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Regular news and insight from our many poets, writers, educators and facilitators

11 February 2025

Posted by Harley Truslove

Wins & Losses

It’s the last session before half term, and Ali started us off by handing out a list of writing competitions which our group could enter - something which they are all encouraged to do as they are all incredibly talented!


We began in earnest with a fill-in fun, where one of the protagonists had won something causing jealousy in their friend, resulting in an argument. Our writers made the characters take control of pipe bombs (even though they were revealed to be five years old), bicker over niche bands for the pretentious music taste award, and get into such a fight that a crowd began to gather.


The session was about winning and losing, and the feeling which comes with those experiences. Ali got our writers to discuss times they had won and lost things:


Examples when they won:


  • Contribution to the arts award 

  • “Teacher’s pet” award

  • Essay competitions

  • Perfect attendance award


…and when they lost:


  • Picked 4th in a competition to a dreadful poet

  • Not chosen to arrange flowers for their school

  • Lost out an opportunity to paint at Winchester cathedral


The predominant feelings for the latter list were anger, injustice, and disappointment. Ali asked us to write about one of these memories and describe the tangible emotions in the moment.


For the last part of the session Ali decided to go totally away from her original plan, as the building opposite had intrigued her. There was one brightly lit window against the dark grey Southampton night and Ali asked our writers to come up with who might live there and tell their story. Here is what our writers gave us:



  • Someone making a call, worried that they’re being watched, full of paranoia and panic.

  • Something falling from the sky, someone from the window being the one to notice the glint.

  • A hopeful scientist growing plants using pieces of humans as fertiliser.



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