August 2021 winners

Congratulations to the winners of our August competition. Feeling inspired? Have a go at this month's prompt.

Adult winner

Roddy McDowell

Lyin’ oan hur side luikin’ a bitty bedraigelt, wis a wance prood yachtie.

“Whit’s wrang th’ day?” cawed oot th’ wind, as she blew ower hur neglectit deck.

“Ah fear ah’m boond fur yon scrap yaird place.”

“Whit’s rang wi that? It’s aye guid tae gang somewhere new,” she breezed.

Gaelic winner

Anne Macaulay

Bha an curach a’ tulgadh anns an uisge, ’s iad air na ràimh a chall san stoirm.  An dorchadas gan cuairteachadh. Cha robh fiù rionnag anns an adhar.  Sheall iad ri chèile agus dh’aontaich iad: cha robh càil eile air a shon.  Thog iad a seòl. Rinn iad ùrnaigh.

Translation by Gaelic Books Council

The small boat was rocking in the water, after they lost the oars in the storm. The darkness surrounded them. There wasn’t even a star in the sky. They looked at each other and agreed: there was nothing else for it. They raised the sail. And said a prayer.

Young writers (12–18) winner

Alex Heather, age 12

The sea is greeny-blue, and my hair is the orange of fire as the air slaps it against my face. I smile, pink lips wrinkling grey eyes, the colour of rock. The froth is pearly white and the boat is sunshine yellow. The colours of the ocean are beautiful.

Young writers (5–11) winner

Julia Worrall, age 10

I was taking a nap.

I heard a child wailing.

I saw the faint silhouette of her.

I grabbed my mast for my sailboat was shaking.

Something closed over my throat.

"You are now one of us..."a voice whispered.

A fog comes over me.

I am one of them.