The Long Way Home 2022 writing competition is now open

This year, the local Clarence Valley writing competition will turn five. The Long Way Home competition is developing into one of the defining events on the Clarence Valley calendar.

This year the theme is: Let go.

After two years of COVID, and the fires and floods that came before that, we think ‘Let go’ is a good theme for right now. It could mean letting go of an object, like a rope, a safety net, a balloon, a leash, the handlebars, an oar, a waterbomb or a plate full of cakes. It could also mean letting go of your fears, hopes, regrets, bad decisions or bad habits. It could mean letting go of the past. You can interpret the theme any way you like.

“The Long Way Home is about our stories and who we are. It’s about what makes this place so special and unique,” said the winner of last year’s open category, Kathryn Goldie.

Everyone from school kids to adults is invited to send something in. The competition is open to new, emerging and established writers. This may be the first time you have ever written something, or perhaps you have been writing for years. Let the theme inspire you and start putting down some words.

Claire Aman, one of the Long Way Home directors, explained what she expected to read in the fifth year.

“After four years of collecting stories from across every part of the Clarence Valley, I can say the local writers just get better and better! Have you read the winners from the latest book? They’re amazing,’ said Clair. “So, this year, I want to see how creative our local writers are with the theme. I expect to be surprised, shocked, moved – and to laugh lots.”

The collection of finalists and winners is published every year in a beautifully designed and printed book. ‘Stories From the Clarence Valley 2021 – Look Up’, is available online. It’s also for sale at Grafton Book Warehouse, South Grafton Books and Gifts, Coldstream Gallery, and The Nook in Yamba.