Powers & Irish Times Short Story Comp

hcass · 31-03-2012 1:05pm #1

Have you seen this comp? Prize is €10,000 - wowzers!

Anyway, I will be entering and was feeling pretty good until I read last year's entry. No, not because it was far superior to anything I could put together but for it's overuse of the word "Powers" in the story. She mentions the whiskey on six different occasions by name. It made me think this is just an advertisement piece for Powers rather than a short story. In the rules it says you just have to write a story based on the theme "Celebrating What truly Matters" It doesn't say you have to mention Powers product at all.

Here is a link to the winning story http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2011/0709/1224300138410.html

And here is a link to This years comp http://comms.irishtimes.com/powers-irish-whiskey/signup/.ashx

What do you make of it - I wish they'd just be honest and say "You have to mention Powers." Now I am not sure if I should rewrite my piece and put Powers into it, but I would feel like such a sell out. And what if yo udon't need Powers in it to win?

What do yis think?

Mod Edit: added link to stories
http://www.irishtimes.com/blogs/powers-short-story-competition/

alfa beta · 31-03-2012 1:31pm

I read last years winner...

I think it might have been liver failure that did for the oul fella!

hcass · 31-03-2012 1:33pm

alfa beta wrote: »

I read last years winner...

I think it might have been liver failure that did for the oul fella!

I cringed while reading it.

WoollyRedHat · 31-03-2012 1:33pm

400-450 is ridicolously short, even for a short story and the theme sucks. Disappointed.

PurpleBee · 31-03-2012 3:19pm

might submit a story about postman paddy and his black and white dogs

iguana · 31-03-2012 3:41pm

hcass wrote: »

And here is a link to This years comp http://comms.irishtimes.com/powers-irish-whiskey/signup/.ashx

From that link; "Powers has always been woven into the heart of true Irish community. With a bottle pride of place in every Irish home, Powers has traditionally been the accompanying toast to mark all of life's occasions - from the seemingly small to the highly significant."

Is this supposed to be a short story too? I have never once in my life been in a 'true Irish' house where a bottle of any type of whiskey had pride of place.

I think the answer to your question is obvious OP. They want you to write a little advert for their whiskey. If your characters are 'celebrating what truly matters' without a lovely glass of Powers whiskey, you won't win.

Eta: Last year's story is so bad. How did the old fella hand his son €500 in the 1980s?

echo beach · 31-03-2012 7:28pm

hcass wrote: »

What do you make of it - I wish they'd just be honest and say "You have to mention Powers." Now I am not sure if I should rewrite my piece and put Powers into it, but I would feel like such a sell out. And what if yo udon't need Powers in it to win?

What do yis think?

It was one of the conditions last year to mention Powers at least once. They also accepted postal entries and multiple entries which aren't allowed this year, and you now have to give your age and gender to enter. Apart from having to confirm that you are over 18, which I can understand when a drinks company is involved, I don't see what your age has to do with it. They should be judging on merit.

hcass · 31-03-2012 7:39pm

echo beach wrote: »

It was one of the conditions last year to mention Powers at least once. They also accepted postal entries and multiple entries which aren't allowed this year, and you now have to give your age and gender to enter. Apart from having to confirm that you are over 18, which I can understand when a drinks company is involved, I don't see what your age has to do with it. They should be judging on merit.

Thanks for that echo beach - I was also annoyed about the age and sex thing. Are they going to pick a male winner this year cos a woman won last year?

So I don't have to mention Powers this year, thank God for that cos I felt embarrassed writing it.

EileenG · 31-03-2012 8:02pm

I met the winner from last year. She did a workshop in Malahide Library, and while she seemed to be a very nice woman, she appears to have done nothing except win this competition. She was advising people to do a degree in creative writing, for god's sake, because "it demonstrates to a publisher that you will be professional in your edits."

She had people doing free writing with prompts. I did a couple of them, but when we got to the one about the Easter bunny and the Tooth fairy, I lost patiences and did my own story. So there was Easter bunny, Easter bunny, Easter bunny, man in bed with two naked women....

hcass · 31-03-2012 8:05pm

EileenG wrote: »

I met the winner from last year. She did a workshop in Malahide Library, and while she seemed to be a very nice woman, she appears to have done nothing except win this competition. She was advising people to do a degree in creative writing, for god's sake, because "it demonstrates to a publisher that you will be professional in your edits."

What's wrong with a degree in Creative Writing -I'm doing one and I love it.

EileenG · 31-03-2012 9:21pm

hcass wrote: »

What's wrong with a degree in Creative Writing -I'm doing one and I love it.

Nothing wrong with it. But I've never heard of anyone getting a contract on the basis of a degree in it. You need the book, not a degree.

hcass · 31-03-2012 9:26pm

EileenG wrote: »

Nothing wrong with it. But I've never heard of anyone getting a contract on the basis of a degree in it. You need the book, not a degree.

Oh totally agree. A degree is grand and fun to do but won't get you any closer to a book deal.

Took you up wrong there sorry.

EileenG · 31-03-2012 10:38pm

hcass wrote: »

Oh totally agree. A degree is grand and fun to do but won't get you any closer to a book deal.

Took you up wrong there sorry.

Yeah, she was telling all those adults with job and families to go back and do a degree, when what they wanted was up-to-date info about how to approach agents or what publishers were accepting submissions.

alfa beta · 31-03-2012 11:35pm

hey hcass - what does the degree involve (in practical terms)?

I did a BA (and then a Masters) in English Lit millions of years ago in UCC and I remember being quite disappointed at the outset that there was no creative element whatsoever - it was all analysis, lit theory and other stuff like linguistics etc - which was all very well - but a bit of creative self-expression would have been nice.

So I'm glad to see you can now enroll in such a course. Where are you doing it? Can you do it part-time? Is there a mature-student option?

Sorry about all the q's - but after years of doing commercial copywriting (quite successfully - thankfully) I'm now wondering if I have the 'whatever-it-takes' to undertake a big fictional project - I'm not in any mad rush to do so and a well-designed course may be of help.

I know this has nothing to do with Powers and all that - but hey - just wondering like!

alfa beta · 31-03-2012 11:38pm

EileenG wrote: »

Easter bunny, Easter bunny, Easter bunny, man in bed with two naked women....

By the way Eileen, that's one hell of a plot - you wouldn't mind now if I like stole it....!

hcass · 31-03-2012 11:39pm

alfa beta wrote: »

hey hcass - what does the degree involve (in practical terms)?

I did a BA (and then a Masters) in English Lit millions of years ago in UCC and I remember being quite disappointed at the outset that there was no creative element whatsoever - it was all analysis, lit theory and other stuff like linguistics etc - which was all very well - but a bit of creative self-expression would have been nice.

So I'm glad to see you can now enroll in such a course. Where are you doing it? Can you do it part-time? Is there a mature-student option?

Sorry about all the q's - but after years of doing commercial copywriting (quite successfully - thankfully) I'm now wondering if I have the 'whatever-it-takes' to undertake a big fictional project - I'm not in any mad rush to do so and a well-designed course may be of help.

I know this has nothing to do with Powers and all that - but hey - just wondering like!

There is no Creative Writing Degree course in Ireland - I'm doing mine in England. But there is a few masters courses in Creative Writing, Trinity do one and so do UCD and maybe a DIT. I am not sure.

If you want info on my course over here I can give it to you, let me know.

doomed · 31-03-2012 11:42pm

Very disappointing.

All they have done is change the usual 10 words slogan concept for one with 450 words.

alfa beta · 01-04-2012 12:35am

hcass wrote: »

If you want info on my course over here I can give it to you, let me know.

Wouldn't suit me now if its in the UK - maybe I should've looked further afield when i was 18!!

Might be worth posting a link to your college/course here anyway (if that sort of thing is allowed) for others to check out.

hcass · 01-04-2012 12:40am

alfa beta wrote: »

Wouldn't suit me now if its in the UK - maybe I should've looked further afield when i was 18!!

Might be worth posting a link to your college/course here anyway (if that sort of thing is allowed) for others to check out.

http://www.ucas.ac.uk/students/coursesearch/2012searcheu/ Well here is a link for UCAS - if you put in Creative Writing it will give you a list of all the BA courses in the UK. There are tons of them.

Would you not try the Creative Writing Masters in Trinity or UCD seen as you already have a degree?

alfa beta · 01-04-2012 1:03am

hcass wrote: »

Would you not try the Creative Writing Masters in Trinity or UCD seen as you already have a degree?

Perhaps... then again maybe I should just put pen to paper and stop looking for excuses!

hey - maybe I'll enter the 'Powers' thing after all!

btw are you going to give it a go? tell you what - I'll give it a shot if you do - but here's the deal, neither of us mention 'powers' and both of us post our entries here on boards....whaddya think?

EileenG · 01-04-2012 1:21am

Feel free. It would be interesting to see what your take on it was.

hcass · 01-04-2012 9:43am

alfa beta wrote: »

Perhaps... then again maybe I should just put pen to paper and stop looking for excuses!

hey - maybe I'll enter the 'Powers' thing after all!

btw are you going to give it a go? tell you what - I'll give it a shot if you do - but here's the deal, neither of us mention 'powers' and both of us post our entries here on boards....whaddya think?

Sure thing - so we're going with the theme but no mention of Powers. Do we post after the winner is announced? Or do you mean we are not going to enter the comp but have our own little one here? I do like the sound of the ten thousand euro so kinda wanna enter the comp, please excuse my mercenary self. But am I a poor little student...

alfa beta · 01-04-2012 10:25am

ok - we'll post after the winner is announced.

and yeah - definitely enter the comp - 10k is 10k in anyone's language.

I might pm you with my effort in the meantime though (if I actually get around to it - forgive me if I don't.)

Kinski · 01-04-2012 10:36am

hcass wrote: »

There is no Creative Writing Degree course in Ireland - I'm doing mine in England. But there is a few masters courses in Creative Writing, Trinity do one and so do UCD and maybe a DIT. I am not sure.

The BA in English (Single Honours) in NUI Maynooth contains creative writing workshops (fiction is taught by John MacKenna, AFAIK). It includes the option of doing a creative writing project in place of a dissertation in the final year.

alfa beta wrote: »

Sorry about all the q's - but after years of doing commercial copywriting (quite successfully - thankfully) I'm now wondering if I have the 'whatever-it-takes' to undertake a big fictional project - I'm not in any mad rush to do so and a well-designed course may be of help.

Just out of curiosity, how did you get into that? In college we once had a talk by the head of one of Ireland's biggest advertising agencies; he told us they were always crying out for good copywriters, but I don't think I know anyone who ever went down that route.

hcass · 01-04-2012 10:48am

I'll PM mine to you too.

alfa beta · 01-04-2012 1:34pm

Kinski wrote: »

Just out of curiosity, how did you get into that? In college we once had a talk by the head of one of Ireland's biggest advertising agencies; he told us they were always crying out for good copywriters, but I don't think I know anyone who ever went down that route.

i actually spent years working as an account manager in various design and advertising firms and through my career gradually found myself working closer and closer with creatives when it came to coming up with ideas / concepts / headlines etc. - as well as writing more and more body copy (usually to try and meet tighter and tighter budgets - but hey don't tell the clients!!)

Then when my wife had a baby she wanted to back to work so I took a chance on going freelance as a copywriter - thankfully I had built up a lot of contacts in the various agencies I'd worked for and got a good deal of work out of them for big clients, both here and in the UK.

Recently I found I've been juggling work with school hours and holidays too much and have got a bit fed up of the prospect of sitting down at 11 at night to start a job...commercial timescales just don't suit childminding...so now I'm wondering if I could write to my timescales and I guess that means tackling a fictional project.

So if anyone has any ideas for a novel plot....!

D-FENS · 02-04-2012 8:35am

I’ve drawn great inspiration from last year’s winner and feel very confident about this, what do you guys think?

Paddy Power (No, not that one) thought to himself “that was a powerful night’s drinking”, as he turned on the power shower to try and clear his hangover (it was the beer and cocktails that did that, not the Powers, he thought to himself). He needed to get into work early today, an important meeting with the powers that be. As he came downstairs and opened the curtains to reveal a powerful, sunny day, he noticed his friend Rodney on the sofa, still drinking Powers and eating a batter sausage for breakfast. “Care to join me, Mr.Power?”. Paddy Power considered this for a second, then grabbed a glass and poured himself another Powers. He would ring in sick in a while. “Your powers of persuasion as remarkable, Rodney, cheers!”. Rodney grinned and replied with a shout “I have the Power!”

10 grand here I come!

alfa beta · 02-04-2012 8:40am

what can I say d-fens - that's a powerful piece (quite literally!)

pickarooney · 02-04-2012 9:12am

Yikes... talk about a handy ten grand. It's not even spell-checked.

wavehopper1 · 02-04-2012 11:45am

D-Fens - I'm near choking in the office trying to suppress my laughter. Brilliant!

I must make one suggestion, although it's hard to improve on such perfection. Presuming that you're also drawing inspiration for the last line from that noted work of drama, He-Man...could your main character raise the bottle aloft in both hands and shout "I have the Power!"

Literary allusion...guaranteed to delight the critics.

The Mad Hatter · 02-04-2012 12:03pm

pickarooney wrote: »

Yikes... talk about a handy ten grand. It's not even spell-checked.

You're not reading it with a pure spirit.

D-FENS · 02-04-2012 1:21pm

wavehopper1 wrote: »

could your main character raise the bottle aloft in both hands and shout "I have the Power!"

I’ll gladly take this suggestion on board, wavehopper1 and I’ll also mention he’s only wearing his y-fronts, give him the full Masters of the Universe appearance!

pickarooney · 02-04-2012 1:39pm

The Mad Hatter wrote: »

You're not reading it with a pure spirit.

I was half asleep and thought that was actually last year's winner

De Dannan · 02-04-2012 7:18pm

Powers has always been woven into the heart of true Irish community. With a bottle pride of place in every Irish home, Powers has traditionally been the accompanying toast to mark all of life's occasions - from the seemingly small to the highly significant.

lol
Maybe I will write a fantasy piece as they seem to be living in such a world

psicic · 03-04-2012 1:14am

Think I'll give this a shot - thanks op.

Glad we have last year's winner as a guide, but I think I'll have a problem sounding even remotely sincere using that style of writing. Usually my writing involves some degree of humour or subversion... I don't see huge scope for that if I want to stay in the running for 10 grand!

D-FENS · 03-04-2012 8:56am

echo beach wrote: »

It was one of the conditions last year to mention Powers at least once.

So even though it's not a condition this year, can we assume mentioning it in an entry this year would still be advisable?

psicic · 03-04-2012 3:52pm

D-FENS wrote: »

So even though it's not a condition this year, can we assume mentioning it in an entry this year would still be advisable?

Given who's judging this thing, the safest bet is probably talk about how the Irish Times brought your family together when, while having your morning shot of Powers, you noticed an innovative branding competition by Vizeum, a world leader in strategic marketing. This brought your family together in discussion and, eventually, there were tears, because of [insert minor tragic reason here], which you soaked up with old copies of the Irish Times and squeezed into the piles of empty bottles of Powers strewn about your family home. Now, with the rest of your family dead or emigrated, you sell these bottles of emotions to Americans to help remind them of the importance of family.

Geeze.... I might be in with a shot after all!!! :pac:
________

Actually I am also in two minds over whether it would be a positive or drawback to mention Powers this year. On balance, I assume at least some reference would be advisable. I would also welcome hearing what other people think.

tis a fine line · 04-04-2012 3:03pm

I'm thinking of entering it too, in a shamelessly sell-out fashion

If that's the sh1te they're looking for (last years winner) in exchange for 10K, I'll give them the best sh1te i have. No problemo :cool:

EileenG · 04-04-2012 5:13pm

Yeah, I'm prepared to write some ****e for that sort of money. Hell, I've written enough crappy ad features in my time...

Smudge_pot · 05-04-2012 8:52pm

Here are some more of last year's stories if anyone's interested

https://www.facebook.com/powerswhiskey#!/powerswhiskey/app_272710859475205

De Dannan · 05-04-2012 10:07pm

I entered a piece today. God it was hard to condense a story to 450 words!
I threw in a few mentions of Powers for good measure

baalthor · 06-04-2012 8:43pm

D-FENS wrote: »

So even though it's not a condition this year, can we assume mentioning it in an entry this year would still be advisable?

Maybe they add in the Powers references to the winning story, like in Anne of Green Gables. She won a writing contest sponsored by Rollings Reliable Self Raising Flour but was horrified when copious mentions of Rollings Reliable were added to her story.

baalthor · 06-04-2012 8:56pm

alfa beta wrote: »

ok - we'll post after the winner is announced.

and yeah - definitely enter the comp - 10k is 10k in anyone's language.

I might pm you with my effort in the meantime though (if I actually get around to it - forgive me if I don't.)

If they accept your entry then you won't have the authority to publish it here (or anywhere else)

13. By entering the promotion and submitting a short story, entrants agree to assign all intellectual property rights in their entry to The Irish Times and Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard Limited. Further the entrant agrees to waive all moral rights.

psicic · 06-04-2012 9:09pm

I see this little blurb on the facebook page:

The inspiration for this competition was inspired by a hugely popular advertising campaign for Powers Irish Whiskey which ran in the 1980s based on conversations and short stories. A nugget of social history, the campaign was an extraordinarily successful one, instantly recognisable from its charming illustrations and wonderful heart-warming stories that sat so easily with the Powers brand and its traditional, authentic and Irish values. As a rich, round and full flavoured whiskey of exceptionally good taste and character, Powers Irish Whiskey featured in each of the campaign stories.

Looks like the mention of Powers is highly recommended so!

lukegriffen · 08-04-2012 8:53pm

I was surprised how corny the winning entry was last year so I googled to see what the rules were, and fair enough, you had to mention Powers;
from http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/magazine/2011/0514/1224296651360.html
"Write a short story in only 450 words that mentions Powers Gold Label, on the topic of “celebrating what really matters”

But this year there's no rule to mention "Powers" & since there's a few well known journalists as judges(eg, E.Battersby) then presumably they're going to be taking it seriously & taking the story for its own merits, and not for licking up to Powers.
However, I could be completely wrong. If only I had the Power(s) of wisdom :-)

MirLou · 09-04-2012 7:37am

Are there any prizes for runners up?? Seems odd if only one winner as am sure there are many good writers will enter.

mmr · 09-04-2012 3:49pm

Well I entered it and my story has Powers whiskey mentioned 5 times, a relationship breakup, redemption, tight rope walking, reconciliation and a new baby. I'm quite serious, and all under 450 words. It took me forever and I pretty chuffed with myself and my 'writing to script' cleverness.
If I don't win and they go for something half decent and meritorious, I 'll be rather put out.

postdarwin · 09-04-2012 7:32pm

Someone sent me the link to this competition saying there was 10 grand for the best 400 word short story. So I rattled off an anecdotal kind of thing and pressed send.

Unfortunately, although I can write a little, I am apparently unable to read. I've just discovered the theme is “Celebrating What Truly Matters” and my story is sort of dark and unsettled -- more about the savage domestic underbelly of Ireland than swigging Powers in a sexy commercial shot at the beach.

Read it if you like, I don't care now that I can't win. Wahh!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

'You'll have to bring Janet up next time,' my mother beams, pressing a bag of cashews into my hand as we stand at the door.

'Just take them for the trip -- they were on special below at Alda.' Which is what she calls Aldi, thinking of M*A*S*H perhaps. 'And you'll call us when you get in, just to let me know you're home safe.'

I laugh.

'You never know where I am the rest of the time! What's so different today?' It's an old chestnut between us.

'I know, I know. I just like to know you're all right getting home,' she says, her cheeks colouring a little. 'Sure, hang on there, I'll get my coat and walk you down the lane way,' she says rushing back into the kitchen. 'Two minutes!'

My father looks back at her, shaking his head, smiling. 'She just wants to get the most out of seeing you.'

'It's no trouble to drop up,' I say convincingly. 'I'm always happy to see the place.'

'Your mother appreciates it, she really does.'

'Listen.' His voice drops low, his eyes lower. 'Michael wrote to me again last week.'

I breathe quietly. 'Is that so.'

'We all know it was unforgivable, what he did, and we had to face that. God knows, it was hard on us all. But look, he's "paid his dues" as they say. And what more can we ask?'

He smoothes out the doormat with his toe. 'What happened happened and no-one can change anything. But he's a different man now, your brother.'

'And?'

'He's up for release next month.' He pauses. 'I know we've talked about it all this, but he's no place to go. And your mother...'

'Dad, I don't know if that's such a good idea,' I answer plainly.

'Look, we knew what you'd say about all this. That girl was, I mean, I never knew her but...' He shook his head again. 'He's come on so much, Michael. You'd hardly recognise him. It's a long time...'

He looks up. 'Would you see him?'

I turn away, slowly unclenching my hand in my anorak pocket. I repeat: 'He's a different man, all right.'

My mother bustles back. 'God, I thought I had that blue raincoat in here somewhere.'

'Listen, I'll run down on my own. It's bitter out anyway,' I hug her and break away.

'Are you sure,' she frowns.

'I'm grand. And thanks again for the dinner,' I add, waving.

'Mind yourself!'

I walk back down the lane way towards the station for the last time.

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

An Ri rua · 10-04-2012 1:02pm

hcass wrote: »

I cringed while reading it.

I wouldn't agree at all. It was a bit wooden at the start but it turned out quite well. Simple, yet powerful. May people have rituals that make sense of the world for them. The trick is to let in some light so that others can make sense of your ritual / filter. Considering she was working with 450 words, I thought the story held together well. With the caveat that the start was uninspiring and wooden.
With it being Power's first year of the competition, she was attempting to win and entertain. I wouldn't fault her for that. Its easy to be critical; but SHE WON. The story had merit and possibly needed a lot more tweaking.

D-FENS · 10-04-2012 1:18pm

I can't see anything in the rules / terms about your entry having a title, and i don't see one on last year's winner, anyone know if your story should be titled?

mmr · 10-04-2012 3:19pm

I completely agree, I thought she did a good job. She understood the brief and she stuck to it, and there is an art to that in and of itself. Its very difficult to write 450 words that will display a unique voice, a deliberate style, tell a story and appeal to a wide audience whilst impressing judges enough to win. That's what is about, its about what you can do for Powers Whiskey, not the other way round. And €10,000 is a lot of money and I would be a bit annoyed if some abstract inaccessible high concept piece won. Mine is outright drivel, but I really enjoyed the process of trying to get something entertaining and substantial out of 450 words. Its a brilliant writing exercise, it really disciplines against waffle.

Powers & Irish Times Short Story Comp

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