Swanwick competition winners

In a competition sponsored by Writers' News, a non-fiction book synopsis of approximately 800 words won Gaynor Jones, Thetford, Norfolk, a place at the 2005 Swanwick Summer School and a Writers' News trophy.

Second prize, £100 worth of books, went to Margaret Skipworth, Hull, East Riding, and the third, a £25 book voucher, went to Christina Gibbs, Lanark, Lanarkshire, both provided by Writers' News.

The adjudicator, George Andrew, said entries had been 'a varied and interesting selection of possible books with an outstanding winner'.
Simon Fairnington, Acton, London, the winner of a 1,000-word short story competition, also won a free place (provided by the Hayes Conference Centre, the venue for the Summer School), plus a Writers' News trophy; second place, £100 of books, Julie Roberts, Reading, Berkshire; third place, £25 book voucher, Brian Lockett, Chiswick, London, both provided by Writers' News.

Margaret Gill, Old, Northants, the winner of a writing competition for the first 1,000 words of a novel aimed at youngsters aged seven-twelve, also won a free place at Swanwick (provided by the Summer School) plus a Writers' News trophy; second prize, £100 of books, Karin Bachmann, Pieterlen, Switzerland; third place, £25 book voucher, Margaret Skipworth, Hull, East Riding, both provided by Writers' News.