The Share Shed: Writing Competition Entries
Sober Awkward
Victoria Vanstone
4.8 • 535 Ratings
🗓️ 15 July 2026
⏱️ 12 minutes
🔗️ Recording | Apple Podcasts | RSS
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The Share Shed – Sober Awkward Writing Competition Specials - I scream... and she lets go - By Lisa
Every Thursday, we’re handing the story telling over to you.
Over the next few months, Vic will be reading some of the incredible entries from this year’s Sober Awkward Writing Competition. Honest, funny, heartbreaking, hopeful, awkward and beautifully human, these stories come from people all over the world who have experienced the ups and downs of changing their relationship with alcohol.
Whether you’re sober curious, newly alcohol-free, years into recovery, or simply wondering if life might feel better without booze, we hope these stories remind you that you’re not alone.
Writing has a powerful way of helping us make sense of our lives. It can shine a light on things we’ve hidden away, help us process difficult experiences, and remind us just how resilient we really are. Plus, it’s considerably cheaper than therapy and doesn’t require you to wear pants.
So grab a cuppa, get comfortable, and join us for this week’s Share Shed as Vic tells another story from our amazing community.
💛 Resources & Links
📘 Victoria’s memoir – A Thousand Wasted Sundays
A brutally honest and hilarious look at motherhood, anxiety, and ditching the booze.
👉 Buy the book here or head to the website to find out more about writing mentorships with Vic.
🫖 Join The Cuppa Community
Our private, supportive online space for sober folk
📘 Get the Sober Awkward Guide
Our downloadable toolkit for ditching booze the awkward way.
📱 Follow us for daily sober fun:
Instagram: @soberawkward
TikTok: @soberawkward
Facebook: Sober Awkward Community for Women
📞 SUPPORT & RESOURCES
If anything in today’s episode felt familiar, or you’re worried about your drinking, there is support available. You don’t have to do this alone.
🇦🇺 Australia
National Alcohol & Other Drug Hotline
📞 1800 250 015 (24/7)
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/alcohol-and-drug-information-service
Lifeline
📞 13 11 14 (24/7)
https://www.lifeline.org.au
Hello Sunday Morning / Daybreak
https://hellosundaymorning.org
https://daybreakapp.com.au
Clean Slate Clinic
https://www.cleanslateclinic.com
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Drinkline
📞 0300 123 1110
https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-advice/alcohol-support/
Alcohol Change UK
https://alcoholchange.org.uk
We Are With You
https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk
🌍 International
Alcoholics Anonymous
https://www.aa.org
SMART Recovery
https://www.smartrecovery.org
💬 A Gentle Reminder
If you’re drinking in the morning to cope, especially with anxiety or withdrawal symptoms, it’s important to speak to a doctor or medical professional. Stopping alcohol suddenly can be unsafe for some people, and getting support can make a huge difference.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Yep, it's Thursday, which normally means I'd be rifling through your wonderful messages, |
| 0:10.3 | stories and confessions, but for the next few months, we're going to do something a little bit |
| 0:14.8 | different. As many of you know, the annual Sober Awkward Writing Competition has just |
| 0:20.6 | wrapped up, and the competition is now officially closed. |
| 0:24.5 | And honestly, the entries have made me laugh, cry, nod aggressively and occasionally snort tea out of my nose. |
| 0:33.1 | So each Thursday, instead of a share shed story, I'll be reading one of the incredible entries |
| 0:39.1 | sent in by our listeners. Think of it as the Sharesheds jolly cousin, who turned up late to the |
| 0:45.2 | party with a bloody, brilliant story. These tumultuous tales are honest, heartfelt and beautifully |
| 0:51.5 | awkward, which is exactly how we like things around here. |
| 0:55.1 | So grab a cupper, settle in, and let's celebrate the brilliant writers hiding amongst our sober community. |
| 1:03.5 | Welcome to the ShareShed. |
| 1:16.0 | Today's entry into the Sober Awkward Writing Competition is from Lisa. |
| 1:22.1 | She hasn't got a title, but I'm going to call it I scream and she lets go. |
| 1:25.5 | 1998, age eight. |
| 1:28.1 | Mom, you're killing her. |
| 1:32.9 | I scream too scared to leave the huddle of my siblings on the couch. |
| 1:38.1 | Mum releases Nan's neck and turns her fury towards me. |
| 1:43.5 | She lunges, grabs me by the hair and pulls me off the couch. I scream and she lets go. Go to |
| 1:47.9 | fucking bed. She stinks like sour beer. Tears are streaming down my face. 2000. Age 10. |
| 1:57.7 | Flashing lights fill our driveway. Police cars-crashing mum's house party we need the children to come with us an officer says absolutely not mum thunders my kids are not going into foster care kids here weMum grabs my youngest brother, Dane's arm. |
| 2:20.3 | "'You are not taking my kids.' |
| 2:23.0 | "'Dain cries, pulling away from her. |
... |
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