Commentary
Perhaps it was our fault for setting a competition on the theme of Temptation. Such a high proportion on entrants chose the Adam and Eve theme that we were inclined to side with God for expelling them from the garden. Where was the imagination?
The Pier Pressure writing competitions have proved to be an interesting experience. From the start, our growing concern over the months after the launch of the competition was that hardly anyone was going to enter. It was then as it has been ever since: on all occasions, entries flooded in during the last week.
Disappointingly, however, the time gained by the delay in submitting does
not appear to have been spent on polishing the entries. The overall standard has
again not been as high as we hoped for. Although they are meant to be finished
efforts, many entries are poorly constructed and sloppily presented.
Attention
to detail in grammar, spelling and punctuation ought to be a minimum
requirement, even for 'spare-time' writers, and especially for those aspiring to be
published or to win competitions. Too often good ideas are insufficiently
developed, the storyline and characters not invested with the sharpness that
comes from reworking and polishing.
Even the better entries are
frequently marred by spelling errors, missing words, extra words that should
have been deleted, and punctuation (or lack of same) that hinders comprehension.
So much so that we reviewed all entries with this in mind and marked down those
that suffered from sloppiness.
We have discussed whether the quality of writing (ideas as well
as technical competence) would rise if we offered bigger prizes. After all, the
Man Booker Prize (500 times more valuable than our first prize) attracts
world-class writers!
In the end we settle for thinking that the reward really is
as much in the winning as the size of the prize. And the more such competitions
as ours can stimulate writing and encourage aspiring writers to give of their
best, the better.
It would be invidious to comment on individual entries and it was never our intention to do so. You can make your own judgments by reading some of the shortlisted entries. If you think you could do as well or better, enter the next Pier Pressure competition. Meanwhile, we offer some general advice, tailored for anyone thinking of entering our new competition.