Thursday, December 30, 2010

New Zealand Romance Writing Competition 2011

New Zealand's annual romance writing competition, the 2011 Clendon Award is now open and receiving entries up to and including 26 February 2011. Romance Writers of New Zealand Inc who administer the Clendon Award are accepting full manuscripts from unpublished New Zealand authors who aspire to become published romance writers.

Clendon Award New Zealand Romance Writing Competition 2011
Manuscripts submitted to the romance writing competition must be between 45,000 and 110,000 words. Submissions can be aimed at a specific market and marked accordingly eg Harlequin Mills & Boon sweet, Intrigue, Superromance, etc. An entry fee of NZ $55.00 applies per entry.

Up to 8 romance writers will read and scrutinize submitted manuscripts. Entrants to the romance writers contest can expect detailed feedback about their work. Manuscripts that make the final cut will be judged by Mary-Theresa Hussey, the New York based executive editor of Harlequin books, the world's leading publishing house of romance fiction.

If you are intending to enter you will need to already be or be prepared to become a financial member of Romance Writers of New Zealand

Submission Guidelines

  • Each entry must be the original work of the author and be previously unpublished. Submissions must not have been accepted for any other competition at the closing date of the competition
  • Manuscripts must be between 45,000 and 110,000 words in length
  • Each entry must be accompanied by the $55 entry fee and the official entry form

    Closes: 26 February 2011
Full Submission Guidelines and Entry Form

Entries should be posted to:

Clendon Award
C/- RWNZ, Lothian,
231 Opaheke Road RD4
Papakura, 2584
Auckland
New Zealand

Further information about the Clendon Award can be obtained from the Romance Writers of New Zealand website


Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Takahe Poetry Competition 2010 NZ Writing Competition

Make sure you don't miss entering the Takahe Poetry Competition 2010 which closes on 30 September 2010. This year's annual New Zealand poetry writing contest will be judged by acclaimed New Zealand Poet, James Norcliffe.

The winner of the Takahe Poetry Competition 2010 will receive a first prize of $250. The second prize is $100 in cash. There are also free yearly subscriptions to the Takahe magazine for the two runners up. Winning entries will be published in the future issues of the Takahe magazine.





The Takahe poetry contest is open to poets from around the world. Work submitted must not have been previously published.

There is no limit to the number of entries an author can submit. The cost per entry is NZ $5.00.

Poets have free reign to unleash whatever they are passionate about as there is no set theme for the poetry competition. Poems are, however, limited to 50 lines. Copyright stays with the poet.

Read the winning poem by Emma Neale from the 2008 Takahe Poetry Competition

Submission Guidelines
  1. Each entry must be the original work of the author and be previously unpublished
  2. The maximum length of each entry is 50 lines.
  3. Entries must be typed on A4 paper and printed on one side only
  4. The entrants name must not appear on the manuscript
  5. Each entry must be accompanied by the $5 entry fee along with a self addressed envelope for return of results and entries
    Closes: 30 September 2010
Full Submission Guidelines and Entry Form

Entries should be posted to:

Takahe Poetry Competition 2010
PO Box 13-335
Christchurch 8141
New Zealand

Queries about the competition can be emailed to: admin@takahe.org.nz

Monday, September 20, 2010

Global Short Story Writing Competition

If you are a New Zealand writer with a hankering to have your writing exposed to an international audience then you may be interested in entering the Global Short Story Competition, a writing competition with the backing of acclaimed travel writer, Bill Bryson.

The Global Short Story Competition, a monthly writing competiton run by Durham University in England, is open to writers from all over the world. The writing contest has been developed to showcase unknown writers and to build an international community of writers.




Each month a winning story along with a highly commended entry are selected for cash prizes - £100 GBP for the winner and £25 GBP for the runner-up. Winning stories of the Global Short Story competition are displayed on the Global Short Stories website. At the end of 12 months each winner is considered for a cash prize of £250 GBP and inclusion in an e-anthology.

In order to enter the writing contest online you need to be registered on the Global Short Story site. You can either pre-register or do so at the time that you submit your short story. The cost to enter the Global Short Story Competition is £5 GBP per story which can be paid electronically via Paypal. Postal entries are also accepted.

Submission Details


  1. Entries must be not more than 2,000 words and may be on any theme
  2. Entries must be by writers aged 17 or over.
  3. Entries are limited to no more than 4 entries per individual per judging period.
  4. Entries must be written in English.
  5. The author retains copyright for short stories submitted however winning stories will be posted to the Global Short Story website.

Read more about submission guidelines and competition rules

Queries about the competition to: john.dean@certys.co.uk

Enter Global Short Story Competition online

or

Post entries to:

Certys Office
Livingstone House
29 High Northgate
Darlington
Co Durham
England DL1 1UQ

Entries need to be marked Global Short Story Competition and contain the £5 entry fee. Cheques should made payable to Certys Limited.



Monday, September 13, 2010

Unity Books Short Story Writing Competition 2010

Unity Books in association with Sport Magazine is running a short story writing competition with a difference. The writing contest entitled The Long and the Short of It is looking for short stories that "inspire, inquire, disrupt and explain our lives" and challenges writers to submit a story "worth passing on."

The writing competition is open to all New Zealand writers and residents. Only one entry per person is permitted. Winning entries will be published in a book, "The Long and the Short" which will be launched at the Auckland Writers and Readers Festival 2011.

The writing contest will be judged by acclaimed authors: Elizabeth Knox, Emily Perkins and Bill Manhire. There are two categories: the short (under 1000 words) and the long (over 10,000 words). The winner of each category will receive a $1000.00 Unity Books voucher and will be published in Sport Magazine.


Unity Books Short Story Writing Competition - The Long and the Short of It


Submission Guidelines

  1. Open to NZ citizens and residents only
  2. Submission must not have been previously published or broadcast
  3. Submissions should not be named and need to be accompanied by the official entry form
Closing Date: 24 December 2010

Download Entry Form or

Enter online at Unity Books Long and Short of It Writing Competition


Sunday, September 5, 2010

Christchurch Writers Festival 2010 Cancelled

What a shame that due to the earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand The Press Christchurch Writers Festival was cancelled. The biennal event which was scheduled to be held over 4 days from 9 - 12 September 2010 was to bring together 80 writers, thinkers, journalists and performers from both New Zealand and overseas over 50 events. Our hearts go out to all the people affected by this terrible disaster.

More information about the programme and invited guests for The Press Christchurch Writers Festival 2010

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Creative Writing Courses in New Zealand

A guide to short and longer creative writing courses available in New Zealand online and at universities, polytechnics and private training institutions. Whether you write fiction, non fiction, poetry, travel, for children, script writing or life writing find a course to meet your learning needs.

SHORT NZ CREATIVE WRITING COURSES


Wanaka Autumn Art School
Short course on some aspect of creative writing. Varies from year to year depending on invited facilitator.

Metheven Summer School
Some years the programme includes writing courses such as travel writing

Bay of Plenty Polytechnic
Summer courses offered include a writing course such as writing for children

University of Waikato Summer School
Creative writing courses such as writing historical fiction are offered as part of the Waikato University summer school programme.

University of Canterbury Community Education
Courses of study include writing for children, writing for profit, writing a first novel.
Delivery: Morning and evening sessions
The University also offers writing courses such as writing for the screen, telling stories and creative writing skills and techniques as part of its summer school programme

Centre for Continuing Education University of Auckland
Choose creative writing courses on poetry, the novel, non-fiction, travel writing, life writing and historical fiction.

New Zealand Writers College
Independent education provider offering a variety of creative writing courses including travel writing, poetry, script writing, memoir writing, novel writing

The Creative Hub
Independent writing centre based in Auckland offering short and longer courses in travel writing, creative writing, fiction writing and advanced fiction writing.

Kara School of Romance Writing
3 day live-in romance writing course with Daphne Clair and Robyn McDonald


LONGER NZ CREATIVE WRITING COURSES


NorthTec

Diploma in Applied Writing Level 5
Diploma in Applied Writing Level 6
Diploma in Advanced Applied Writing Level 7
Covers: Myth, Legend and Folktale, Practical and Academic Skills, Non Fiction, Short Story, Plays and Scripts, Novel 1, Picture Book, Cultural Studies, History of Literature, Poetry 1, Te Tuhituhi ma Nga Tamariki
Delivery: Online. Study full-time or part-time over 34 weeks.

Waiariki Institute of Technology

Certificate in Creative Writing
Diploma in Creative Writing
Writing topics covered are creative writing skills, how to write fiction, travel writing, writing for children, writing non fiction, writing screenplays, technical writing.
Delivery: on campus, online. Part-time or full-time

University of Waikato

Offers creative writing courses including creative non fiction, historical fiction.

Massey University

Undergraduate and interest creative writing courses in expressive arts including travel writing, poetry, fiction writing, play writing, life writing and script writing.

Whitireia Community Polytechnic

Bachelor of Applied Arts (Creative Writing)
Diploma in Creative Writing (Advanced)
Diploma in Creative Writing
Covers: Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, scriptwriting and writing for children.
Delivery: 1 years full-time study. Study online option.

Victoria University

Both graduate and undergraduate creative writing courses of study including poetry, short fiction and writing for children.

Nelson Malborough Institute of Technology (NMIT)

Diploma in Creative Writing
Course Covers: Fiction, non-fiction, poetry, writing for children and young adults, scriptwriting, documentary.
Delivery: On campus

Canterbury University

Master of Fine Arts Degree (Creative Writing)

Aoraki Polytechnic

Certificate in Creative Writing
Certificate in Creative Writing for Publication
Course Covers: Both fiction and non-fiction
Delivery: 34 weeks part-time study in Dunedin, online option


We endeavor to provide accurate information for this page but information may not be up-to-date. Please check with the learning institute for full details.



Thursday, July 1, 2010

Sunday Star-Times Short Story Competition 2010

Entries are now open for the annual Sunday Star Times Short Story Competition 2010. The writing competition carries a first prize of $5000 in cash. Generous cash prizes together with book prizes from Random House are up for grabs too in both the open and secondary school divisions. Plus the writing competition also offers a special prize of $200 in books for the best short story from an unpublished writer.

The prestigious Sunday Star Times Short Story contest which seeks to encourage aspiring New Zealand writers has been operating since 1984. Past winners of the short story competition have included many notable New Zealand writers such as Norman Bilbrough, Judith White, Barbara Anderson, Linda Olsson and Sarah Quigley.

The Sunday Star Times Short Story Competition 2010 will be judged by noted New Zealand writers Charlotte Grimshaw and Joy Cowley. There is also a Peoples' Choice Award where excerpts from the ten finalists' stories will be published online and the winner decided entirely by public vote. $750 cash plus $250 worth of books from Random House and the story published in Sunday Star-Times will be awarded to the winner of the People's Choice.

The winners of the Sunday Star Times Short Story Competition 2010 will be announced in the Sunday Star-Times and on the Sunday Star-Times website (www.shortstory.co.nz) on October 31, 2010. The winning three stories will be published in the Sunday Star-Times.

Read last year's winning short story in the open section The Concentrators by Sue Francis.

Prizes

OPEN DIVISION
1st prize: $5000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $500 worth of books from Random House
2nd prize: $2000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $300 worth of books from Random House
3rd prize: $1000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times and $200 worth of books from Random House

SECONDARY SCHOOL DIVISION
1st prize: $1000 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times, work experience day at Random House (day imediately after awards ceremony) PLUS $500 worth of Random House books and a $500 Whitcoulls gift card for the finalist’s school.
2nd prize: $500 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times PLUS $300 worth of Random House books and a $300 Whitcoulls gift card for the finalist’s school
3rd prize: $250 cash, story published in the Sunday Star-Times PLUS $200 worth of Random House books and a $200 Whitcoulls gift card for the finalist’s school.

BEST UNPUBLISHED WRITER
Time with fiction publisher Harriet Allan and $200 worth of books from Random House.

PEOPLES’ CHOICE AWARD
$750 cash, story published in Sunday Star-Times and $250 worth of books from Random House.


Submission Guidelines

  1. Entry is open to New Zealand permanent residents only
  2. Stories must be the original work of the entrant and must not have been published or broadcast or entered into any other competition until after November 1, 2010
  3. The maximum length of entries is 3000 words
  4. All entries must be accompanied by a manuscript, typed in English, double-spaced and on one side of A4 paper only
  5. All personal information is to be printed on a separate cover page, with only page numbers and story title on all other pages
  6. The Secondary School Division is open only to secondary school students. Entrants must be enrolled and attending a secondary school in New Zealand up to August 29, 2010

Closing Date: Friday August 27 2010 at 5pm

Download Sunday Star-Times Short Story Competition 2010 Official Entry Form

Send the completed entry form and your manuscript to:
Sunday Star-Times Short Story Competition, PO Box 1074, Auckland 1140.

Full Submission Guidelines


Sunday, June 20, 2010

Her Magazine Monthly Short Story Competition

If your aim is become a published New Zealand short story writer then you may wish to enter the Her Magazine short story competition.

Her Magazine, is a monthly New Zealand women's business magazine aimed at entrepreneurial women whose goal is to be self-employed, start their own business or grow their business.

Each month the Her Magazine runs a short story competition. Entries must be original and previously unpublished. Her Magazine retains first publication rights for all winning entries for a period of six months.

Submission Guidelines
  1. Entries to have a maximum of 1200 words and be double spaced
  2. Each entry must be the author’s original work
  3. Entries must not have been published before
  4. Entries can only be submitted once
  5. Submissions must be accompanied by a short biography of the writer

Email submissions to: hermag@strettonpublishing.co.nz

More details: Her Magazine Short Story Competition


Saturday, June 5, 2010

Writing Competition BNZ Literary Awards 2010

The BNZ Literary Awards 2010 formerly known as the BNZ Katherine Mansfield Awards is calling for short stories from New Zealand writers for 2010. Whether you are a young writer, novice writer or more seasoned writer the BNZ Literary Awards is a writing competition which offers you the chance to gain both recognition as a writer and win cash prizes.


The BNZ Literary Awards, an annual writing competition, now into its 51st year, was founded to celebrate New Zealand literature and to acknowledge the work of New Zealand's most famous short story writer, Katherine Mansfield.

Over the years the short story writing competition has been won by many famous New Zealand writers such as Frank Sargeson, Maurice Shadbolt, Keri Hulme, Charlotte Grimshaw and CK Stead. With a major cash prize of $10,000 the BNZ Literary Awards is today the leading short story competition on New Zealand's writing competition calendar.

The BNZ Literary Awards 2010 is divided into 3 categories each carrying its own cash prize and conditions of entry. The writing competition is organized as follows:

  • Main Award - BNZ Katherine Mansfield Awards
    Minimum length 1,000 words
    Maximum length 5,000 words
    Cash Prize: $10,000
  • BNZ Novice Writer Award
    The Novice Writer Award is only open to entrants who have not previously had creative writing published or broadcast
    Minimum length 1,000 words
    Maximum length 3,000 words
    Cash Prize: $1,500
  • BNZ Young Writer Award
    The BNZ Young Writer category seeks to encourage entrants from New Zealand secondary school students. In addition to the individual prize a cash prize will also be awarded to the winner's school.
    Minimum length 750 words
    Maximum length 2,000 words
    Cash Prize: Winner awarded $1,500
    Winner's school awarded $2,000

Closing Date: 23 July 2010

Enter online or by post. Competition details are available from any branch of the BNZ.

BNZ Literary Awards 2010 Conditions of Entry
Download BNZ Literary Awards 2010 Entry Form

Related Links
Other New Zealand Writing Competitions



Monday, May 10, 2010

CLL Writers' Awards Open for 2010

The Copyright Licensing Ltd Writers' Awards known as the CLL Writers' Awards are open for 2010. Each year two awards of $35,000 are granted to provide financial support to 2 established writers to devote time to a specific non-fiction writing project.

To be eligible to enter applicants must be either New Zealand citizens or have permanent residency status. Other requirements of entry are that applicants must be proven writers of merit, supply an outline of the proposed work and a completed Working Plan of how the Award will be used.



To qualify for the CLL Writers' Award the project must be non-fiction. Some examples of acceptable themes are history, biography, natural or social history, specialist non-fiction, general non-fiction, personal memoir, educational textbook or reference book, guide book, “how-to” book.

Applications to the CLL Writers' Awards close on 15 July 2010. Successful writers will be notified by 15 September 2010 and announced at a function held in Auckland later in September. The period of the CLL Writers' Awards runs for one calendar year from January 2011.

The CLL Writers' Awards are funded from copyright licensing revenue received by CLL on behalf of publishers and authors. Since its inauguration in 2002 many winners of the Award have produced significant works such as Jill Trevelyan's biography Rita Angus: An Artist's Life which won the 2009 Montana Medal for Non-Fiction.

Last year's winners [2009] of the CLL Writers' Awards were Filmmaker Peter Wells who received financial assistance to write a series of biographical essays on William Colenso, entitled The Hungry Heart: The Enquiring Mind and Art Historian and Curator Damian Skinner for his writing project: The Hands of the Ancestors: Customary Maori Carvers in the Twentieth Century. Other renowned New Zealand writers who have also been recipients of this prestigious award are Sarah Quigley and Stevan Eldred-Grigg. More about past winners of the CLL Writers' Awards.

Full Submission Guidelines and Application Forms

Closing Date 15 July 2010

Related Links
CLL Newsletter Spring 2009 Damian Skinner and Peter Wells Winners

Saturday, May 1, 2010

Drabble Sci-Fi Short Story Competition

Ever wanted to write Science Fiction or Fantasy? Test your short story writing skills in this very short story competition from Au Contraire, New Zealand's National Science Fiction Convention for 2010.

The Drabble Competition which closes on 31 July 2010 is open to all members of Au Contraire either attending or supporting. Entries must be 100 words exactly excluding the title. Successful entries may be printed in the Au Contraire con book or post-con book.

Submission Guidelines
  • Entries must be short stories of exactly 100 words not including the title.
  • The title must be shorter than the story itself
  • The competition is open to all members of Au Contraire, attending or supporting.
  • Up to 3 entries may be submitted
  • Entrants must include a cover page that includes the short story title, plus their name and contact details.
  • Emailed submissions must be in a widely recognised file format. RTF is recommended.
  • Submissions may be posted but will not be returned
  • Entrants name or other identifying details should not be visible on the story itself

Deadline: 31 July 2010

Send entries to:

Au Contraire
PO Box 10104
Wellington

or email submissions to: drabble@aucontraire.org.nz

More Submission Details


Thursday, April 22, 2010

Auckland Writers and Readers Festival 2010

If you are lucky enough to be in Auckland in May you have the chance to attend the the annual Auckland Writers and Readers Festival 2010. The festival held between 12 - 16 May 2010, now into its 11th year, brings together acclaimed writers and thousands of readers and thinkers for 5 days and 70 events.

The festival offers the chance to hear a smorgsbord of writers, commentators and thinkers share stories about subjects as diverse as art, politics, food, history, war, religion, the novel, rugby, poetry, economics, and science.

Writers featured in this year's international line-up are Elizabeth Gilbert, John Carey, and Thomas Keneally. Other guests include Rick Gekoski, Jill Dawson, Su Tong and Anthony Loewenstein.

List of International Guests
Festival Programme
Buy Tickets

VENUES: Aotea Centre
With Special events held at St Matthew-in-the-City, Crowne Plaza Auckland, Soul Bar and Bistro, Monte Christo Room

TIME: 10am to 10pm daily 12-16 May 2010

Auckland Writing Writers and Readers Festival Website



Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Te Papa Tupu Writing Competition 2010

Want to write a bestseller? If you are a writer of Maori descent and living in New Zealand you are invited to submit pieces of writing to the Te Papa Tupu Writing Competition 2010.

Six talented Maori writers will be selected from the entrants to participate in a 6 month intensive writing programme. The chosen writers will be paid a basic living allowance of $385.00 per week throughout the 6 month period.

Any of the following forms of writing may be submitted to the competition:
  • Novel
  • Short story
  • Non-fiction
  • Children's novel or chapter book
  • Children's picture book



Each of the writers chosen will work closely with a mentor and will receive feedback about their writing on a regular basis. There is also an expectation that each winner will produce work once a month for an online journal.

The Te Papa Tupu Writing Competition 2010 is being run by the Māori Literature Trust, with the support of Creative New Zealand, Te Puni Kokiri and Huia Publishers. Entries must be received by Huia Publishers by 5pm, Friday 14 May 2010. The winners will be announced on Friday, 11 June 2010 and each must be ready to start on 20 June 2010.

Submission Guidelines
  • Submissions may be in either English or te reo Māori
  • Submitted work should be 5,000 - 50,000 words
  • Submissions may be a finished piece or a working manuscript
Closes 5pm, Friday 14 May 2010
Entry forms and full submission details


Related Articles
Other New Zealand Writing Competitions




Thursday, April 8, 2010

Prima Storia Wants Quality Short Fiction Writing

Prima Storia is looking for quality writing from both emerging and established writers. Prima Storia publishes short fiction and poetry online on an ongoing basis. The magazine aims to raise the standard of creative publishing online by providing a medium for writers to gain an online presence.

Works up to 3000 words may be submitted to Prima Storia. Excerpts and previews from larger works are also encouraged. Successful submissions are published online and a profile posted of the author. Copyright remains with the author. There is no payment for contributions.




Submission Guidelines

  • Submissions can be of varying length, up to 3,000 words
  • Submission should be formatted in plain text, or attached as a standard document format.

More Submission Details

Send submissions to: writers@primastoria.com

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Science-Fiction Writers for Semaphore Magazine

If your favourite genre is science fiction writing then you could get published in Semaphore, a New Zealand e-zine which publishes original creative writing and artwork with a science fiction theme.

Semaphore produces 4 issues a year of short fiction, poetry and creative essays in March, June, September and December. The e-zine also puts out an anthology every December of the best work published in the previous four issues as voted by readers.

Semaphore magazine offers a small payment to writers for successful submissions: short story NZ$10, poetry NZ$3, creative essay NZ$5, no payment for artwork. Individual royalties are paid to writers for writing chosen for the anthology.


Submission Guidelines
  • Submissions must be in a Word-compatible document along with a cover letter
  • Simultaneous submissions are not accepted
  • Short story word limit is 1000-7000 words
Send entries to: semaphoremagazine@gmail.com Marie Hodgkinson at Semaphore

Semaphore Submission Guidelines


Thursday, April 1, 2010

Landfall Essay Writing Competition 2010

Entries open on 1 May 2010 for the eighth Landfall Essay Competition sponsored by Otago University Press. The winner of the competition will receive $3000 and a year's subscription to Landfall. The winning entries will also be published in the November 2010 issue of Landfall.

The Landfall Essay Competition seeks to encourage New Zealand writers to think aloud about New Zealand culture. The aim is to revive and sustain the tradition of vivid, contentious and creative essay writing in New Zealand.

The Landfall Essay Competition which began in 1997 is open to all New Zealand writers. Essays must be unpublished and can be on any topic to a maximum of 6000 words.

Entries close: 5 pm, Friday 31 July 2010.

Submission Guidelines

Entries should be addressed to:

Landfall Essay Competition
Otago University Press
PO Box 56
Dunedin
New Zealand



Sunday, March 28, 2010

Script Frenzy Write 100 Pages Month

Are you yearning to write a movie, play, short film, TV show, or graphic novel? Do you dream of becoming a published script writer but can't seem to muster the motivation. The answer to your writer's block might be to enter the worldwide Script Frenzy script writing competition.

National Novel Writing Month, famous for their write a novel in a month event in November also run an annual sister event called Script Frenzy. Sign up to the Script Frenzy competition is free and you will be joining thousands of would-be writers around the world who are taking up the challenge in April 2010 to write a 100 page script in just 1 month.

Participants of the Script Frenzy competition aren't rewarded with monetary prizes or publishing contracts. Satisfaction for entrants comes from setting a writing goal and achieving it. Plus at the end of the writing contest these scriptwriters have a 100 page draft of a script that they can later rework.

What Script Frenzy does offer is a community of other writers focused on producing a script. You can choose to go it alone or to be part of the group by hanging out in the forums or by joining with your fellow participants at optional write-ins in your area. To find out what's happening in New Zealand you will need to register and then access regional forums to link up with other local Frenziers.

If you are a person who likes recognition for all your hard work you can download your certificate in PDF format once you have uploaded your 100 page script. If you are wondering about the security of your work then relax as you write offline and only upload when you have passed the 100 page mark. The object of uploading your script is to verify the word count not to read your script and steal your ideas. If you are worried about the risks check out Script Frenzy FAQs page for more on how to securely upload your work.

The Script Frenzy website also contains a lot of useful writing resources to start you on your script writing journey. Be sure to check out Script Frenzy's writing resources page for screenwriting and playwriting tips and how to pages.

Now is the time to boost your creativity and write that script that will launch your scriptwriting career. Come 1 April 2010 will you be writing or still talking about it? As the Script Frenzy's slogan says Stop Watching and Start Writing. Are you in?



Wednesday, March 24, 2010

NZSA Pindar Publishing Prize Open to New Zealand Writers

A new writing award for 2010, the NZSA Pindar Publishing Prize worth $35,000 is up for grabs by New Zealand writers. The award which is sponsored by Pindar NZ, The New Zealand Herald, Whitcoulls and AstraPrint aims to recognize excellence in creative writing. It offers a New Zealand writer of fiction, non-fiction, short fiction and poetry the chance to submit an unpublished manuscript which will be taken through to published format and offered for sale nationwide. The winner of the NZSA Pindar Publishing Prize will have their work professionally edited, designed, printed and distributed.

Submissions for the NZSA Pindar Publishing Prize close on 30 March 2010. 5 shortlisted manuscripts will be announced a month later. As the winner will be decided through 40% reader input and 60% input from the judging panel online voting will be open throughout May. The overall winner will announced on 12 June 2010 in time for the book launch in August.

Maggie Tarver, Chief Executive of The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc.) is excited about the new award which describes as "an amazing opportunity for any writer." She went on to say, “In a time when more and more manuscripts are being rejected by mainstream publishers we are confident that we will get some really exciting entries”.

The New Zealand Society of Authors (PEN NZ Inc.)
PO Box 7701
Wellesley Street
Auckland 1141
www.authors.org.nz


Submission Guidelines
  • Entries are open to any unpublished manuscript of fiction, non-fiction, short fiction and poetry.
  • Completed novel, non-fiction or short story manuscripts must be between 30,000 and 120,000 words in length.
  • Poetry collections must be between 5,000 and 25,000 words.
  • Applications must be in hard copy only.
    Closing Date: 30 March 2010
    Full entry details


Wednesday, March 17, 2010

NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2010 Writing Contest

Hey kids you could become a published writer. New Zealand Post has launched a new writing competition for kids aged 5 to 14 in conjunction with the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2010.

This year a commemorative collection of New Zealand Children's Stories is being published and your story could be amongst them. Brian Roche, Group Chief Executive, New Zealand Post said of the writing competition, "we want to recognise our next generation authors by publishing stories written by Kiwi kids, for Kiwi kids."


NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2010 Writing Competition

All the top 50 winning entrants will receive $50 in Booksellers Tokens and their very own copy of this professionally illustrated book. There is also $1000.00 worth of Booksellers Tokens for the school with the most entries. All entrants in this writing contest will also go into the lucky prize draw to win one of the finalist books from the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2010.

Closing Date: 30 April 2010

Submission Guidelines
  • Story, poem or any kind of creative writing may be submitted.
  • Entries must be 300 words or less

Further details about New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2010 writing competition



Saturday, March 13, 2010

Albert Wendt Wins Regional Commonwealth Writers Prize

Leading New Zealand author Albert Wendt has won the prestigious regional Commonwealth Writers' prize for 2010 for his novel in verse The Adventures of Vela. Wendt won the award for best book in a competition which recognizes the best of Commonwealth fiction written in English. He now goes on to compete for the international Commonwealth Writers' Prize against three other regional winners. The overall winner will receive £10,000 and will be announced on 12 April 2010 in Delhi, India.

Samoan born Wendt, 70, is author of some 20 books. He scooped the South East Asia and Pacific region prize from 5 other strong finalists from across Australasia including New Zealand writer Charlotte Grimshaw. The judges described his epic verse novel The Adventures of Vela as "an exhilarating read". Blending traditional storytelling and song with contempory rock music and hip-hop the novel follows the journeys of Vela as he chronicles the life of the Samoan goddess of war.

Buy The Adventures of Vela
or
Search Fishpond for Other Books by Albert Wendt



Fishpond





Other shortlisted books for the Commonwealth Writers' regional prize for best book were:

Peter Carey - Parrot and Olivier in America
J.M. Coetzee - Summertime
Thomas Keneally The People's Train
Nada Awar Jarrar A Good Land
Charlotte Grimshaw - Singularity

Finalists for The Commonwealth Writers Prize for Best Book are:

From Africa: The Double Crown by Marié Heese.
From the Caribbean and Canada: Galore by Michael Crummey.
From South Asia & Europe: Solo by Rana Dasgupta.
From South East Asia and Pacific: The Adventures of Vela by Albert Wendt.

Friday, March 12, 2010

NZ Post Children's Book Awards 2010 Finalists

The New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards 2010 Finalists have been announced recently. The 20 finalist books were selected from more than 130 children’s books published in New Zealand in 2009. Included in the finalist line-up are two of New Zealand's best loved writers for children Margaret Mahy and Joy Cowley. Winners will be chosen in four categories: Picture Book, Non-fiction, Junior Fiction and Young Adult Fiction. The winning books for the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards for 2010 will be announced on Wednesday 19 May 2010.

The Word Witch by Margaret Mahy. Edited by Tessa Duder Cowshed Christmas by Joy Cowley and Gavin Bishop The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith
Buy the The Wonky Donkey

For more details about the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards finalists for 2010

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Fulbright-Creative NZ Pacific Writer's Residency

Applications are now being sought for the Fulbright Creative-New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency Award. The award enables a New Zealand writer of Pacific heritage to work for three months on a creative writing project exploring Pacific identity, culture or history at the Centre of Pacific Islands Studies at the University of Hawaii. The residency will run from mid-August to mid-November 2010.

Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, you must:

  • Be a New Zealand writer of Pacific heritage whose work explores Pacific identity, culture or history
  • Have already had at least two works published, accepted for publication, performed or screened
  • Have a specific project on which you propose to work on during the residency. The project may be in any genre, but priority is given to works that focus on developing New Zealand literature in the genres of fiction, poetry, drama, non-fiction (including biography, history, arts-related and cultural topics) and playwriting

Award Entitlement
  • Travel costs of NZ$3,000 for a return economy airfare to Hawai’i
  • Rental accommodation costs of NZ$3,000 per month
  • Stipend of NZ$6,000 per month
  • Basic health and accident insurance cover up to US$100,000


Closing Date: 1 April 2010

For further details about the Fulbright-Creative New Zealand Pacific Writer's Residency



Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Poets Submit Your Poems to Valley Micropress

Valley Micropress is an independent Upper Hutt-based monthly poetry magazine which is open for submissions from both New Zealand and international poets. The magazine seeks to encourage new writers and previously published poets. Valley Micropress also features a collection of around 12 poems from an established poet each issue. As Valley Micropress is mostly funded by subscriptions there is no payment for contributions.

Submission Guidelines

  • No previously published work
  • Poems should aim to be no more than 35 lines in length.
  • Maximum of 6 poems
  • All poetic forms including haiku, tanka etc are welcome.
  • Submissions may be in hard copy, or on CD or email

For further submission details email tony.chad@clear.net.nz

Send submissions to:
165A Katherine Mansfield Drive, Whiteman’s Valley, Upper Hutt 5371, New Zealand

or email to: tony.chad@clear.net.nz

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

JAAM Calling for Writing About Dance

JAAM is calling for submissions from writers for Issue 28 of its literary magazine. JAAM is an independent literary journal published by a collective based in Wellington which focuses on showcasing the work of young and emerging writers while still promoting established New Zealand authors and overseas writers. JAAM prints fiction, poetry, essays and artwork (usually black and white). Submissions need to be received by no later than 31 March 2010 for publication in September 2010.

The 28th issue of JAAM (Just Another Art Movement) will be the DanceDanceDance issue and is to be edited by Clare Needham and Helen Rickerby. Any writing submitted must be on a dance theme. Short fiction, poetry and creative non fiction is being sought.


Closing date for submissions: 31 March 2010

Submissions can be emailed to jaammagazine@yahoo.co.nz
or posted to:

PO Box 25239
Panama Street
Wellington 6146
New Zealand

Cover of JAAM magazine Issue 27


Monday, March 8, 2010

Cathay Pacific Travel Media Awards 2010

Cathay Pacific Travel Media Awards 2010 and Whitcoulls Travcom Travel Book of the Year Award are holding a Gala Dinner Awards Presentation Evening on Tuesday, 23rd of March 2010. Travcom is a not-for-profit association of travel writers, photographers, broadcasters and travel-related communicators involved in promoting a high standard of travel writing, photography and publishing in New Zealand and internationally.


TRAVCOM invite you to
The Grand Tearoom
Heritage Auckland
35 Hobson Street
Auckland Central

Welcome bubbles and photography display at 6.30pm
Dinner: 7.00pm
MC Oliver Driver

Tickets are $75 (TRAVCOM members), $95 (for non-members)
Includes arrival drinks, a three course dinner, dinner wine, prizes and entertainment. The images entered in the awards will be on display on the night.

Invitation to this event

R.S.V.P. by Friday the 19th of March

Register and send cheques to: Helen Davies, Travcom Administrator 2b Pukehana Avenue, Epsom, Auckland
Ph: 09 624 5707
Email: helen.davies@clear.net.nz




Sunday, March 7, 2010

Elsie Locke Writing Competition 2010

The Elsie Locke Writing Competition is again rewarding young writers for writing excellence. The writing competition which is in its second year is open to year 7 and year 8 school children. The award carries a prize of $400 in cash plus $100 in book tokens. The winning entry will also be published in a Part 4 School Journal. Find out more about Elsie Locke

Theme
For the 2010 competition, students need to:

Describe an incident or tell a story set in the 1930’s Depression. Events described may be real or fictitious.

Submission Guidelines
  • The competition is open to all students in years 7 and 8.
  • Entries may be of any length up to a maximum of 500–600 words
  • Entries may be handwritten
  • Entries must be the writer’s own work

Closing Date: Friday, 16 April 2010

Submit entries to:
Susan Paris
Editor, School Journal
Learning Media
Box 3293
Wellington 6140
Submission Guidelines

Get Poetry Published in New Zealand

Want to get published in a New Zealand poetry magazine, journal or publication then you will find this list of places in New Zealand to submit poetry to invaluable.

Bravado
Bravado takes poetry submissions from New Zealand poets for its three issues per year in March, May and November.

Submission Guidelines
  • Submit up to 5 poems
  • Include 50 word bio
  • Post or email submissions

Post submissions to:

Poetry editor
Bravado
PO Box 13 533,
Tauranga 3141
New Zealand
Submission Guidelines


Landfall
Landfall is New Zealand's longest-running literary journal showcasing new fiction and poetry. Landfall is published twice a year - once in May and again in November.

Submission Guidelines
    Open to work by New Zealand and Pacific writers
  • Submit up to 10 poems
  • Submissions must be accompanied by a cover letter
  • Submissions must be provided in hard copy
  • Include a self addressed envelope with return postage with entries

Post submissions to:

The Editor
Landfall
Otago University Press
Box 56
Dunedin
New Zealand
Email landfall@otago.ac.nz.
Facebook: Landfall Journal
Submission Guidelines


Takahe
Takahe is a literary magazine showcasing the work of emerging writers which is published in 3 volumes throughout the year in April, August and December.

Submission Guidelines
  • All poems must be previously unpublished
  • Poems need to be submitted in hard copy format along with an accompanying letter
  • Poems can be of any length (from 10 lines to approximately two pages)
  • Poems must be sent by mail. No email submissions are allowed.
  • A self addressed envelope with return postage must be included with entries

Post submissions to:
Poetry Editor, Takahe, Box 13-335, Christchurch 8141, New Zealand
Submission Guidelines


Turbine
Turbine is the annual online journal of the International Institute of Modern Letters Victoria University.

Submission Guidelines
  • All poems must be previously unpublished
  • Submit up to 5 poems
  • Deadline mid October for December issue
  • Submissions can be emailed or sent by mail.
  • A self addressed envelope with return postage must be included with entries

Post submissions to:
Turbine Submissions, IIML, Victoria University, PO Box 600, Wellington, New Zealand
Submission Guidelines

Saturday, March 6, 2010

New Zealand Writing Competition $10000 Prize

Entries for the Ashton Wylie Charitable Trust Literature Awards in conjunction with the New Zealand Society of Authors are now being sought for 2010. The award which aims to recognize excellence in writing in the mind, body spirit (new age) genre offers New Zealand writers the chance to win two major prizes of $10,000 each - one for an unpublished manuscript and the other for a published work of fiction. The competition is open to all New Zealand citizens resident in New Zealand.

Submission Guidelines
  • The deadline for unpublished manuscripts is 31 March 2010.
  • Unpublished manuscripts must be between 20,000 and 100,000 words in length
  • Published manuscripts can be up to 48 pages longer
  • Published manuscripts must be submitted by 31 May 2010 and published between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010.

Submission forms and entry details are available from:

The New Zealand Society of Authors
PO Box 7701, Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141. phone: 09 379 4801
or by emailing: office@nzauthors.org.nz
Detailed Submission Guidlelines

Friday, March 5, 2010

2010 International Poetry Competition New Zealand

The Poetry Society of New Zealand is once again running its annual International Poetry Competition. The poetry competition which closes on 31 May 2010 is divided into 4 sections: Open, Junior, Haiku, Junior Haiku. The competition welcomes submissions from within New Zealand and from international poets.

Open Section
Poems must be in English and previously unpublished in New Zealand or elsewhere.
Entry Fee: $5.00 per poem or ($4 for NZPS members)
Prizes: $500, $250, and $100. Up to 20 poems may additionally receive commendation

Junior Open Section
Poems must be in English and previously unpublished in New Zealand or elsewhere. Entrants must age 17 years or under on the closing date
Entry Fee: $2.00 per poem
Prizes: $200, $100, and $50. Up to 20 poems may additionally receive commendation

Open Haiku Section
Poems must be in English and previously unpublished in New Zealand or elsewhere. For haiku writers and includes senryu
Entry Fee: $1.00 per haiku
Prizes: 5 prizes of $100 each. Overall winner will receive the Jeanette Stace Memorial Prize of $150. Up to 20 commendations.

Junior Haiku Section
Poems must be in English and previously unpublished in New Zealand or elsewhere. For haiku and senryu writers. Entrants must age 17 years or under on the closing date
Entry Fee: $1.00 per pair of haiku
Prizes: 3 prizes of $50 in each of 2 age groups (primary/intermediate and secondary). Best of the two First Prize winners receive the Jeanette Stace Memorial Prize of $100. Up to 20 commendations.

More entry details on the New Zealand Poetry Society's 2010 International Poetry Competition

Thursday, March 4, 2010

Submissions for Going Down Swinging 30th Issue

Going Down Swinging is calling for new, unpublished works of poetry, haiku, short fiction and non fiction, flash, comic art and spoken word recordings for its 30th year issue. Going Down Swinging is an Australian literary anthology of short fiction, poetry, comic art and spoken word, published in a book/CD package. The magazine has no set theme and accepts work from international writers and artists. The annual magazine will be a bumper issue in celebration of its 30th anniversary and is due for release in August 2010.

Fees for all published work in Going Down Swinging Issue 30 are as follows:
  • $75 per short poem/comic or graphic art
  • $100 per poem, short story or comic over 4 pages
  • $100 per spoken word track
  • $10 per haiku

Deadline: 31 March 2010 (AEST)

Submission Guidelines
A maximum of 3 pieces per contributor is permitted
Full submission details

Send submissions to:
Going Down Swinging
PO Box 24
Clifton Hill 3068 Victoria
AUSTRALIA

or email to: submissions@goingdownswinging.org.au

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

NZ Post Writers and Readers Week 2010

The New Zealand Post Writers and Readers Week will take place in Wellington over 6 days from 9 March to 13 March 2010. The writing festival features a smorgsbord of international and New Zealand writing. Three times Man Booker Prize nominee Sarah Waters and author of The Time Traveler's Wife Audrey Niffenegger are some of the big names likely to attract large crowds. The local talent line-up includes Bill Manhire, Briar Grace-Smith and Emily Perkins among others. Be it fiction, poetry, biography, memoir, drama you will find the best of contempory writing at this year's festival.

In all some 30 local and international writers will share their ideas, debate contemporary issues and read from their work during festival week. Guest writers include: Neil Gaiman, Sarah Waters, Simon Schama, Richard Dawkins, Geoff Dyer, Geoff Cochrane, Kevin Connolly, Charlotte Grimshaw , Ilija Trojanow, Kate Camp, Glyn Maxwell, Judith Binney, Gil Adamson, Susanna Moore, Briar Grace-Smith, Joan London, Emily Perkins, Charlotte Grimshaw, Neil Cross, Audrey Niffenegger, Peter Singer, Daniel Kehlmann, Kamila Shamsie, Chloe Hooper, Bill Manhire, Lisa Moore, James Belich, Margo Lanagan, Philip Hoare, Rod Oram, Derek Johns, Ian Wedde, Sam Elworthy, Laurie Chittenden, Michael Heyward, Fariba Hachtroudi, Anna Taylor.

When: 9-14 March 9.30am-7pm
Where: Embassy Theatre & Wellington Town Hall
Concession Tickets Available: Book at Ticketek

Monday, March 1, 2010

Review Writing Competition for School Kids

Write a review of any show or workshop attended during the 2010 New Zealand International Arts Festival held between February 26 - 21 March and win fantastic prizes. Winning reviews will be published in Tearaway magazine and on the New Zealand International Arts Festival website.

Categories and Awards
Junior students (yrs 3-8)
• 1st prize for winning entry
• 2nd prize for highly commended

Senior students (yrs 9-13)
• 1st prize for winning entry
• 2nd prize for highly commended

Further details about this Writing Competition

Sunday, February 7, 2010

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Friday, February 5, 2010

New Zealand Romance Writing Competition 2010

Romance Writers of New Zealand Inc is calling for submissions of complete romance novel manuscripts to the 2010 Clendon Award, an annual writing contest for unpublished romance writers. The submitted manuscripts will be judged by between three and eight romance readers. Finalist manuscripts are judged by an editor at Harlequin Books in New York, the world’s largest publisher of romance and women’s fiction.

Prizes for the 2010 Clendon Award include a First Prize of a perpetual Trophy (with miniature) and $300.00 cash. Certificates and Book Tokens for the Second and Third placed manuscripts are also to be awarded.

The 2010 Clendon Award closes 26 February 2010. Manuscripts must be between 40,000 and 110,000 words. Full details, including the entry form, can be found on the Romance Writers of New Zealand website www.romancewriters.co.nz.

Saturday, January 9, 2010

Urban Care Poetry on Palmy Competition

Urban Care in associate with The Tribune community newspaper and Bruce McKenzie Booksellers are taking entries for the Poetry on Palmy competition. Embrace, enjoy, express your feelings in verse for the city of Palmerston North, New Zealand. The poetry competition closes on 20 February 2010.

Age Groups
5 to 10 years
11 to 15 years
16 years plus

Prizes
1st Prize $50
2nd Prize $30
3rd Prize $20
in each category

plus entries may be selected for publication in a booklet

Judges
Joy Ogier and Bruce McKenzie

Post Submissions To: Urban Care, PO Box 233, Palmerston North
Email Submissions To: competitions@tribune.co.nz
or drop off to Manawatu Standard, The Square, Palmerston North

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Young Persons Short Story Competition

Friends of Whangerei Libraries are holding a short story competition open to young writers. Cash prizes and book vouchers will awarded to the winners. The writing competition closes on 28 February 2010.

Age Groups
9 - 11 years
1st: $100
2nd: $50
3rd: $25 book voucher

12 - 14 years
1st: $200
2nd: $100
3rd: $25 book voucher

15-18 years1st: $300
2nd: $150
3rd: $25 book voucher


Submission Details
  • Short story on any subject of not more than 1,500 words.
  • Include details of the following with your entry: name, age, phone number and postal address

Drop entries off at Whangarei Central, Kamo, Onerahi or Tikipunga Libraries.