The University’s “Magnolia Day” tree, located in the historic Quad, is the surprising star of the winning staff entry in Writer 2023. Photo: Dave Bull.
A magnolia tree whose flowering normally heralds the arrival of spring for University of Otago staff is the unlikely star of one of the winning stories in Writer 2023, the University of Otago’s annual creative writing competition.
Molly Crighton.
Molly Crighton, of the University’s Bioethics Centre, won the staff fiction section of the contest with her story 95 Million Years which features a cardigan-wearing administrator who secretly feasts on University flora with surprising results.
She says she is “happy and honoured” to win alongside the other category winners:
Student poetry: Kim Tait
Runner up: Kathy Nam
Student fiction: Sydney Rodriguez
Runner up: Judah Song
Staff poetry: Mandy Phipps-Green
Runner up: Melissa Audeau
Staff fiction: Molly Crighton
Runner up: David Jenkins
Alumni poetry: Val O'Reilly
Runner up: Charissa Murphy
Alumni fiction: Caellin (Monti) Rodgers
Runners up: Anne Lim and Feby Idrus
Crighton was inspired to write 95 Million Years by the many “stunning” stories, myths and poems that feature metamorphosis she has read, such as Annihilation by Jeff Vandermeer, the myths of Daphne and Arachne and fairytales such as The Six Swans.
“I love to read and write about that kind of impossibility, so ended up using it to interpret the theme of ‘The Getting of Wisdom.’ Magnolias were really forefront in my mind the week I wrote the story – there are some lovely ones on my walk to work, and our beautiful campus magnolia was in full bloom at the time – so I ended up using that imagery to work with the theme.”
Her imagery resonated with judge, current University of Otago Burns Fellow Kathryn van Beek – who says she was “utterly charmed by this story.”
“I enjoyed the contrast of the everyday university environment with the fantastical elements, and the interesting science facts that were woven through. The imagery was also strong, e.g. ‘the corridor is a dancehall for dust motes’.”
For the second year in a row, the contest was open to alumni in addition to staff and students, and both the turnout and standard were very high – with sex, murder and diarrhoea among the topics explored in the nearly 100 entries.
Van Beek says other ideas explored included the place of artificial intelligence in society, the wonders of the natural world, and of course, Barbie (or more specifically, Ken).
“After Ken, the tūī is the character that makes the most appearances in these lively and intelligent stories and poems, which demonstrate the incredible wealth of creative talent in the University of Otago whānau.”
She says different writers had different takes on the 2023 competition theme: “the getting of wisdom.”
“For some, wisdom can be gained by paying attention to the world around us. For others, wisdom can be found within ourselves, or be passed down through generations. Many characters stumble in their quests to gain wisdom, making for playful and amusing scenarios.”
She says all of this year’s entrants should be proud of their work.
“Each piece is thoughtful, funny, lyrical, well-structured, or emotionally moving, and many pieces have all of these qualities. Though Artificial Intelligence is a common theme, the compassionate hearts and curious minds of these writers reassure me that computers are no match for us yet. Aldous Huxley wrote: “Words can be like X-rays if you use them properly – they’ll go through anything. You read and you’re pierced.” The writers in the University of Otago whānau can be commended for their X-ray words that reveal much about the human condition.”
The competition was established in 2019 as part of the University’s 150th celebrations. It is organised by University Publications Editor Lisa Dick and English and Linguistics Programme Senior Teaching Fellow Nicola Cummins and supported by University Book Shop, Otago University Press, Dunedin City of Literature, Otago Access Radio and the Otago Daily Times.
But back to Crighton and her winning story. Did she taste a magnolia flower during her research phase?
“Not even a nibble, I’m afraid! The least-edible thing I ever ate was a wasp – and no transmutation took place (thankfully).”
For more information please contact:
Lisa Dick (Competition co-organiser)
Publications Editor
University of Otago
Email lisa.dick@otago.ac.nz
Mob +64 21 036 1732
Nicola Cummins (Competition co-organiser)
Senior Teaching Fellow
English and Linguistics programme
University of Otago
Email nicola.cummins@otago.ac.nz
Molly Crighton
Staff fiction winner
Email molly.crighton@otago.ac.nz