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NEW WRITING COMPETITION FOR KIDS AND ADULTS

CYA Conference

Writing and Illustrating Competition Opens TODAY!

For entry forms and more info: www.cyaconference.com

Deadline: Closes: 30th April 2012.

Entry Fee:   Online entry.

Unpublished:                          AUS$ 16.50 ($1.50 GST Included) or by Paypal $17.50 (including GST        and charges.)

Published:                              AUS$ 33.00 ($3.00 GST Included) or by Paypal $36.00 (including GST and charges.)

Hatchlings (8 – 18yrs):   AUS$ 11.00 ($1.00 GST Included) or by Paypal $11.50 (including GST and charges)

Categories:

Unpublished: Picture Book –preschool aged children, Picture Book – primary aged children, Picture Book Non Fiction – primary aged children, Chapter Book, Young Adults, Graphic Novel (words & illustrations), illustrated Picture Books (words & illustrations) and Illustration.

Published: Published Author Competition.

Hatchlings: Picture Books preschool and primary aged children, Chapter book and Young adult, Graphic novels and illustrated picture books.

Prize for each section:

Unpublished: Writing & Illustrating: – $100.00 per category, and submission of short listed entries to at least one publisher of children’s books.

Published Authors: Critique of winning entry by Zoe Walton – Publisher of books for Children and Young Adults at Random HouseAustralia, and a face to face editor/agent appointment at conference with industry professional of their choice attending.

Hatchlings: $100.00 per category, and submission of short listed entries to at least one publisher of children’s books, and a book pack to school of winning entry per section.

All entries receive their judge’s feedback by 31st August 2012.

See web site for details: www.cyaconference.com

This is a really great competition because even if you don’t win you get very constructive and helpful feedback from the judges.

Good luck and happy writing:)

Dee:)

 

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DECEMBER COMPETITION WINNERS!

Thanks to our fabulous December feature author, Laura Elliott for donating her fabulous books Winnemucca and 13 on Halloween as prizes in this month’s competition.

There weren’t as many entries in our December competition.  I guess everyone was enjoying the festive season.

But the entries received were of a very high standard, making judging difficult. Some of the criteria used in judging this month’s competition were:

  • Originality of ideas
  • Story’s ability to hook the reader in right from the start
  • Clarity and fluency of writing
  • Element of suspense and scariness
  • Tension in the story
  • Strength of the ending
  • Surprise elements in the story, particularly the ending
  • Character development

There were some great original ideas, some amazing plot twists and some great characters in these stories.

Tips for the future:

  • Don’t make plots too complicated in short pieces
  • Hook your reader in right from the start. The reader has to engage with your main character straight away and care what happens to them. Start with a piece of action or a strong reveal about your main character.
  • Keep your descriptions simple but powerful – try using active verbs to set the scene rather than adjectives.

Congratulations to everyone who entered our December competition. Writing a piece and submitting it is a fantastic achievement and shows your commitment to your writing.

OUR PRIZE WINNERS ARE:

ADULT WRITERS

Two great entries tied for first place in our adult category.

First place: A Smashing Moment by Michelle Dennis Evans

First place: Mary by Michaela Sanderson

Highly Commended: Grey Water Gruesome by Kaye Baillie

 

8-12 YEAR OLD WRITERS

First place: The Unseen Blight by Jake Flinthart

 

13-17 YEAR OLD WRITERS

First place: Monster by Samantha Whitehouse

If you weren’t a prize winner in our December competition, please don’t be disheartened. Judging writing is a subjective thing and just because your piece wasn’t a winner in this competition, it doesn’t mean that another judge won’t love it.

There will also be plenty more writing competitions to enter at this blog in 2012.

Please keep writing and submitting your entries in the great competitions happening this year at Writing Classes For Kids.

 

 

 

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