was well structured, delivered intriguing images and had a strong memorable ending.

3rd prize Zodiacal Sign Adam Cairns

This closely-woven, narrative poem in sonnet form, gives a persuasive twist to the theme. A simple, effective poem with potential for further development.

Highly commended

Prayer of the Zodiac Night 15th April 2022  Karlostheunhappy

As a personal, prayerful meditation on the sunset and moon-rise, this free-form poem contains some luminous imagery supported by well-placed alliterative lines.

Hubble reads the stars Mair De-Gare Pitt

Space was well-used in the structure making arresting images on the page. The last three lines were an effective ending, with a question that lingered in the mind.

Read the winning entries here