Montgomery Student Wins Abrams Creative Writing Award

Hannah Johnston, a 2011 grad of Bethesda Chevy-Chase high school, is winner of this year's Fran Abrams Creative Writing Award. The award is a competition open annually to all Montgomery County high school seniors.

Johnston was awarded the $1,000 cash prize at a recent public reception at the Betty Kramer Gallery and Music Room in the . The prize also included an opportunity to do a reading of her work.

"My grandmother was a poet, and I knew from a young age that I wanted to be able to reach people the way she could,” said Johnston, in an email announcing her award.

Johnston, who hopes to direct her own plays, won the award for a play she wrote surrounding the death of a teen in a car crash and the resulting trauma to others. During the event Johnston read aloud a scene from her prize-winning play, assisted by friend Stoff Scott reading the part of a second character. 

As part of the award, a notable writer also does a reading. This year's choice was Amy Stolls, author of The Ninth Wife and other novels, as well as literature program officer for the National Endowent for the Arts.

This is the inaugural year of the Abrams Creative Writing Award, honoring Fran Abrams, who worked throughout her career to support the arts and humanities in Montgomery County. Abrams retired after 41 years of service to Montgomery County, including more than 20 years in non-profits focused on early childhood education, arts and the environment. She is also known by many in her current role as Kramer Gallery manager.

Patch talked with Johnston about receiving the award and her future plans.

Patch: Congratulations on your award. How did you come to enter the writing contest?

Johnston: This was my first time entering a writing competition. My creative writing teacher sent me a link. I decided to submit a play--and it turned out well!

Patch: How did you react when you heard you had won?

Johnston: I had sort of assumed I wouldn't win--so I was very, very surprised to have won! I was very, very happy. I went out for ice cream!

Patch: How did you get started in writing?

Johnston: Writing is a way to to channel your emotions, so I wrote [at an early age]. I took classes at Writer's Center in Bethesda in the fifth and sixth grade. My grandmother was also a published poet. But I've gotten into plays.

Patch: Where did you learn about playwriting?

Johnson: We did a play unit, in creative writing class.

Patch: Tell us more about your play (that won the award).

Johnston: The play is about a teen in high school, going through the trauma of [the death of] a classmate and dealing with loss. I started at the end, with a really big problem and wrote from there.

Patch: That's a heavy topic--was it based on experience?

Johnston: No, I've never experienced anything even close to that! You hear about people going through troubling things. It's hard to identify with it unless you've had the experience. I wanted to understand.

Patch: The main character dies in a car crash--were you ever in a crash?

Johnston: No, I"m just learning to drive. He (the character) is hit by a truck, but it's not his fault.

Patch: What are your plans now that you've graduated?

Johnston: I'll be traveling with Up with People (international travel, community service and performing arts group) for five months. After that I'll be attending Middlebury College in Vermont.

Patch: This award is a great start!

Johnston: Yes. And "$1,000 is very nice, especially heading off to college!"

For more information about The Fran Abrams Creative Writing Award, please contact The Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County.