The Leeds Writers Circle tries to run three competitions a year. The competitions are open to all paid-up members of the circle, and are free to enter.

The current competition is for Memoir, to be judged by Becky Cherriman.

Closing Date for entries: Friday, Feb 27th, strictly before midnight!

Adjudication Evening: Monday, March 23rd at the Carriageworks.

The Challenge

Write a piece of memoir of 1000-2000 words in any style and on any subject.

You may choose to tackle a tumultuous or exciting period of your life, an important part of your identity or a theme that has played out in different ways at various ages (for example a hobby, a place you have visited regularly, or caring for others). Autobiographical writing doesn’t have to be a chronological account from birth to post retirement. It is no longer just the province of celebrities (most of whom don’t write their own anyway!).

Your memoir should be a personal story that only you could write in a voice that is distinctively yours but that will resonate with others. Reading your piece might expose me to a new perspective or lead me to think that I have found a kindred spirit. I’m looking for well-crafted writing that gives solace or surprise, that shows me a slice of the world through your eyes. By the end of the piece, I’d also like to see that the subject you are writing about has changed you in some way. I look forward to reading and getting to know you through your words.

Becky Cherriman

Writer, performer, educator, and facilitator, Becky Cherriman has actively collaborated with communities, individuals, and artists since 2003 and is named on the Ribbons Sculpture which celebrates the achievements of Leeds women. She has a poetry pamphlet, Echolocation and collection, Empires of Clay, and is often published in journals and anthologies including by Seren, Mslexia, The North, Stand and Bloodaxe. Her work features in film, audio trails and libretto, and has been named in prestigious prize lists such as the Women’s Poetry Competition, The Ilkley Literature Festival Open Mic, and the Forward Prize. Becky’s writing often delves into the rich history of Leeds as with Corseted, the 2016-17 theatre show and fashion project that explored the life of radical Leeds suffragist Alice Cliff Scatcherd, and a textile and poetry piece exploring the lives of disabled mill workers for Leeds 2023 created with artist Becky Moore. She has short stories in The Forgotten and The Fantastical, Postbox and The Book of Bradford, and was Writer-in-Residence for The Methodist Modern Art Collection as part of Bradford 2025. Thanks to a Developing Your Creative Practice grant from Arts Council England and mentorship from Kerri ní Dochartaigh, Becky is currently exploring the world of creative non-fiction and completing her first full length memoir. See www.beckycherriman.com

Please read the full competition rules here.

Entries should be submitted to comp@leedswriterscircle.org

Good luck.

Previous Results:

2025

SHORT STORY (judged by Mike Farren)

First: Alex Wakeman: The Ocean Between Days

Second: Anna Turner: Death Object

Third: Bob Hamilton: The Fifth Element

Highly Commended: Anita Rebecca Dowgill: The Fruit that Fell

Annavation Award: Rachael Thomas: Pendle

Honourable mentions:

Linda Fulton: The Shirley Bassey Tree

Susie Beever: Oyster Shells

Lou Harvey: The Ballad of Ynys Llanddwy

NOVEL EXTRACT (judged by Mandy Sutter)

First: Bob Hamilton: A Portrait of Forgiveness

Equal Second: Gemma Irving-Lees: Picasso Among the Pigeons

Equal Second: Graeme Hall: The City of Wine & Wormwood

Highly Commended: Jason: The Valley of Death

Highly Commended: Lou Harvey: All the Disordered Tendencies

Annavation award: Jaspreet Mander

Honourable mentions:

Gill Osborne: Double
Pat Pickavance: The Children Who Lived in the Forest
Anthony Davies: Untitled
Chris Read: Death with a Smile

From left to right: Lou Harvey, Mandy Sutter, Bob Hamilton, Gemma Irving Lees, Jason

From left to right: Anthony Davies, Lou Harvey, Mandy Sutter, Bob Hamilton, Gemma Irving Lees, Pat Pickavance, Chris Read, Jason, Gill Osborne

POETRY (judged by Joe Williams)

An excellent evening’s entertainment was enjoyed where Joe performed some poems for us, from a new collection he’s working on, based around his birthplace in Ashington, Northumberland. There were 17 entries and most of the entrants were in attendance, meaning that we got to hear the majority of the poems, along with Joe’s detailed and constructive feedback. There was a lot taken away by everyone. Joe said he was impressed with the general standard throughout and there was nothing to chose between any of the prize winners.

First: Emma Storr: What We Have Learnt

Second: Anna Turner: Who’s Your Mother

Third: Betsy Reid: Life Linguistics

Highly Commended: Chris Shevlin: English Lesson

Annavation award: Mari Phillips: Visiting Vivaldi

From left to right: Anna Turner, Mari Phillips, Joe Williams, Chris Shevlin, Emma Storr

2024

SHORT STORY (judged by Sophie Hampton)

With many thanks to Alex Offer for organising the competition, his first, and to Linda Fulton for the recommendation of Sophie as a judge. The consensus was that her feedback was excellent. Apparently, Sophie enjoyed the experience so much that she’s keen to come back and judge another competition in the future.

First: Alex Wakeman: Potato Skin, Chicken Skin Other

Second: Selso Xisto: Stolen

Third: Anna Turner: Do Not Touch

Highly Commended: Susie Beever: Holy Island

Annavation award: Bob Hamilton: A Darker Shade of Pale

From left to right: Anna Turner, Sophie Hampton, Alex Wakeman, Selso Xisto, Alex Offer

SPECULATIVE FICTION (judged by Andrew Knighton)

With huge thanks to Emma Storr for organising this competition, the last in her long stint as co-ordinator. She’s ushered in a new format, which seems to be working very well. Alex Offer is now taking over the role. Many thanks also to Andrew, who proved to be a very enthusiastic and engaging judge, providing a prodigious amount of feedback!

First: John Biglands: Charlie

Second: Selso Xisto: Reconstruction

Third: Chris Shevlin: Women and Dragons

Annavation award:  Jason: The Goblin King

Highly Commended:

Lilli Pearce: The Experiment
Pat Pickavance: Remarkable

2023

POETRY (judged by Ian Harker)

First: Chris Shevlin: I fell hard

Second: Gill Osborne: Still life

Third: Anna Turner: Ekphrasis: Lucozade bottle two-thirds full of piss, Leeds outer ring road, 5.06

Annavation award:  Marg Greenwood: In the organ loft

Highly Commended:

Stuart Fortey: Allotment

From left to right: Gill Osborne, Anna Turner, Ian Harker, and Marg Greenwood

POETRY (judged by Lydia Kennaway)

First: Su Ryder: À Bientôt

Second: Suzanne McArdle: Poppins’ Experiment

Third: Pat Belford: The Lake in Winter

Annavation award:  Marg Greenwood: Picture Moving

Highly Commended:

Ann Clarke: Butterfly Wings

From left to right: Marg Greenwood, Pat Belford, Su Ryder, and our judge, Lydia Kennaway

2022

FLASH FICTION/MEMOIR (judged by Becky Cherriman)

First: Jason: Fools Gold
Second: Su Ryder: Ackton Woods
Third: Philip Tempest: Zoink

Annavation award:  Ann Clarke: How to murder your wife and get away with it

Highly Commended:

Peter Richardson: Meeting Mum
Roz Kendall: Another Place
Pat Pickavance: Picnic 1957
Suzanne McArdle: Scales

From left to right: Peter Richardson, Ann Clarke, Jason, Becky Cherriman, Pat Pickavance, Su Ryder, Philip Tempest, Roz Kendall

SHORT STORY (judged by Mike Farren)

First: Philip Tempest – The Secret Pastime of Father Lambros

Second: Graeme Hall – Winterreise

Third: Jan Dominey – The Gypsy Caravan

Annavation award: Joanna Bucktrout – Tunguska Meteorite 1908

Highly Commended:

Miriam Moss – Daddy’s Clever Little Boy

2021

COMPETITIONS SUSPENDED DUE TO COVID

2020

POETRY (judged by Mark Connors)

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SHORT STORY (judged by Alison Lock)

From left to right: Joanna Bucktrout, Philip Tempest, Judge Alison Lock, Mark Pennington, Jason

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2019

DIALOGUE (judged by Mandy Sutter)

From left to right: Pat Pickavance, Judge Mandy Sutter, Rita Morrison (with winner’s trophy), Linda Fulton, Ian Harker and Jenny Tennant-Jackson.