McKinnon's writing competition for wonderful wordsmiths.

Writer Of The Month (WOTM) allows McKinnon Secondary College students to enjoy literary competition each month.  

*Writing of any genre may be submitted for consideration.

*Word limits: Years 12, 11 and 10 maximum 1,000 words.

                   Years 9, 8 and 7 maximum 500 words.

All winning pieces are published on this Google site.

Additionally, all winning entrants will receive: a $30 book voucher from Benn’s Books (years 7 - 9), a $50 book voucher from Benn’s Books (years 10 - 12), acknowledgment on their report and fifty points for their house. 

Early in term 4, an additional $150 voucher will be awarded to the student judged to be the Writer of the Year.

PLEASE NOTE: The competition closes at the end of term 3 to allow the Writer of the Year to be announced prior to the Year 12 exams commencing, and to ensure that all winners are featured in THISTLE.

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HOW to ENTER:

1. Your piece should be typed in the form of a Google document. 

2. Include your full name and form at the top of your entry. Your name should be exactly as it appears on Compass.

3. Ensure that your piece has a title (refer to previous winners' entries below to see how to set this out).

4. Tell your English, Literature, or English elective teacher that you want to enter your piece in the WOTM competition. Ask them to assist you with editing your piece prior to submission.

5. After receiving feedback from your teacher, complete a final edit of your piece. When you have finished your final edit, let your teacher know that you are ready for them to submit your entry on your behalf.

6. Your English, Literature, or English elective teacher, may now submit your piece by sharing it with Dr. Dick (Years 12, 11, 10 and 7) or Ms. Pentland (Years 9 and 8).

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The closing date for each month's entries will be advertised on the daily newsfeed of your year level on Compass.

You may enter WOTM as many times as you want to. However, due to the large size of our school, you may only win the competition once per calendar year.

Please note: all winning pieces for the current year can be read using the links below; all winning pieces from previous years can be read using the links on the left of this page.

GOOD LUCK TO ALL ENTRANTS!

Dr. David Dick (Main Campus), Ms. Liz Pentland and Ms. Ashley Matthews (East Campus)

2024 , WRITER OF THE YEAR: The Dancing Swans - Katy Do, 12D


2024 MONTHLY WINNERS:

February

The Calling - Abby Soputro, 7C

Lovers - Isabella Pettifer, 8G

She's Perfect - Mansi Kashyap, 9H

Hydrophobia - TJ (Tristan James), 10G

A Lonely Tree in a Lonely Field - Michael Scriva, 10N

Through Her Eyes - Finn Steven, 10O


March

Red Blook, White Snow - Shani Liyanage, 7A

Control - Sidney Silkstone, 8B

Dealings With The Devil - Stefania Trapetsa, 8R

Happy Place - Alisa Krivulin, 9G

Exodus of Rains - Alexander Katsonis, 10H

Solitary Confinement - Tristan Naidoo, 11M


April

Lost - Ayushmaan Bagal, 8I

Untitled - Edie Zalchendler, 10R


May

Goodbye, Grandma - Kanak Mathur, 7L

Sada - Ariel Sher, 8M

If Only - Mia Lacey 9J

She Was Like Autumn - Lulu Quaife, 10M

Lives Washed Away - Keren Schauder 10N


June

The Void - Oviya Pillai, 7C

I Have The Stars - Kassandra Vasilikakis, 9E

The Feigned Awareness - Maleesha Dharmadasa, 10D 

I light a candle to our love - Rowen Hull, 12F


July

The Last Hour - Manaswi Behara, 7E

The Endless Beginning - Geet Monga, 8A

Home - Jaxx Rippon, 10N

The Mysterious Agenda of the Montclair Chateau - Kerry Lyons, 11K

The Milk Bar - Sienna Marinis, 12J


August

Shipped Out To Sea - Noam Miller, 7O

Locking In Love - Charlie Robbie 9F

glass bottles - Gwendolyn Thiere, 10P

A Song of the Earth - Kayla Morgan, 11L

The Dancing Swans - Katy Do, 12D


September

What Once Was Lost - Anjali Parthasarathy, 7E 

Eternal Blue - Bella Chanysheva, 9B 

Sonder, and Someone's Whispers of The World  - Emily Ellis, 10D

The Ochre-Man - Vishaka Venkat, 10Q

Seasonal - Alice Fletcher, 11E

The Campfire at the Edge of the Universe - Rachel Healy, 12F

Last Summer - Suen Kee, 12G

Taxi to Ambernite - Olivia Rusin, 12M

Moongazing - Ilya Zyuzin, 12Q

Previous Winners:

2010     |     2011     |     2012     |     2013     |     2014     |     2015     |     2016     |     2017     |     2018     |     2019     |     2020     |     2021     |     2022     |     2023