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Blincoe and O’Neill named winners of the Curae Prize
Kate Blincoe and Helen O’Neill have been named winners of the Curae Prize for writers who are carers, launched by author Anna Vaught in late 2022 to “offer a platform to writer-carers, offering creative focus and access to the publishing industry".
Helen O’Neill wins the non-fiction prize for ALP650 and Kate Blincoe wins the fiction prize for Reborn.
Launched in January 2023, writers were encouraged to either enter a short story or piece of non-fiction – or creative non-fiction – of up to 4,000 words. The prize was judged blind by a panel comprising Anna Vaught, Michael Langan, Amy Lord and Elissa Soave.
Vaught described the winning fiction entry, Reborn, as "an exquisitely structured and nuanced piece of writing, simultaneously lyrically beautiful and darkly disturbing". The judges were drawn to the "superbly controlled and inventive narrative and the surprising and beguiling contrasts in the subject matter", saying that "it stood out from the beginning".
Lord added: "Reborn was a moving, unexpected piece about the power of nature to heal the wounds of modern life. The sense of anxiety felt by the protagonist is palpable, and the story captures the intensity and unreality of a life lived in an online bubble, where things can become magnified and distorted, impacting on our relationships and mental health."
Vaught described the winning (creative) non-fiction piece ALP650 as "a superbly sustained and deeply affecting account of family life, growing up and coming to understand the mortality and all too human imperfections of a father, tracing a history through his record collection, using finely realised detail of music to surround the reader".
Lord added: "LP650 was full of beautifully evocative writing, and I loved the musical thread running through the piece and how it connected the narrator to memories of their father, revealing a very human, flawed but much-loved figure whose passion for music shaped those around him."
Langan added: "It was a joy and a privilege to read the entries for the inaugural Curae prize. Our winners each deal with our relationships with each other through different technologies – one analogue and one digital. Both writers have created vivid and moving explorations of how the self and our identities are formed by these media – vinyl records and social media – as conduits to understanding, and how we engage emotionally with them. It was exciting and moving to read both pieces."
Soave added more broadly, "I am in awe of their ability not only to produce the work they did but to have done so in the most of challenging of circumstances".
The winners receive a flexible combination of some or all of a long list of opportunities, outlined in full on the prize’s website, including a £500 bursary each, donated by author Lorraine Rogerson, three online writing workshops courtesy of the Arvon Foundation, coaching with Sarah Rigby, director of Elliot and Thompson and a year’s subscription to Mslexia magazine.
In November, an anthology celebrating the works that made it on to the shortlist will be published by Renard Press, including the two winning pieces. Proceeds will go to carers’ charities.
Blincoe said: “The Curae Prize has been an absolute gift that keeps on giving. Not only did it bring a boost of confidence at a really dark time, it also has started a wonderful support group of other writer-carers, which is a safe, caring place to share resources, inspiration and solidarity. I’ve already benefited so much from Anna’s wisdom, tenacity and cheerleading, and the relentless way she stands up for those who can be invisible, even though her own circumstances are tough.”
O’Neill said: “I have always enjoyed writing and have returned to it in the past few years as my life has changed. Being recognised in this prize is an encouragement that my creative side is alive and well.”
