Are you aged 18 to 25 and live in Queensland? Enter your short story of 2,500 words or less in the Young Writers Award 2011 and you could win $2,000 and career launching opportunities.
Submit your story between 20 May and 15 July for your chance to win.
The competition
The judging panel will select the winner of the Young Writers Award 2011, the recipient for the Maureen Donahoe Encouragement Award and four highly commended entries.
The judging panel consists of The Courier Mail Arts Editor Nathaneal Cooper, Brisbane Writers Centre Director Jane O’Hara, UQP Literary Editor Rosanne Fitzgibbon, author Sue Gough, and novelist and former Young Writers Award winner Alasdair Duncan.
Prizes
The Young Writers Award winner, Encouragement Award recipient and four highly commended entries each receive prize packs.
Prizes include:
* $2,000 to the Young Writers Award winner
* $500 to the Encouragement Award recipient
* 12 month membership to Queensland Writers Centre
* 12 month membership to Australian Writers Marketplace online
* Admission to a Queensland Writers Centre workshop/Industry seminar
* Admission to a Brisbane Writers Festival workshop
Conditions of entry:
Please read these rules and conditions of entry carefully. Entries not conforming to these conditions will not be considered for judging.
1. The short story submitted must be an original work written entirely by the entrant. The entry must be written in English and must not have been previously published, nor offered for publication prior to the announcement of the Young Writers Award.
2. The entry must not exceed 2,500 words.
3. The author must be a current resident of Queensland. Proof of residency may be required.
4. The author must be aged between 18 and 25 years on 15 July 2011. Proof of age may be required.
5. Entries close at 5pm on Friday 15 July 2011.
6. Only one entry per person may be submitted. Entries will not be returned.
7. Entries must be accompanied by an official entry form that has been completed and signed.
8. Entry format: The entry must be typed, double spaced on A4 paper. Do not include your name on the story. Your name should appear on the entry form only.
9. Entries should be submitted via email to publicprograms@slq.qld.gov.au
10. Staff and volunteers of the State Library of Queensland and Queensland Newspapers are ineligible to enter.
11. The judges reserve the right to exclude any entry not complying with these conditions. The decision of the judges is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
12. The Young Writers Award will be given to the entry that the judges consider to have the highest literary merit.
13. The winner of the Young Writers Award receives a cheque for $2,000, a complimentary 12 month membership to Queensland Writers Centre, 12 month membership to Australian Writers Marketplace online, and a complimentary workshop with Queensland Writers Centre (workshop to be designated by QWC), and Brisbane Writers Festival workshop. The winner also receives the opportunity to attend the award presentation at the Premier’s Literary Awards, 6 September 2011.
14. The Maureen Donahoe Encouragement Award is awarded to the runner up, who will receive a cheque for $500, a complimentary membership to Queensland Writers Centre, 12 month membership to the Australian Writers Marketplace online, and a complimentary workshop with Queensland Writers Centre (workshop to be designated by QWC), and Brisbane Writers Festival workshop.
15. Four entries will be selected to receive Highly Commended Awards. Each of these winners will receive a complimentary membership the Queensland Writers Centre, Australian Writers Marketplace online, and a complimentary Industry Seminar with Queensland Writers Centre, and Brisbane Writers Festival workshop.
16. Transportation and accommodation to and from Brisbane for any Queensland Writers Centre workshops or events or Brisbane Writers Festival events will be the responsibility of the award winner.
17. The winning entry may be published in part or whole by The Courier Mail and also on its website.
18. The winning story will be published on the State Library of Queensland website, either in its entirety or an edited version.
19. Award winners will be required to participate in media interviews associated with the announcement of the Young Writers Award. These interviews will be coordinated by the State Library’s Marketing and Communications Unit.
20. Award winners will be required to have their photo taken for publicity purposes.
How to enter
* Write your own original short story of less than 2,500 words.
* Fill in the electronic entry form and save it to your computer.
* Email the entry form and your story submission to publicprograms@slq.qld.gov.au with “Young Writers Award submission” in the email header.
Hints on writing a short story
Thinking of entering? Queensland Writers Centre has some tips on how to get noticed:
* Be confident in your writing.
* Relax and don’t try too hard. Use language that comes naturally to you and when you’re writing, try to let it flow.
* Judges are looking for stories with distinctive and interesting characters and plots – get to know who your characters are and where your plot’s going first, and the language will follow.
* They’re all good ideas, but don’t try to cram them all into one piece. Think about your core themes and characters and stick by them - your loyalty will pay off in the end.
Download electronic entry form >>
Contact Information:
For inquiries: publicprograms@slq.qld.gov.au or call +61 7 3840 7768
For submissions: publicprograms@slq.qld.gov.au
Website: http://www.slq.qld.gov.au
