News: Write On Track – Writing Competition

Write On Track Writing Competition has been launched as part of the Stockton & Darlington Railway bicentenary celebrations. It is the brain-child of Darlington writers and art-scene supporters Pam Plumb and Ann Cuthbert, who felt strongly that they wanted to encourage writers living in an area rich in railway heritage to create and share stories and poetry inspired by the region’s history and their own pasts. 

Their idea, with support from funders Creative Darlington and the S&DR Railway Heritage Project Community Grants scheme, music organisation Tracks and venues such as Preston Park, Hopetown, and Locomotion Shildon – who have been hosting supporting writing workshops throughout the Summer.

Write on Track will encourage and support entries throughout 2024, until the deadline of 15th December. Judges Bob Beagrie, Mim Skinner and Amy Lord will then select the winners, with shortlist announcements in 2025, and an awards ceremony taking place in July 2025 at Hopetown, Darlington.

There are three categories you can enter, Short Story, Memoir and Poetry, and entries must somehow relate to railways, trains or tracks. Successful entrants could win cash prizes, have their work recorded and displayed at stations along the Stockton & Darlington Railway, published and more. For more rules and information, click here.

Pam Plumb adds: “The idea for the Write on Track competition came following one of the Stop Write Hear open mics organised by Ann Cuthbert. I was struck by the impressive quality of the writing but also some of the links writers had made to the local history of Darlington. In particular, Ann read an excellent poem about Jane Hackworth which prompted me to suggest we run a writing competition linking in with the S & D R Bicentenary. This led to the idea by Ann of including some writing workshops and the project developed from there. As a long-term supporter of the local arts scene, it is fantastic to be a part of bringing creative writing to the bicentenary celebrations. We especially want to encourage people who might not see themselves as writers to get involved with the events and competition and share their memories of the railway.”