Lila becomes first winner of young writers’ cup

Lila Katz, age 12, has become the first winner of the Anne Hooker Cup, an annual award recognising the member of the Hastings Young Writers group who has made the most impressive progress with their writing. Nick Terdre reports.

Lila, a long-running member of the Hastings Young Writers, was chosen as the winner for progressing with her writing and developing the confidence to read it aloud.

“We’re very grateful to Anne Hooker for providing this award,”  said group organiser Liz Caluori. “Although all our members deserve recognition, Lila is a very worthy winner. She’s a wonderful writer and a very popular member of the group.”

Anne Hooker, a retired member of Hastings Writers Group, is an appropriate role model for the young writers.

Founded in 2018, Hastings Young Writers has hosted a number of writing workshops with guest speakers, as well as writing collaboratively and reading their work at the Hastings LitFest.

They have also published two anthologies of their work, Salt in the Wound and Full Stop. A new anthology is in the works, based on a post Covid theme, Caluori told HOT. Other young writers in the Hastings area will be also be invited to contribute.

Since their post-lockdown relaunch in September 2021, Hastings Young Writers have held meetings on topics such as fantasy and horror writing. In November they were visited by their patron Kate O’Hearn, author of the Pegasus and Titans series.

They will also be participating again in Hastings Litfest, though details are yet to be finalised. Last year three members read their work at a session with the festival’s patron, playwright David Hare.

Hastings Young Writers, which is open to 11 to 17-year-olds living locally, meet fortnightly on Mondays from 5 to 7pm at the White Rock Hotel. For more information contact liz@hastingsyoungwriters.co.uk.

Also in: Young People