Kirsty Lock was judged the best adult short story writer at the Brimbank Literary Awards. 71156 Picture: JOE MASTROIANNI
By Laura Wakely
DEER Park’s Kirsty Lock has had her first sweet taste of victory.
The 24-year-old took out the Adult Short Story in the Brimbank Literary Awards with her story “And Honey for Sweetness”.
The story centres around a girl coming to terms with her sister’s death.
But there’s a twist.
In this story the dead remain with their families and live alongside them as long as they don’t let them back in the family home.
“It can be a little dark in places,” Kirsty said.
“I’d started writing it in bits and pieces.
“Last year my grandparents passed away and the story really got going.”
While Kirsty had her share of high school accolades, this is her first win in a professional writing competition.
“I was quite shocked really and a little bit terrified, because I had to read the story to everyone.”
Kirsty, who is completing a masters in library information management, dreams of getting her work published, but she’s not sure about a full-time career as an author.
“It takes me a long time to finish anything,” she said.
“From what I understand it’s very rare to become an author full-time.
“But if I do, I’d love to get them published and share them with people.”
Other winners included Vinh Nguyen for Teenage Short Story, Jake Stevens for Children’s Short Story, May Tang for English as a Second Language Short Story, Terry Lee for Adult Poetry, Hashela Kumarawansa for Teenage Poetry and Deshan Williams for Children’s Poetry.
In its sixth year, the Brimbank Literary Awards attracted 141 entries, of which 22 were finalists.
Kirsty encouraged other residents to give the competition a go.
“The best advice I learnt was ‘just keep writing’,” Kirsty said.
“It doesn’t matter how talented someone is, if they don’t finish something no-one will ever read it.”
