We have already presented the "tomorrow with four hands" contest in November 2019. After several weeks of writing workshops, the big day has arrived: the announcement of the winners of this Intergenerational Competition led by Mr. Olivier BROUX (director Logéa) and Mrs. Lucille ARNAUD (Professor of Letters in Saint-Paul).
First step: the jury meets in the morning
On February 19, 2020, the jury meets in St. Paul to share opinions regarding the reading of the news. Five people make up the latter: Mr. Dominique de Jarnac (creator of the AZERTY Foundation, the writing workshop and the national device), Mr. Abdelkader DJEMA-(writer and sponsor of the workshop), Ms. VANMASSENHOVE (Departmental Council), Ms. Isabelle ENGELHARD, representing Mr. Eric PINTAUD (President of the Alumni Association) and Mr. Emmanuel DELAVAUD (Professor of Letters). Mr Olivier BROUX (Director Logéa) and Mrs Laurence KRYNICKI (Professor of Documentalist) moderated the debates.
Jury deliberations "Tomorrow with four hands"
Each member, of course, read the five news stories in advance and completed the scorecard. After everyone has presented themselves the discussion begins around these writings. There is real unanimity about the quality of the work and the commitment of juniors and seniors alike. It should be remembered that 15 high school students (from the Second to the Terminal) and 8 retired people are engaged with loyalty and assiduity since the beginning of the workshop despite the fears of the beginning.
He clarified "the importance of the fall" in this literary art and the very principle of the short story: "to get to the bottom"; he adds: with the news, we enter into a form of urgency, time management."
Mr DELAVAUD said: "I admired, because they are taken in time (…) you have to be efficient … work as a team, get to know each other. Each time t[prendre]wo hours, write a text, reflect and build its history, reread, trust each other… it's a huge job."
And Mr. DJEMA-says: "the word nourishes the text." What is important is that "they become producers, that's what makes the virtue of this type of experience".
At the end of the exchanges, the ranking looms. Points are awarded to each news item; 5 points for the one who has the preference at 1 point. Each one makes his ranking, the points accumulate and the final ranking is established.
Finally the results
The long awaited moment is finally here. After many weeks of work, all participants will know the result, find out what news has won the jury's preference.
Young and old are happy to meet one last time in St. Paul. Families are present as well as some officials, representatives of the external bodies.
M CONSTANTIN says a welcome note:
Then JarNAC's M speaks:
Finally, it was Mr. DJEMA-who concluded. It traces the progress made, clarifies the requirements of the literary genre of the "New" and summarizes the jury's deliberations. He then announces the results:
The ranking is:
- First: "Unnamed"
- Second: "Because it was him, because it was me"
- Third: "The Shadow of A Doubt"
The other two short stories ("Ts Hav" and "From one world to another") end up tied.
At the end of the results everyone receives a booklet that gathers all the stories as well as a souvenir photo. Last exchanges over coffee or tea before parting, which allows to share the memories of this journey traveled together.
Next step: the publication of a book bringing together the three short stories of Saint-Paul and those of the other participants in the contest "Tomorrow with four hands" (the Paul Claudel High School in Paris and the Sainte-Marie High School in Neuilly).