Announcing Young Romantics, a new creative writing prize
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Version 0 of 1. “A thing of beauty is a joy forever”. Think you could live up to that? Well here’s your chance. Since 1998 the Keats-Shelley Prize has encouraged poets and critics of all ages from around the world to write their own essays and poems on Romantic themes. Now there’s a brand new competition for young writers too! Young Romantics is a competition which asks writers aged between 16 and 18 to enter their poems (max. 20 lines) and short stories (max. 1,000 words) – the only condition is that your work must take their inspiration from the work, lives and ideas of the Romantic poets, and they must refer to the theme of the competition, which this year is Lost Angels. What’s in it for you? Aside from the ultimate bragging rights, of course, the authors of the winning poem and short story will get a week-long creative writing course, and winners and runners up will be awarded £100 book tokens. Plus your poem will be published on the Keats Shelley Memorial Association website (just think, you could start following in the footsteps of Carol Ann Duffy herself, who published her first poetry anthology at just 19!) Find out more and enter here. The closing date for entries is 13 March 2015. But that’s not all. For the very first time this year, students aged 16-18 are invited to enter the essay section of the Keats-Shelley Prize as well, so here’s a chance to put some of that coursework to good use! Essays can be on any aspect of the work and lives of the Romantic poets and their circle – so that’s Keats and Shelley, but also Lord Byron, Wordsworth, Coleridge, William Blake… Heck with some lateral thinking you might even squeeze in Jane Austen! The essays don’t need to be long – 1,500 words including quotations is the limit – and the deadline is 1 February 2015. Winning essays are published in The Keats-Shelley Review (how awesome would that be for uni applications?!) Head here for all the Ts & Cs, and to enter. Shortlists for both prizes will be announced on the Keats Shelley Memorial Association website in March/April and the winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 21 April 2015. For all the latest kids books news – and to comment – join us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter (@GdnChildrensBks)! |