THIS is the biggest year so far for the Northern Writers’ Awards, which were founded by Newcastle-based New Writing North in 2000. A total of 866 writers applied for awards, which support work in progress and are the largest talent development programme for writers in the North.

This year’s winners include North-East poet Degna Stone, who previously won a Northern Promise Award in 2010. Daljit Nagra judged the poetry submissions and said: “I thoroughly enjoyed the judging experience because the field was strong and it was heartening to discover so many accomplished poets who were in many cases completely unknown to me. The best poets had a clear vision for their work, which was matched by their formal dexterity. I found myself being constantly thrilled, moved to tears and made to laugh aloud at the range of the exciting poetic stories. I didn’t know judging could be so much fun, quite so rewarding.”

The other judges were: Louise Welsh, Caroline Sheldon, Peter Wilby and Rachel Cooke.

There were new awards for short stories and writing for television, alongside the more established awards for poetry and prose.

Durham-based writer CS Mee won the new Clare Swift Short Story Award. Peter Wilby, judging, said: “Her story lingered in my mind for days after I had read it. It is a wonderful meditation on childhood memory and nostalgia, on family tensions, on the creative process and the writer’s relationship to his characters. The author creates an atmosphere of mystery and faint menace and makes skilful use of metaphor. She hints at a complex reality beneath the surface. This is a bold and ambitious story and it is to the writer’s great credit that she pulls it off.”

The Conor Robinson Award, created in memory of young man from County Durham who died in 2013, while studying at Oxford University, recognises a promising young writer and was won by Wyatt Sugden from Bishop Auckland, who was nominated for the award.

NWA press officer Laura Fraine said: "Two of our New Fiction Bursary winners Amy Lord and Martin Feekins actually share an office at North Yorkshire County Council in Northallerton. Two young people, Jowita Krasik (17, from Newton Aycliffe) and Wyatt Sugden (16, Bishop Auckland) have won young writers awards. Catharine Mee (Durham) won the inaugural Clare Swift Award and Jasmine Simms (originally from Yorkshire, now studying at Durham University) won a New North Poet Award.

The Northern Writers’ Awards are supported by Northumbria University, which has recently confirmed another three years of support to the programme.

Pro vice-chancellor (Business and Engagement) Lucy Winskell OBE said: “We are delighted to continue to support The Northern Writers’ Awards for another three years. These fantastic awards for writers are at the heart of our partnership with New Writing North and further demonstrate the University’s ongoing commitment to celebrate and nurture creative talent in the region.”

Claire Malcolm, chief executive of New Writing North, said: “We will be working with the writers over the coming year to provide support and opportunities, and we look forward to playing a role in their future successes.”

Award winners from the region include:

Northern Writers’ Awards: Caleb Klaces (York), Degna Stone (Newcastle), Shelley Day Sclater (Northumberland)

Matthew Hale Award: Jowita Krasik (Newton Aycliffe)

Conor Robinson Award: Wyatt Sugden (Bishop Auckland)

Clare Swift Short Story Award: CS Mee (Durham)

New North Poets: Kathleen Bainbridge Moran (Newcastle), Jasmine Simms (Durham)

New Fiction Bursaries: Martin Feekins (Northallerton), Amy Lord (Middlesbrough)

Andrea Badenoch Award: Sally Jubb (Scarborough)

Arvon Award: Sarah Wray (Newcastle)

*For full list go to newwritingnorth.com