SydneyYouthWriting

Sydney Youth Writing Competition 2012 now open for entries

Welcome to the 7th annual Sydney Youth Writing Competition for primary school students.

Enter your story, poem, play, script or free choice and you could win great prizes such as short courses at NIDA and The Writing Workshop, ATYP, books from Scholastic and Cambridge University Press, book vouchers from Ariel Books, kites from Kite Magic, and more.

This year the signature words are key, face and cloud. Your entry must include at least one of the signature words but does not have to be about these words. You can use the words in any way. For example they can be used as a noun (singular or plural), an adjective or a verb (in any tense).

Teachers can win prizes too for inspiring their students and for all their hard work in getting entries in on time. Prizes include tickets to Opera Australia, Griffin Theatre, Riverside Parramatta, and more.

Categories:

Two age groups: Years 3 & 4 and Years 5 & 6

Short story: 750 words maximum

Poem: 25 lines maximum

Play/Script: two A4 pages maximum

Free choice: one A4 page maximum

Free choice can include a newspaper article, short comic piece, letters, diary entries, advertisements, etc. No pictures.

Closing date: Tuesday 19 June 2012. Finalists will be announced on the website on 1 November 2012. Awards night and venue to be confirmed. Watch the site for updates.

Important

Please read Entry Conditions carefully

For judging and publishing we ask that all entries (hard and soft copy) be in Times New Roman 12 point with no fancy headings.

Entries must be sent in both hard copy and electronically to be eligible for inclusion:

Hard copy via mail with a copy of the signed entry form to PO Box 724 Alexandria NSW 1435. (No names on entries - just on the form)

Electronic copy via email in a .doc, .docx or .rtf format to [email protected]. Please include the entrant's name in the email so that we can use search to find shortlisted finalists quickly. You can send multiple entries in one email.

History

The competition was developed in 2006 and now includes categories for short stories, plays and scripts, poetry, and free choice.

In 2011 over 120 schools entered with over 2,500 entries. Moon Mirror and Beyond featuring all the winning entries was launched on 23 November at Customs House Circular Quay.

In 2010 over 100 schools across NSW entered the competition with over 1,600 entries. The book Thunder and Lime was launched on November 24.

In 2009 there were over 1500 entries from all over NSW which shows how schools are really working on literacy and writing. Some of Australia's great authors such as Morris Gleitzman and Andy Griffiths gave writing tips in our 2009 book: Shadow and Rock.

In 2008 over 1000 entries were received with the best entries published in Asphalt and Feathers. The book launch and awards night was held at the Barnet Long Room Customs House Circular Quay with Australia's 'greatest living author' David Malouf AO.

Sydney Youth Writing Competition Inc is a not for profit organisation which benefits from the generosity of our benefactors and sponsors. We thank our generous sponsors.