Alexa Winik’s Acceptance Speech for the 2020 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers (Poetry)

Описание: Oct. 21, 2020 – Alexa Winik won the $10,000 RBC Bronwen Wallace Award for Emerging Writers (Poetry) for “Selections from Winter Stars Visible in December,” a sample of her work that explores connections between astrology, literature, and the role of chance.


Read more about the prize at writerstrust.com/BronwenWallace


Speech transcription:

Hello from Edinburgh. If you're watching this today I hope you're keeping safe and well.


Winning the Bronwen Wallace Award is an incredible honour and a truly unexpected gift this year. I keep telling people it feels surreal to process good news like this but mostly I just feel full of sincere gratitude, especially to the Writers’ Trust and RBC for making all this possible and to the jury for your generous reading of my poems. I also want to thank nina and Zoe. It's an honor to be alongside of you on the shortlist, and to read your incredible work. It's a shame that we can't meet tonight in person, but I do hope that our paths will cross again in the future.


This award means so much to me as someone who didn't write very much in my 20s, as I was trying to stay afloat in some difficult times. When I returned to writing a few years ago as an MFA student, it felt like a fresh start and almost like a second life. And this award really is such a tangible support and affirmation to keep going and persevere in my work, so thank you.


I couldn't accept this award, without thinking some very important people in my life. I want to thank my MFA cohort and teachers at St Andrews. Lily, Sean, Mhairi, Zein, Sam, Emma, Don, and Oli. Thank you. I also want to thank Alice and Ryan at the At Sea Writers Residency in Margate. That week last November, writing in that beautiful space was everything I needed to write these poems, and they wouldn't have happened without you.

I want to thank the brilliant poets and writers I've met in Edinburgh who have helped me find my footing and a sense of community here. A special shout out to Rosa Campbell and Becky Birrell for your unflagging, and frankly relentless encouragement, this year. To Emma Jones for your camaraderie in dark times, and wisdom in all things. And to Helena Fornells, who was the first one to read these poems.


I also want to thank my family in Windsor. I miss you. I wish we were celebrating this together. And thank you to my sisters Allison and Juliana for your solidarity through some tough years. And thank you to the mom and dad, you are most persevering people I know. And you've given me everything I need. Thank you.


My last thank you is to Justin, who has been by my side for many, many years, and is always telling me to bet on myself, and in this one particular case was right. So thank you.


To close, these poems were inspired by some notes that we think were written by my grandmother, who has left us now, passed away about 10 years ago. Wee miss her greatly. And in every way imaginable, I wouldn't be here without her. So, I would like to dedicate this award in memory of Eleanor Hyland.


Thank you very much.