Last week we announced The Shortlist for our 2012 Travel Writing Scholarship to Southeast Asia. And now, the moment you have been waiting for...
We have a winner!
Our judging panel has had the very difficult task of whittling 1718 entries down to just one winner. We have truly been inspired by your experiences and your writing - you have brought the world to our desks these past few months.
Thank you to everyone who applied and shared your travel experiences with us, particularly our shortlisted entries who were all highly commended by our judging panel.
So, now without further delay, it is our pleasure to announce...
Our Winner....
Hanna Butler!
Congratulations Hanna, start packing your bags for Southeast Asia!
You are headed to Singapore to meet your Rough Guides mentor, Richard Lim, and learn the tricks of the trade. Then it's off to Indonesia for a bit of culture and adventure off the grid with Stuart McDonald, founder of Travelfish.org. Finally, you'll get to eat your way through Malaysia to understand the famous cuisine with Tin Cho Chaw of hsa*ba.com.
We can't wait to read all about it!
UPDATE! Read Hanna's blog about her adventures while on assignment in Southeast Asia.
Winning Story:
Why you like my Pakistan? by Hanna Butler
Judges' comments:There were lots of good entries this year but this one really stands out as a great piece of story telling. The pace is well judged and what could have been exaggerated or embellished instead manages to be respectful and restrained. It tells you just enough to set the scene, evoking the dusty terrain with effective imagery ('thirsty landscape') and the potentially hostile environment with incidental references ('guns strapped to his legs', 'NATO trucks'). It then finishes with anice twist, which is both surprising and satisfying.
Second Place
Snake Blood by Candice Hall
Judges Comments: This entry really stands out due to the narrator’s great descriptive ability and strong eye for detail. It draws you into the sights and smells of the street market and manages to be shocking and unusual while not overly indulgent or grotesque. The judges particularly liked its depiction of a genuine travel experience seen very much through the prism of tourist’s eyes, which is both surprising and satisfying.
Third Place
Three Cups of Tea, Malian edition by Claire Balsley
Judge's Comments: A simple but effective piece. It focuses on a small, everyday event but uses it as a way to highlight larger cultural differences, bringing the experience alive for the reader. The narrator clearly enjoyed the experience (if not the tea) and she writes with pleasure and good humour.
For all of you aspiring creatives, check out our Scholarships page and sign up to hear about our latest opportunities, tips, advice and interviews with industry professionals in the fields of photography, travel writing and filmmaking.
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