The Crystal Decanter Competition, 2006

Bad Weather

Don't know why, there's no sun up in the sky...

This year's crystal decanter competition is on the subject of weather - or, more specifically, bad weather. You could use the weather as a backdrop for a steamy Tennessee Williams or Somerset Maugham-style melodrama. Or perhaps you might fancy writing a polemic about global warming. Or maybe you just needed an excuse to write a story beginning with the immortal words "It was a dark and stormy night..."

Literal bad weather or bad weather as a metaphor? You decide.

Entries may be factual or fictional, but either way, they should be less than 1500 words in length, with a title and pseudonym. Your real name should not appear anywhere on the manuscript, but should be enclosed in a sealed envelope. Entries should also be double-spaced, if you want them to be read in any detail.

Entries, accompanied by a £2.50 entry fee, should be handed in at any meeting up to and including May 17th, or posted to arrive not later than May 17th to:

Jon Pinnock
55 Homewood Road
St Albans AL1 4BG

The adjudication will take place on May 31st. The Gnome de Plume of Shame will also be awarded to the entry with the worst pseudonym.