creative writing competition singapore 2021

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SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition 2021

The SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition is back for its 5th edition! SOTA invites all budding writers who will be in Primary 6 in 2021 to showcase their talents in this nation-wide competition. Stand a chance to attend a free short story writing workshop, and win up to $500 worth of vouchers!

F ind out how to take part and submit your entries online at https://www.sota.edu.sg/p6cwcom2021 Submissions close on 22 January 2021, at 5pm.

(Artwork by SOTA Visual Arts Student Hirari Haniuda)

Event Details

• School Of The Arts (SOTA)
• 18 Nov 2020 - 22 Jan 2021
• Free Admission

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GOLDEN POINT AWARD 2021

Organised by Arts House Limited, the 15th edition of the Golden Point Award received exceptional entries across a wide range of topics from aspiring authors

SINGAPORE, 11 December 2021 – Arts House Limited (AHL) honoured 38 budding writers for their literary excellence at the Golden Point Award 2021 award ceremony held today at The Arts House. The 15th edition of the biennial creative writing competition lauded these literary talents for their winning short stories and poems, selected from a strong pool of close to 2,000 entries across the nation’s four official languages: English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil.

Over the years, the Golden Point Award (GPA) has continually attracted participants from all walks of life. This year’s competition received submissions from contestants between nine to 89 years old. There was also significant participation from youths, with almost 50 percent of submissions from writers aged 30 and below.

This edition of GPA saw an increase in the number of overall submissions. The entries also received praise from the adjudicators, who commended the high standards across all languages and categories. Critically acclaimed author Balli Kaur Jaswal, who was part of the panel for English Short Story, said, "For this year’s fiction entries, writers took risks in language choices and narrative structure, which was an exciting development. The winning entries stood out for their authors' abilities to capture the quotidian within and outside of the major circumstances of present-day life."

"We are deeply encouraged by the creativity and quality of short stories and poetry received across all languages. The overwhelming response by participants also signals a strong interest among the general public to express themselves through the written word. We believe this will continue with the writing competition’s intention of uncovering fresh writing talent and encouraging interest in local writing by publishers. GPA also complements AHL’s mission of developing and strengthening the literary arts community in Singapore," said Mr Tan Boon Hui, Executive Director of Arts House Limited.

From humour and inventiveness to crises and deaths, this year’s entries covered a wide range of topics. "The range of voices and subject matters in the submitted stories reveal Singapore’s vibrancy and diversity. One common thread in most of the stories is that they all underscored the need human beings have to express themselves and be heard," remarked Indian-American author Professor Akhil Sharma who was part of the English Short Story panel. On the winning entry, writer Clara Chow from the English Short Story panel, said, " Handwriting had a graceful economy that accomplished more than some longer pieces. It dealt with themes of inheritance – physical, genetic, material; tangible and intangible - as well as that of the unknowable darkness we carry within ourselves."

In response to the current pandemic, poet, former Festival Director of the Singapore Writers Festival , and adjudicator for the English Poetry panel, Yeow Kai Chai, shared, "In a time of relative physical immobility, where most people are home-bound or shepherded into sanctioned zones due to the ongoing pandemic, the best entries breathe and move in mysterious ways. Overall, the judges are impressed by a burgeoning wave of daring, nascent voices which augers well for the polyphonous poetry scene."

Wong Koi Tet, writer and adjudicator for the Chinese Short Story category said, "The manuscripts that came in covered a large range of themes and content this year… It is encouraging to see a huge volume of submissions. This is a reflection of the participants’ passion for writing." Apart from their writing interests, Chinese poet Zhou Sese also observed the strong contemporary elements in the poetry submissions, which were expressive and poignant. He said, "Themes that came up from the poetry were on destiny, solitude and pain."

On the winning Malay Short Story entry, Farihan Barhon, author and adjudicator for the Malay Short Story category said, " Dayung Sudah di Tangan, Perahu Sudah di Air weaves a story cloaked with the sombreness of life in light of the current pandemic against a historical background. There is an unexpected twist in the plot and this story kept me hooked till the end. The writing was both compelling and easy to understand. This story also explored human relationships, especially those in the marginalised community." Cultural Medallion winner (2007) and critically acclaimed writer Isa Kamari, another adjudicator for the Malay Short Story category commented that one of the winning entries had an evergreen appeal and resonated with everyone. He shared, "I see this in 1942 , where the writer was able to weave contemporary issues like mental health into a historical piece, in a positive manner." On the Malay poetries, Dr Kartini Anwar, Asian Languages & Cultures lecturer and adjudicator for the Malay Poetry panel, was impressed by the winning works added, "There is maturity in their writing. Their stories touched on poignant themes like moral courage and social issues, and were presented in an eloquent manner."

“The entries for the Tamil poetry prize this year showed promising versatility and range. The poems engage with diverse themes with great sensitivity and imagination. The better poems among the entries were those that made credible efforts to cover contemporary issues with refreshing and innovative use of language and form,” said poet Sithuraj Ponraj, adjudicator for the Tamil Poetry category. “The winning entries deviated slightly from the contemporary tracks, resulting in the exploration of original themes and creative forms of expression. It was refreshing to read all the poems and I could see considerable effort made by the participants in producing quality work,” said Nepolian, another poet and adjudicator from the Tamil Poetry category.

For more information on the Golden Point Award and the 2021 winners and adjudicators, please refer to the annexes below.

Annex A: About the Golden Point Award Annex B: 2021 Golden Point Award – Poetry Winners Annex C: 2021 Golden Point Award – Short Story Winners Annex D: 2021 Golden Point Award – List of Adjudicators

For media enquiries, please contact:

About Arts House Limited (AHL)

Arts House Limited (AHL) is a not-for-profit organisation committed to enriching lives through the arts. AHL is the cultural place manager of Singapore’s Civic District. It manages two key national monuments – The Arts House, a multidisciplinary arts centre with a focus on literary programming, and the Victoria Theatre & Victoria Concert Hall, a heritage building that is home to the Singapore Symphony Orchestra. It also runs performing arts space Drama Centre as well as the Goodman Arts Centre and Aliwal Arts Centre, two creative enclaves for artists, arts groups and creative businesses. AHL organises the Singapore International Festival of Arts – an annual pinnacle performing arts festival, as well as the Singapore Writers Festival – a multi-lingual festival presenting the world’s top literary talents. In addition, AHL manages Our Cultural Medallion Story – the showcase on Singapore’s Cultural Medallion recipients at The Arts House. AHL was set up in 11 December 2002 as a public company limited by guarantee under the National Arts Council and was officially renamed Arts House Limited on 19 March 2014. For more information, visit artshouselimited.sg .

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The SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition is back for its 5th edition! SOTA invites all budding writers who will be in Primary 6 in 2021 to showcase their talents in this nation-wide competition. Stand a chance to attend a free short story writing workshop, and win up to $500 worth of vouchers! Submissions close on 22 January 2021, at 5pm.

(Artwork by SOTA Visual Arts Student Hirari Haniuda)

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• SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition 2021
• The School of the Arts (SOTA)

The SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition is back for its 5th edition! SOTA invites all budding writers who will be in Primary 6 in 2021 to showcase their talents in this nation-wide competition.

Stand a chance to attend a free short story writing workshop, and win up to $500 worth of vouchers!

Find out how to take part and submit your entries online here.

Submissions close on 22 January 2021, at 5pm.

(Artwork by SOTA Visual Arts Student Hirari Haniuda)

Image Credit: The School of the Arts (SOTA)

SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition 2021

Congratulations to our P6 English student Kendrick Lai for being one of the top 20 winners in the SOTA creative writing competition 2021!! We loved how you took the phrase ‘This was clearly NOT a dream..’ and created a unique setting with very interesting characters !

You must be so proud of yourself. We hope that your love of writing will stay on with you and that you continue to create unique worlds and mesmerizing characters.

Congratulations once again Kendrick and thank you for letting us share your story on our blog.

Read Sophia’s 2020 Sota creative writing composition

Prompt 1: Write a story with the phrase ‘This was clearly NOT a dream’.

Note to students

The model compositions in this blog are to help students generate ideas and to be used as a guide. Students are not allowed to copy the model compositions and then pass them off as their own work, especially in school. It is called plagiarism.

They were hungry. They were thirsty for blood. Their previous siege was a failure. This time, however, they were going to kill until the last one fell.

         Konan took in a deep breath. A day off his usual duties was rare. As the top pilot of the 5 th  generation defence system, T.I.T.A.N, he was not allowed to slack off duties. Pfft. As if they would attack again. He scoffed. In 2049, just two years before the implementation of T.I.T.A.N defence systems, aliens had attacked. Not the typical aliens you would see in movies of old. They were powerful, with weapons made to annihilate, not kill. The siege would have been successful, with the amount of manned robots they sent to wipe out humanity. That is until a command was made by all the governments in the world, to engage in nuclear warfare with the aliens. The aliens were hit on a cellular level and retreated. After the attack, the world’s top generals and military personnel formed the Defence Council, who in the event of a threat to all humanity, would be able to take command and rally all the armies to mount a successful defence. Every army in the world joined together to form the greatest military might in history, with interests only in the welfare of the world. In an attempt to bring the army to the next level, the World Military, as it was called, took inspiration from the alien army, and thus the T.I.T.A.Ns was born.

          Konan’s watch beeped. His superior’s voice followed. “Report to the Command Room now.” He groaned as he got up and clambered to the room grouchily. At the command room, the commander showed him a hologram. “Radar has detected hostiles coming in fast. We cannot confirm the speed. We need you to lead an attack squad up into the exosphere to scout it out. Avoid contact. If necessary, take down any hostiles detected. I wish you Godspeed and the best of luck.”

          Within fifteen minutes, the squad was ready and mounted their mobile suit T.I.T.A.Ns. They lifted off, only to be met with the horror of their lives. The alien warship was silently approaching the planet’s stratosphere. Konan whispered a silent prayer and wished it was a dream. He shut his eyes and reopened them. Nope. No one would make it out alive. This was clearly NOT a dream.

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Short Story Competitions

Poetry competitions, social sciences competitions, race4good journalism.

 Short Story Competition    DATES   26 August 2024 - 6 December 2024 HOST   Dulwich College (Singapore) CONTACT    Sam Hallam:  [email protected] This year's  FOBISIA Short Story Competition is hosted  by  Dulwich College (Singapore)  and is open to all Primary and Secondary students at FOBISIA Schools.  Teachers are encouraged to run short story competitions within their own schools and submit their winning entries to the FOBISIA competition.  The deadline for entering stories into the FOBISIA Competition is Friday 6th December.  Please contact the host for further information.

PAST EVENTS

 Y1-Y13  Short Story Competition    WAS HOSTED ON   18 September 2023 - 31 January 2024 HOST    Kinabalu International School Read more: THE FOBISIAN Issue 45, Term 3 June 2024  PRIMARY & SECONDARY SHORT STORY COMPETITIONS (ONLINE)  WAS HOSTED ON   01 September 2022 - 06 January 2023 BY  The ABC International School 259 Stories were received from 67 schools in 4 Categories. Year 3-4 Winner: 'Magic' by Buachompoo, Shrewsbury Int. School Riverside, Bangkok Year 5-6 Winner: 'Dreams' by Emily, Shrewsbury Int. School City Campus, Bangkok Year 7-9 Winner: 'The Mystery'  by Noyna, The Garden International School Bangkok Y ear 10-13 Winner: 'Coming of Age'  by Jess, The Garden Int. School Eastern Seaboard, Thailand Read more: THE FOBISIAN Issue 42, Term 3 June 2023

 SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2021-22  THEME  "MEMORIES" WAS HOSTED IN   November 2021 - 18 March 2022 BY  The British International School Ho Chi Minh City 84 Stories were received from 45 schools in 3 Categories. Judged  by Ruth Eastham, Author . Primary Years 3 & 4 Winner: "The Memory Café" North London Collegiate School Jeju Primary Years 5 & 6 Winner: "Memories"  Prince of Wales International (Primary) School, Penang Secondary Winner: "Our Street" The International School of Penang (Uplands) Read more: THE FOBISIAN Issue 39, Term 3 June 2022  SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2021  THEME  "SPARK" WAS HOSTED IN  November 2020 - March 2021 BY   Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong Judged  by Mark Grist, Poet, Children's Author, Rapper, Battle Rapper, watch the winner announcement. Primary Years 3 & 4 Winner: "Sparkling Joy" Bangkok Patana School Primary Years 5 & 6 Winner: "What's in a name?"  Brighton College Bangkok Secondary Winner: "Fallen Star" British International School Ho Chi Minh City Read more: THE FOBISIAN Issue 36, Term 3 June 2020  SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2020  THEME  "PROTECT" WAS HOSTED IN   October 2019 - February 2020 BY   The Alice Smith School Kuala Lumpur 68 Stories were received in 3 Categories. Judged  by Curtis Jobling, Author & Illustrator. Primary Years 3 & 4 Winner: "One Spark" The Alice Smith School KL Primary Years 5 & 6 Winner: "Futile Protection" The International School @ Park City, KL Secondary Years 7 - 13 Winner: "Peach Pit" Jerudong International School Read more: THE FOBISIAN Issue 33, Term 3 June 2020  SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2019  THEME  "HOME" WAS HOSTED IN   October - March 2019 BY   Dulwich College (Singapore) 58 Stories were received in 3 Categories. Judged  by Choo Waihong, Author. Primary Years 3 & 4 Winner: "The Orphanage" The Alice Smith School KL Primary Years 5 & 6 Winner: "Fiery Escapade" St. Christopher's International Primary School Senior School Category Co-Winners: "Red Packets" The International School @ Park City, KL & "Returning" Jerudong International School Read more: THE FOBISIAN Issue 30, Term 3 June 2019

 SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2018  THEME   " WATCH" WAS HOSTED IN   January - March 2018 BY   Bangkok Patana School 80 Stories were received from 40 schools in 3 Categories. Judged by Donovan Christopher (@Rappaman) Primary Years 3 & 4 Winner: "A Lesson for Jack" Garden International School KL Primary Years 5 & 6 Winner: "The Window" The International School @ Park City, KL Secondary Category Winner: "A Pair of Grey-Brown Eyes" British International School, HCMC Read more: THE FOBISIAN Issue 27, Term 3 June 2018  SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2017  THEME    "Colours" WAS HOSTED IN   January - March 2017 BY   elc International School There were 37 participating schools in 2 Categories. Judged by Chris Bradford Primary Winner: "A Lighter Shade of Brown" British International School of HCMC  SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2016  THEME    "Flight" WAS HOSTED IN   January - March 2016 BY   British International School Ho Chi Minh City There were over 60 entries from 30 participating schools in 2 Categories. Judged by BISHCMC Primary Winner: "Flight" British International School Kuala Lumpur Secondary Winner: "Light" elc International School Read more: THE FOBISIAN Issue 22, Term 1 June 2016  SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2015  THEME    "Taking Risks" WAS HOSTED IN   January - March 2015 BY   Shrewsbury International School Bangkok There were 37 participating schools in 2 Categories. Judged by Jenny Valentine Primary 1st Place: "Soldier" Bangkok Patana School 2nd Place: "Tessie" Bangkok Prep International School 3rd Place: "The Test" Discovery Bay International School Secondary 1st Place: "The Game" Kolej Tuanku Ja'afar 2nd Place: "I'll Ride with you" The Alice Smith School Kuala Lumpur 3rd Place: "The Door" Garden International School Kuala Lumpur Read more: THE FOBISIAN Issue 19, Term 3 June 2015  SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2014  THEME   " Magic?" WAS HOSTED IN   January - March 2014 BY   Bangkok Patana School Judged by Linda Newbery Primary 1st Place: "The Reflection of a Lifetime" The Alice Smith School Kuala Lumpur Runners Up: "The Living Dead Warrior" Bangkok Patana School Runners Up: "The Chess Adventure" Dulwich College Beijing Secondary 1st Place: "Dyslexia" Tanglin Trust School Runners Up: "Listen" Shrewsbury International School Runners Up: "29th February 2016" Jerudong International School Read more: THE FOBISIAN Issue 16, Term 3 June 2014  FOBISSEA SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2013  THEME    "Secrecy" WAS HOSTED IN   January - May 2013 BY   Harrow International School Bangkok Judged by Joseph Theobald, Author & Illustrator Primary 1st Place: "Secrecy" The British International School, Phuket Runners Up: "Secret Journey" The Alice Smith School Kuala Lumpur Secondary 1st Place: "Twenty Seconds" The British International School, Phuket Runners Up: "Bite the Bullet" The British School of Beijing Runners Up: "Secrecy" International School of Penang, Uplands Read more: THE FOBISSEAN Issue 13, Term 3 June 2012  FOBISSEA SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2012  THEME    "Lost" WAS HOSTED IN   January - May 2012 BY   Shrewsbury International School Bangkok Judged by John Marsden, Writer & School Principal Read more: THE FOBISSEAN Issue 10, Term 3 June 2011  INAUGURAL FOBISSEA SHORT STORY COMPETITION 2011  THEME    "Home" WAS HOSTED IN   January - May 2011 BY   Tanglin Trust School Judged by Morris Gleitzman, Author Read more: THE FOBISSEAN Issue 7, Term 3 June 2010  

 Online Poetry Competition    DATES   11 March - 16 May 2025 HOST    Haileybury Almaty CONTACT    Patrick Donoval :  [email protected] ,  Liz Kirton :  [email protected]  

 Y7-Y13  Secondary Poetry Competiton    DATES    11 March - 20 May 2024 HOST    English School of Mongolia CONTACT    Caroline Anthonysamy:  [email protected]

This year's Secondary Poetry Competition hosted by the English School of Mongolia had the theme "Culture's Cradle: Where love finds its roots". 

The hosts were delighted with the submissions received, saying: "The entries we received were truly exceptional, showcasing the diverse talents and imaginative spirits of students across our member schools. Each poem was a unique expression of creativity, and we were thoroughly impressed with the outstanding quality and depth of thought displayed by all participants.  We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all the young poets who took the time and effort to craft their beautiful works of art. Your enthusiasm and dedication to poetry were evident in every line, and it was a pleasure to read each submission"

Congratulations to the winners and runners up for this event:

Category - Age 7-9

• Winner: Chen Chen (Garden International School, Kuala Lumpur)
• 1st Runner Up: Thunjira (Shrewsbury International School, Bangkok Riverside)
• 2nd Runner Up: Yan-ni (Traill International School)

Category - Age 10-11

• Winner: Kai Milla - Josephine (Tanglin Trust School)
• 1st Runner Up: Samara (Garden International School, Kuala Lumpur)
• 2nd Runner Up: Benjamin (North London Collegiate School Jeju)

Category Age - 12-13

• Winner: Ze Shean (The International School of Penang (Uplands)
• 1st Runner Up: Grace (The International School of Penang (Uplands)
• 2nd Runner Up: Chris (The International School of Penang (Uplands)

 Y3-Y6  Junior Poetry Competiton    DATES    11 March - 20 May 2024 HOST    Dulwich College Seoul CONTACT    Mark Kelly:  [email protected]

Dulwich College Seoul were delighted by the entries for the Junior Poetry Competition, which was open to students in KS2 at FOBISIA Member Schools.  They received over 200 poems on the competition's theme of 'World Ocean's Day'  and commented "We have been swept away by the quality of poems received, and it was a very difficult task narrowing down the number of entries to just one winner and one runner up for each age category".  Congratulations to all that entered the event and especially to the winners:

• Winner – Alaaina (North London Collegiate School, Singapore)
• Runner up – Yuvaan (Kellett School, Hong Kong) 
• Winner – Adhvay (Tanglin Trust School, Singapore)
• Runner up – Alice (Bangkok Patana School, Thailand)

Poems will be published in the Term 1 2024-25 edition of The FOBISIAN.  

 Social Studies Essay Competition (Online)    DATES   4 November 2024 - 17 January 2025 HOST   The English School of Mongolia CONTACT    Allana Schwartz:  [email protected]

 Y10-Y13  Social Sciences Essay Competition    WAS HOSTED ON    1 November 2023 - 19 January 2024 BY     Shenzhen College of International Education Y12-13 Winner: Anuj - Kolej Tuanku Ja’afar  Y12-13 Runner up: Aliyah - British School Manila Y10-11 Winner: Nam - British International School Ho Chi Minh City  Y10-11 Runner Up: Calysta - Garden International School Kuala Lumpur  SOCIAL SCIENCE ESSAY COMPETITION 2021-22  WAS HOSTED ON    01 November - 14 January BY    Shenzhen College of International Education There were a total of 74 entries Key Stage 4 Winners: 1st Place: North London Collegiate School Jeju 2nd Place: Kellett School, Hong Kong 3rd Place, tied: Kellett School Hong Kong and elc International School Key Stage 5 Winners: 1st Place: Shenzhen College of International Education 2nd Place, tied: British International School HCMC and Shrewsbury International School, Bangkok Riverside  ONLINE SOCIAL STUDIES COMPETITION 2020-21  WAS HOSTED ON    9 October - 30 November 2020 BY    Garden International School Bangkok Key Stage 3 Winners: 1st Place: Garden International School, Bangkok 2nd Place: International School Brunei 3rd Place: British International School, Phuket Key Stage 4 Winners: 1st Place: Traill International School 2nd Place: Shenzhen College of International Education 3rd Place: Garden International School Bangkok  SOCIAL SCIENCE ESSAY COMPETITION 2019-20  WAS HOSTED IN     November 2019 BY    Traill International School Bangkok 26 Schools competed with thousands of students taking part! 1st Place: Shenzhen College of International Education 2nd Place: The Alice Smith School Kuala Lumpur 3rd Place: Shenzhen College of International Education Read more: THE FOBISIAN Issue 32, Term 2 February 2020  INAUGURAL SOCIAL SCIENCE ESSAY COMPETITION 2017  WAS HOSTED IN     November - December 2017 BY   Shenzhen College of International Education There were a total of 28 entries 1st Place: North London Collegiate School, Jeju 2nd Place: Shenzhen College of International Education 3rd Place: Shenzhen College of International Education Read more: THE FOBISIAN Issue 26, Term 2 February 2018

There is no event planned for this year.

  RACE4GOOD JOURNALISM (Online) 2021  WAS HOSTED ON   30 September 2021 - 25 November 2021 BY  Race4Good / International Teacher Magazine (ITM) WEBSITE   https://www.therace4good.com/journalism-competition Congratulations to the winners of Race4Good Journalism 2021 - Oscar, Mira, Maho, and Sapphire from The British School in Tokyo for their winning article "One Family at a Time" . Read the winning article in issue 38 of THE FOBISIAN, and the upcoming ITM Magazine.     

Please email FOBISIA Communications  if you notice any irregularities with the content or would like to update the information listed.

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At The English Council, we subscribe to the philosophy that learning goes beyond the classroom. It needs to be functional, immersive and engaging with the primary purpose of enhancing the learning process for school-going children learning English as part of our National curriculum or as youths and adults learning English as a Second or Foreign language for their personal development. We offer lessons that are highly robust, dynamic and innovative, developing our learners’ receptive and productive skills, through contemporary learning programmes for effective retention of concepts. Similarly, we have incorporated a substantial amount of self-directed learning in our English Language programmes for active learners with time constraints.

Creative Writing Competition

"start writing, no matter what. the water does not flow until the faucet is turned on." - louis l'amour, "don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass." - anton chekhov, the english council  pte. ltd. (tec)  is proud to present its inaugural nationwide creative writing competition extended to all singaporean & pr students in singapore between the ages of 10 and 19 years old in 2020..

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Pick ONE of the following five essay topics and write an original story between 500 and 800 words in length:

• The Red Box
• Start and end  your original story with the following sentence: ‘I never liked the colour purple.’
• Write an original story based on: You are in the middle of a secluded desert. You see a mirror in the distance and as you gravitate towards it, you reach out and touch it.
• Schadenfreude

Submit your original story to [email protected] by 5th December 2020  Saturday, 19th December 2020, 6.00pm . 

1st Prize (Overall Winner): Apple iPad

2nd Place Winner (Age Group – 10 to 14 Years Old): $400 TEC Gift Card

2nd Place Winner (Age Group – 15 to 19 Years Old): $400 TEC Gift Card

Plus 27 Consolation Prizes

Submission Date:

5th December 19th December 2020, 6.00pm

Notification of Shortlisted Candidates by:

12th December 2020 9th – 12th January 2021

Workshop Date & Time:

Saturday, 19th December  

Saturday, 16th January 2021 

2.00pm to 6.00pm

Broadcast of Top 3 Winners:

December 2020 January 2021

*Dates and terms have been amended due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Submissions for this event are closed. A big ‘thank you’ to all contestants for their participation and support.

We look forward to reading each and every creative masterpiece. Stay tuned by liking or following us on our Facebook Page .

Write on & let the magic happen!

COMPETITION CRITERIA

This competition is strictly open to all Singaporean and PR students only, who are aged between 10 and 19 years old in 2020. Each contestant may submit only ONE entry. ALL entries MUST be original and written by the contestant in English. The entries must not have been published anywhere else at the time of submission.

All participants MUST Like and Share any one of The English Council’s (TEC) Nationwide Creative Writing Competition 2020 posts on TEC’s Facebook Page (See link: https://www.facebook.com/theenglishcouncil/ ) on their Facebook Wall, Instagram or any social media platform in the form of a post. The audience setting of the latter post on the contestant’s social media profile MUST be set to public (where applicable) and remain actively published until the closing date of this competition. All submissions MUST include a screen grab(s) of the latter, along with TEC’s Entry Form (See below).

Entries that do not meet the minimum word count of 500 words or those that exceed the word count of 800 words will be immediately disqualified. Personal details of the contestant written on the first page will not contribute to the final word count.  

The submission deadline is 19th December 2020 at 6.00pm . Late submissions will not be entertained.

This is a FREE event and there is no participation fee of any kind required.

Entries must be submitted via email to [email protected] and must use TEC’s Word Document template (CLICK HERE) . The first page of this Word Document MUST be completed and endorsed with the contestant’s signature before submission. The contestant’s essay should start only from page two of the Word Document and should be typed in Arial font-size 12, double-spaced and in black only. Before submission, the Word Document needs to be renamed by changing ‘FULL NAME’ to the contestant’s full name.

SELECTION OF WINNERS

30 shortlisted contestants will be selected by the faculty of The English Council Pte. Ltd. and they will be notified by January 2021. The 30 selected contestants will be invited to attend a compulsory and complimentary Creative Writing Clinic, where they will undergo a second level of selection process during which they will be further assessed. This will be conducted on Saturday, 16th January 2021 from 2.00pm to 6.00pm . (Shortlisted contestants will be notified of the venue via text message or email closer to the date). Of the 30 shortlisted contestants, 3 of them will be announced as the top winners based on their performance during the Creative Writing Clinic. The remaining 27 contestants will be awarded with a consolation prize. The results of the top 3 winners of The English Council’s Nationwide Creative Writing Competition 2020 will be published on The English Council’s website or social media page by January 2021. 

SAFETY & PRECAUTIONS

In view of the global spread of COVID-19, every effort will be taken during the Creative Writing Clinic to ensure the safety of all our participants through prior mandatory travel declarations of all parties directly involved in the event and temperature checks of all parties on the actual day before the commencement of the event.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

By submitting the essay to the competition, the contestant grants The English Council Pte. Ltd. and its affiliates the non-exclusive, perpetual, irrevocable, world-wide, royalty-free license (with the right to sub-license) to keep and reproduce, edit, display, transmit, modify, publish and otherwise make use of the submitted entries in any and all media for any purpose consistent with the corporate objectives of The English Council Pte. Ltd., including educational, archival and research purposes, and for publicising The English Council Pte. Ltd. or any of its programmes, including derivative works for such purposes. Where practical, the essay will be attributed to the student who submitted it.

In addition, by submitting the essay or any other content to the Creative Writing Competition, the contestant declares that the submitted materials do not infringe on any copyright or other rights of any third party, and that the contestant has the right to grant any and all rights and licenses to The English Council Pte. Ltd. 

The English Council Pte. Ltd. reserves the right to change any of the above terms and conditions at any time without prior notice.

For further queries, please contact us at [email protected]

Proudly brought to you and fully sponsored by.

The English Council is steadfast in its intent to hone the English Language skills of its learners (including ESL and EFL learners or those pursuing TOEFL or IELTS) from all walks of life through conducting programmes that educate, engage and enlighten.

We offer real solutions to real needs. You  need  to learn the English Language and you  need  to learn it fast. You  need  to retain concepts through lessons, which are not a drag. You  need  programmes that excite, inspire and spur your interests.

All our programmes are holistically designed with those needs in mind. Each programme is developed to include robust, prolific and contemporary methods, so you learn in the speediest of manners, are able to apply your skills immediately in the real world and that true spirit for learning the English written and spoken word within you is awakened. We respect the process, but more importantly, we respect your needs.

There are four dynamic tracks to suit all the diverse needs of different learners.

ONLINE Teaching Track (LIVE Classroom)

We hear your concerns about safety and precautions in the face of the global spread of COVID-19. We hear your concerns that in the face of so much apprehension and uncertainty, one thing remains certain – the impending National Examinations. Modern problems require modern solutions, so we are moving some of our highly popular courses online.

The English Council’s LIVE Classroom is an online learning environment that allows for live interaction between our educators and learners as they participate in learning activities.

You will get the same experience without any real compromise. The only difference will be the absence of physical contact time. Our live online courses will be conducted so seamlessly and as prolifically, you will never feel the difference.

At The English Council, Teaching is a Work of Heart ; we say what we mean and we mean what we say.

• ONLINE LIVE Creative Writing Clinic (Primary 5 & 6)
• ONLINE LIVE PSLE English Language Preparation
• ONLINE LIVE GCE ‘O’ Level English Language Preparation
• ONLINE LIVE GCE ‘A’ Level General Paper Preparation

Self Development Track for ESL/EFL Learners

The Self Development Track caters to the vital needs of ESL or EFL learners studying the English Language as a second or foreign language and who are keen on developing their productive and receptive skills. In addition, these learners have an interest in learning the English language as part of their personal and/or academic goals.

All our programmes focus on advancing the essential skill sets of learners through comprehensive sessions on grammar, reading, vocabulary, speaking, listening and writing.

• Beginner English
• Elementary English
• Pre-Intermediate English
• Intermediate English
• Upper Intermediate English
• Advanced English

Singapore National Examinations English Track

Each programme in the Singapore National Examinations Track encompasses the holistic development and refinement of each learner’s critical-thinking skills and language mastery. The different programmes in this track are discerningly designed with the keen and precise intent at aiding learners to achieve their ultimate potential and creating a vital gateway for learners in their successive journey into the world of tertiary education. In addition, our curricula are concurrently aligned with MOE’s 21st Century Competencies framework, enabling our students to embody the Desired Outcomes of Education (DOE) .

• Creative Writing Clinic (Primary 5 & 6)
• Young Learners’ Literature Circle (Primary 5 & 6)
• PSLE English Language Preparation
• GCE ‘O’ Level English Language Preparation
• GCE ‘A’ Level General Paper  Preparation

Pre-University Track for TOEFL & IELTS Learners

The Pre-University Track is designed for the knowing learner, who recognises the vital need to sharpen their productive writing skills, an essential component in both TOEFL & IELTS for the successful entry into a tertiary institution of their choice. Our highly structured programmes include pivotal steps and know-how tips to writing vastly effective and prolific expository essays.

• TOEFL Ultimate Writing Clinic
• IELTS Essential Writing Clinic

Functional (Business) English Track

The function of the English Language is letting the English Language function. Our simple philosophy is the purposeful application of the English Language in the day to day life of our learners. This space is in its inception stage with numerous bite-sized programmes in the pipeline. We believe learning the English Language should not only excite and inspire learners, but also be functional and relevant to their needs. For a start, our Functional Programmes encompass business-related communication skills, essential to the success of learners aspiring to join the workforce or who aspire to climb up the corporate ladder.

• Resume Writing
• Report Writing
• Presentation Skills
• Professional Telephone Techniques
• Business Writing Skills
• Professional Service Language
• Mastering Interview Techniques
• Customised Corporate Programmes (please enquire within)

Current Promotions

PROMOTION 1

Modern problems require modern solutions. Here’s one from us. From now till the 7th of April 2020, we are gifting all first-time applicants of our ONLINE courses with a S$155 Voucher to help defray expenses.

Get your Coupon Code here: 

http://theenglishcouncil.com/get-155-off-online-english-courses/

PROMOTION 2

For a limited period, for every quarterly or long-term package that is registered, first-time applicants will enjoy not only lower monthly fees, but the first session will be absolutely FREE*! (*Terms & Conditions apply.)

Check out our English Language programmes here:

http://theenglishcouncil.com/shop/

Working Adults

Our Educators

Yvonne Anjelina

Principal english language specialist.

Chief Castle-builder & Founder

Yvonne, one of the two big cheeses behind The English Council (based in Singapore), is an MOE-registered Teacher who has a Master of Education (English) co-awarded by the National Institute of Education (NIE) & Nanyang Technological University (NTU) as well as a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA) from the University of Cambridge, under her belt. In addition, she is an Associate Adult Educator with the Institute of Adult Learning (SUSS-IAL) as well as a Certified Industry Trainer/Curriculum Developer/Assessor (DACE & ACTA). During her métier as a Corporate Educator, Yvonne had taught Service Excellence and Workplace Literacy (WPL) Programmes to adults to help hone their communication skills at work and in life. In case these are not noteworthy enough, Yvonne is also a Certified Etiquette Consultant and has authored and published two etiquette guidebooks, currently available in our libraries. Her passion for the English language spurred her to set up The English Council in hopes of not only enabling her learners to master the language and develop the same admiration for it, but ensuring that it is done so in a fun and engaging way.

Irene Patricia

Chief Disruptor & Founder

Irene is an MOE-registered Teacher, who has been actively teaching the English Language for more than two decades to a heterogeneous league of learners from Singapore, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Thailand, Japan, Myanmar and Malaysia. She intuitively understands the needs of diverse learners and encompasses an innate ability to simplify concepts, so almost anyone, young and not-so-young, can comprehend them. Irene’s passion and zest are undeniably infectious and instantly evident in her teaching style and pedagogy. Under her tutelage, most of her learners thrive in especially national examinations, attaining the highest possible grade. For four consecutive years, from 2018 to 2021, a hundred percent of her learners attained distinctions for General Paper in the GCE ‘A’ Level National Examinations. Between 91% to 93% of her learners who take on the English Language Examination for the GCE ‘O’ Level National Examinations score distinctions every year, and all her learners who sit for the English Language Examination for the Primary School Leaving Examination attain Achievement Level 3 and above. Irene strives to continually reinvent herself and stay relevant in today’s ever-evolving education space. In 2016, she attained a Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA), awarded by University of Cambridge, placing her in the top 25 percent of her cohort in Singapore. Her recent endeavours include taking on a couple of programmes under Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications System (WSQ). In 2019, Irene completed her Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA v5) and in the first quarter of 2020, she most recently completed a Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education (DACE v2). Her long-standing triumph is attaining ‘The Best in Absurd Laws in Singapore’ & ‘2 nd Best in Absurd Laws in the World’ in September 2019 and earning the title of ‘Singapore Gum Chewer’ on QuizUp. She aspires to be the best in the world.

Testimonials

Ms Irene and Ms Yvonne are very kind and patient teachers. I presume that they have tonnes of experience because of how professional they are. Their performance was excellent. Thank you very much.

Desti Amalia – Oiltech Services Pte Ltd

Yvonne is perfect! She is thoughtful and gives useful vocabulary to students.

Irene is amazing! She is very friendly and understands the students. I enjoyed learning English with her.

Nicky – Katong Satay Supplies Pte Ltd

Teacher Irene is very wonderful. In her class, we have many opportunities to communicate with the other students. She always prepares fun and interesting games so that we can easily understand. Thanks so much!

Huang Yan Feng (Candy) – Yi Feng Rubber Pte. Ltd.

Ms Irene and Ms Yvonne are kind and have patience when teaching.

Jin Yinglan – NTUC Fairprice

Both the teachers are very professional and friendly.

Ling Yi Qin – NTUC Fairprice

I learned good English pronunciation from Ms Irene.

Ms Yvonne is not difficult to understand. She is very kind and speaks clearly and I have learnt a lot of words from her.

Takashi – Yokogawa

Friendly & Professional

Ng Boey (May) – NTUC Fairprice

Ms Yvonne is kind to teach us and waits for our reply. Her smile is very good!

Ms Irene has a lot of ideas when teaching English.

Yama – Yokogawa

Get LIT! is a members only learning circle within The English Council for learners to get enlightened, get creative, get connected and get an edge as they discover the English Language through both work and play. 

The learning circle enables our EFL & ESL learners to naturally immerse themselves in the English Language through partaking in interesting activities and workshops such as Wine Tasting, Cooking, Art & Drama workshops, Retreats and the list goes on. Our world is your Classroom. You will do this with other like-minded EFL and ESL learners, enabling you to make new friends as you do so and learn a particular skill or two while you are at it. 

As we run each Get LIT! programme on a quarterly basis, do stay tuned to find out when and where our next Get LIT! experience will take us to. Or you could register your interest HERE so that we may keep you posted instead.

Referral Programme

Bring a friend and we’ll give you S$25 hard cash, when they sign up with us*. Bring a few more pals and we’ll keep lining your pockets. All that love needs a reward.

Check out our Referral Programme below.

1-3 referrals: S$25 hard cash for each referral

4-6 referrals: S$45 hard cash for each referral

7 referrals and above: S$65 hard cash for each referral

*Each referred learner must sign up and complete at least a month-long programme before we fatten your pockets.

Corporate Social Responsibility

10% of all The English Council’s proceeds will go back to the community and beyond in some way, shape or form, especially concessionary or fully sponsored course fees for disadvantaged or underserved learners*, working with meaningful platforms and organisations, or the like.

At The English Council, Teaching is a Work of Heart ; we teach to inspire.

SAFETY & PRECAUTIONS

In view of the global spread of COVID-19, every effort will be taken during the conduct of all our programmes to ensure the safety of all our learners through prior mandatory travel declarations and temperature checks of all parties before each and every traditional classroom session.

Did you know that close to 1000 new words are added to the dictionary every year? With the advent of digital technology and the abbreviations often used by the Generation Z population, words like “fintech” and “TL;DR” have become a natural addition to the English vocabulary.

TEC’s Word of the Day

Video Clips

Say what now?!

Let’s Get in Touch!

Please enable javascript in your browser to complete this form. name * first last learner's name (if different from above) first last contact no. * email * disclosure of personal data * by ticking this box, i agree that the english council pte. ltd. may collect and use my personal data as shared above for administrative purposes. programme(s) interested in: * online creative writing clinic creative writing clinic online psle english language preparation psle english language preparation online ‘o’ level english language preparation ‘o’ level english language preparation online ‘a’ level general paper preparation ‘a’ level general paper preparation young learners’ literature circle beginner english elementary english pre-intermediate english intermediate english upper intermediate english advanced english toefl ultimate writing clinic ielts essential writing clinic functional (business) english get lit membership others not specified if requesting on behalf of your child, what level is he/she in psle ‘o’ level ‘a’ level not applicable others (please specify in the space below) do let us know if you have any other queries. count me in i would like to receive news on the the english council’s latest promotions and updates. message submit.

Or if you prefer, you could also contact us via:

Email: [email protected]

Contact No.: +65 9633 6637

TEC’s Website Disclaimer

The writers of this site did all of its creative writing with the intention of creating awareness of The English Council’s (TEC’s) programmes. Some bits may have been expressed in a tongue-in-cheek manner for the purposes of informing learners of TEC’s line-up of programmes as well as engaging and entertaining TEC’s traffic.

Should any of this site’s content offend you in any way, shape or form, you may reach out to TEC and they will be open to reviewing your feedback. They might even throw in a free English Language session. We are just guessing; we could be way off.

No letters, fonts, words, characters or punctuation marks were harmed during the creative writing process of this site. 

Oh, and by the way, this website is best viewed on a desktop/laptop. 

For a limited period, for every quarterly or long-term package that is registered, first-time applicants will enjoy not only lower monthly fees, but the first session will be absolutely FREE*! (*Terms & Conditions apply.) Dismiss

THE QUEEN'S COMMONWEALTH ESSAY COMPETITION

Since 1883, we have delivered The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition, the world's oldest international schools' writing competition. Today, we work to expand its reach, providing life-changing opportunities for young people around the world.

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 is now closed for entries.  Find out more about this year’s theme  'Our Common Wealth'.

140 years of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools and has been proudly delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. 

ABOUT THE COMPETITION 

An opportunity for young Commonwealth citizens to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences on key global issues and have their hard work and achievement celebrated internationally.

Frequently Asked Questions for the Competition. Before contacting us please read these.

MEET THE WINNERS 

In 2023 we were delighted to receive a record-breaking 34,924 entries, with winners from India and Malaysia. Read their winning pieces as well as those from previous years.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Terms and Conditions for entrants to The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. Please ensure you have thoroughly read them before submitting your entry.

NEWS AND STORIES

What a time to be a QCEC Judge!

Empower youth through literacy and entrepreneurship in rural communities of Rwanda with the Rwanda Opportunities Organization (RwandOpp)

Launch of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 – ‘Our Common Wealth’

QCEC Winners' Week 2023

QCEC 2022 Junior Winner Madeleine Wood reflects on her winning entry

Hiya Chowdhury looks back on how the competition has changed her life

Meet the winners of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023

QCEC 2021 Junior Runner-up from India shares her experience of Winners Week and receiving her award

QCEC 2021 Junior Winner Aditi Nair shares her experience of Winners Week

Amaal Fawzi, Senior runner-up of the QCEC 2022, shares her experience of entering the competition

'Woven Legacy': A poem to mark the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla

Sawooly Li, Senior Winner of the QCEC 2022 shares her experience of entering the competition

Meet The Winners Of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2022

Celebrating Commonwealth writing with HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

Winners Of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021

• RULES AND REGULATIONS
• AWARDS AND PRIZES
• IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE
• TOP 50 FINALISTS
• Top 10 Finalists
• EXHIBITION INFORMATION

SOTA Primary 6 Creative Writing Competition 2024

Awards and prizes.

50 finalists will be invited to a short story writing workshop on 23 March 2024 and will receive the following prizes:

• Top 10 finalists: $100 book voucher
• Next 40 finalists: $20 book voucher

© 2024 Singapore Arts School Ltd. All Rights Reserved.

Singapore Young Writers Press

Since 2015, we have been dedicated to inspiring children to produce quality works and promote the exchange of stories, ideas and cultures, by gathering and distributing quality works by children, for children., we organize national and district competitions, workshops and events to showcase the best of what our young writers have to offer and help them further hone their skills., we also publish their works to encourage the budding writers and help other young readers benefit from reading quality works by their peers so they are inspired to attempt like-wise..

• Writing Competitions
• Journals and Literary Magazines Accepting Submissions
• Dystopian Short Story Example
• Privacy Statement
• Cookie Policy
• Terms and Conditions

Writing Competitions – Weekly Updates

Opportunities for aspiring and experienced writers to win prizes and get published..

Our curated list of writing competitions includes basic information about each event including max word limit , entry fees , submission deadlines , and prizes for winners. The list is updated with new events on a weekly basis and features many categories of writing competitions:

• short stories and flash fiction
• novel and novella manuscripts
• essay  and non-fiction
• memoir and screenwriting

In case of questions about a particular event, please reach out to the event organizer. Always do your own research before submitting your work to any event, especially if an entry fee is required.

Join our Facebook group for updates Subscribe to our newsletter Add an event Donate

Featured event

sun 01 sep 6:05 pm mon 30 (sep 30) 6:05 pm This event is FREE to enter! Yay! Virtual Event The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction, and Unpublished Books All entries are considered for publication, submission to the Pushcart Prize, and for further anthologies. Category Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Fiction, Unpublished Books International Entry Fee Free Max word count Depends on category (check organizer's website) Top Prize $1,000 and publication

Upcoming events

September 2024

sun 01 sep All Day mon 30 This event is FREE to enter! Yay! Borders & Boundaries Short Story Contest The Elegant Literature award for new writers Category Short Story International Entry Fee Free (for Elegant Literature members) Max word count 2000 Top Prize $3,000, 10 cents per word, and publication

sep The Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry Contest Category Poetry International Entry Fee $25 Max word count 75 lines Top Prize $500 and publication

sun 01 sep 12:54 pm fri 01 nov 12:54 pm This event is FREE to enter! Yay! The 2025 Commonwealth Short Story Prize Category Short Story International Entry Fee Free Max word count 5,000 Top Prize £5,000 and publication

thu 05 sep tue 01 oct Tennessee Williams Fiction Contest Category Short Fiction International Entry Fee $25 Max word count 7,000 Top Prize $1,500

thu 05 sep (sep 5) 5:40 pm tue 15 oct (oct 15) 5:40 pm Tennessee Williams Poetry Contest Category Poetry International Entry Fee $51 Max word count 400 lines Top Prize $1,000

sun 29 sep 3:12 pm sun 3:12 pm The Stringybark Times Past Short Story Award 2024 Historical fiction competition exploring Australian history. Category Short Story International Entry Fee $15 Max word count 1500 Top Prize $350 + publication

mon 30 sep 12:00 am mon 12:00 am Southword Editor's Poetry Award Category Poetry International Entry Fee €24 Max word count No limit Top Prize €1,000, publication in Southword, a complementary one year subscription to Southword, and access to subscriber only Southword competitions

mon 30 sep All Day This event is FREE to enter! Yay! The Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction Category Flash Fiction International Entry Fee Free Max word count 5000 Top Prize $1000

mon 30 sep All Day This event is FREE to enter! Yay! The Letter Review Prize for Poetry Category Poetry International Entry Fee Free Max word count 70 lines Top Prize $1000

mon 30 sep All Day This event is FREE to enter! Yay! The Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction Category Essay, memoir, Multiple categories, Non-fiction International Entry Fee Free Max word count 5000 Top Prize $1000

mon 30 sep 12:00 am mon 11:59 pm This event is FREE to enter! Yay! Nightmare on Story Street Contest Category Micro Fiction International Entry Fee Free Max word count 100 Top Prize 100

mon 30 sep All Day This event is FREE to enter! Yay! The Letter Review Prize for Unpublished Books Category Chapbook, Essay, Full Manuscript, memoir, Multiple categories, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Short Fiction, Short Story International Entry Fee Free Max word count 5000 Top Prize $1000

mon 30 sep All Day Anthology Flash Fiction Competition 2024 Category Flash Fiction International Entry Fee €12 Max word count 250 Top Prize €300

mon 30 sep All Day This event is FREE to enter! Yay! The Writers College Annual Short Story Competition Proudly Supporting Emerging Writers Category Short Story International Entry Fee Free Max word count 2000 Top Prize $1000 and publication

mon 30 sep All Day Joy Bale Boone Poetry Prize Category Poetry USA Entry Fee $10 Max word count No limit Top Prize $500

mon 30 sep All Day Anthology Nature Writing Competition 2024 Category Non-fiction International Entry Fee €10 Max word count 1000 Top Prize €500

mon 30 sep All Day One Page Poetry Contest Category Poetry USA Entry Fee $25 Max word count 300 Top Prize $2,000

mon 30 sep 12:01 pm mon 11:59 pm Best in Rural Writing Contest Category Multiple categories International Entry Fee $5 Max word count 6,000 Top Prize $500

mon 30 sep 3:36 pm mon 3:36 pm Miller Williams Poetry Prize University of Arkansas Press Category Full Manuscript, Poetry International Entry Fee $28 Max word count Full manuscript (90 pages max) Top Prize $5,000 and publication

mon 30 sep 7:32 pm mon 7:32 pm THE MOTH NATURE WRITING PRIZE 2024 Category Multiple categories International Entry Fee €15 Max word count 4,000 Top Prize €1,000 and a week at Circle of Misse in France

October 2024

tue 01 oct All Day 34th Annual Jeffrey E. Smith Editors’ Prize Category Non-fiction, Poetry, Short Fiction International Entry Fee $25 Max word count 8,500 words (fiction/non-fiction); 6 to 12 pages (poetry) Top Prize $5,000 and publication

tue 01 oct All Day Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest Category Poetry International Entry Fee $22 Max word count 250 lines Top Prize $3,500

oct The Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry Contest Category Poetry International Entry Fee $25 Max word count 75 lines Top Prize $500 and publication

wed 02 oct 12:00 am wed 12:00 am This event is FREE to enter! Yay! Money Chronicles: A Story Initiative 2nd Edition Category Short Story USA Entry Fee Free Max word count No limit Top Prize $1000 and publication

wed 02 oct All Day Saints & Sinners Short Fiction Contest Open to LGBTQ+ authors at all stages of their careers International Entry Fee $20 Max word count 7,000 Top Prize $500 and publication

mon 07 oct All Day Peter Porter Poetry Prize 2025 Category Poetry International Entry Fee $30 Max word count 60 lines Top Prize $6,000

sun 13 oct All Day The Galley Beggar Press Short Story Prize Category Short Story International Entry Fee £11 Max word count 6,000 Top Prize £2500

mon 14 oct 12:01 am mon 11:59 pm This event is FREE to enter! Yay! Latino Voice in Children's Literature Writing Contest Category Full Manuscript, Non-fiction, Short Fiction USA Entry Fee Free Max word count 800 Top Prize $1000

tue 15 oct 1:45 pm tue 1:45 pm Marlowe & Christie Novel Prize Category Novel International Entry Fee £19 Max word count 3000 Top Prize £1,100

tue 15 oct 3:09 pm tue 3:09 pm This event is FREE to enter! Yay! The Book Edit Writers’ Prize 2024 Category Novel UK Entry Fee Free Max word count the first 1,000 words of your novel, a (500-word max) synopsis and a brief note on your writing experience to date Top Prize Publication and other perks

tue 15 oct 3:35 pm tue 12:00 am Caledonia Novel Award 2025 Category Novel International Entry Fee £28 Max word count First 20 pages and a 200-word synopsis Top Prize £1500

tue 15 oct 10:52 pm tue 10:52 pm The Raven Short Story Contest Category Short Story International Entry Fee $35 Max word count 2500 Top Prize $300

wed 16 oct All Day This event is FREE to enter! Yay! Carol Shields Prize for Fiction Celebrating creativity and excellence by women and non-binary writers in Canada and the United States Category Full Manuscript International Entry Fee Free Max word count Full manuscript Top Prize $150,000

wed 16 oct 3:30 pm wed 3:30 pm This event is FREE to enter! Yay! Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards Category Full Manuscript, Multiple categories International Entry Fee Free Max word count Full manuscript Top Prize $10,000

fri 18 oct (oct 18) 12:00 pm sun 20 (oct 20) 11:59 pm Virtual Event Not Quite Write Prize for Flash Fiction A flash fiction competition with a twist Category Flash Fiction International Entry Fee $25 Max word count 500 Top Prize $1,000 and a trophy

sun 20 oct All Day EYELANDS BOOK AWARDS 2024 International book award based in Greece Category Full Manuscript International Entry Fee €30 Max word count No limit Top Prize Grand prize - Five-day stay in Athens, Greece

sun 20 oct All Day This event is FREE to enter! Yay! Letterkenny Literary Festival Flash Fiction competition Category Flash Fiction Ireland Entry Fee Free Max word count 300 Top Prize €150

sun 20 oct 7:16 pm sun 7:16 pm Ironbridge Festival Poetry Competition Category Poetry International Entry Fee £4 Max word count 35 lines Top Prize £300 and publication

sun 20 oct 9:18 pm sun 11:59 pm Cheltenham Poetry Festival 2024 International Poetry Competition Category Poetry International Entry Fee £4 Max word count 50 lines Top Prize £300 plus slot at Festival

wed 23 oct 1:00 pm wed 10:00 pm FFF Competition Twenty-Four Category Flash Fiction International Entry Fee £3.95 Max word count 300 Top Prize £150

fri 25 oct 2:23 pm fri 2:23 pm The Dark Poets Prize Category Poetry International Entry Fee £5 Max word count 200 Top Prize £500, certificate, t-shirt

sat 26 oct 12:27 am sat 12:27 am Scratch A4 - The Poet & the Echo Category Short Story International Entry Fee £4 Max word count 1000 Top Prize Feedback from judges + invitation to read your work in Soho, London on Saturday 7th December

sun 27 oct 5:41 pm sun 5:41 pm The Masters Review Novel Excerpt Contest Category Novel International Entry Fee $20 Max word count 6,000 Top Prize $3,000, online publication; and a consultation with a literary agent

thu 31 oct All Day This event is FREE to enter! Yay! The Solstice Writing Prize for Young Writers A nature-themed creative writing prize for 7- to 25-year-olds Category Poetry, Short Story UK Entry Fee Free Max word count 500 words (short stories); 40 lines (poetry) Top Prize £100 and publication

thu 31 oct All Day Trio International Poetry Competition Charitable cause - entry fees will be used to build a community school in Uganda Category Poetry International Entry Fee £5 Max word count 40 lines Top Prize £1,000

thu 31 oct All Day Novel Opening and Synopsis Competition Category Novel International Entry Fee £10 Max word count 3000 Top Prize £500 and publication

thu 31 oct All Day Anthology Poetry Competition 2024 Category Poetry International Entry Fee €18 Max word count 40 lines Top Prize €1000

thu 31 oct All Day Bedford Short Story Writing Competition Category Short Story International Entry Fee £8.50 Max word count 3000 Top Prize £1500

thu 31 oct 11:59 pm thu 11:59 pm WOW! Women on Writing Fall 2024 Flash Fiction Contest Category Flash Fiction USA Entry Fee $10 Max word count 750 Top Prize $400, publication, interview, and $25 Amazon Gift Certificate

thu 31 oct 11:59 pm thu 11:59 pm WOW! Women On Writing Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest Category Essay USA Entry Fee $12 Max word count 1,000 Top Prize $500, publication, interview, and gift code good for one item from CreateWriteNow's Store

November 2024

nov The Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry Contest Category Poetry International Entry Fee $25 Max word count 75 lines Top Prize $500 and publication

sat 02 nov 10:43 pm sat 10:43 pm Kurt Vonnegut Speculative Fiction Prize North American Review Category Short Fiction International Entry Fee $23 Max word count 10,000 Top Prize $1,000 and publication

mon 04 nov 3:15 pm mon 3:15 pm EGG+FROG Inspirathlon 2024 Category Short Fiction International Entry Fee £6 Max word count 800 Top Prize £100 and publication

fri 15 nov All Day The SmokeLong Grand Micro Contest 2024 Category Micro Fiction International Entry Fee $11 Max word count 250 Top Prize $1,000 and publication

fri 15 nov 1:41 pm fri 1:41 pm The Creative Writing Ink Short Story Competition 2024 Category Short Story International Entry Fee £9 Max word count 3,000 Top Prize £1,000, an online creative writing course with Creative Writing Ink, and publication

sat 16 nov 12:00 am sat 11:59 pm Fosseway Writers Short Story Competition 2024 Category Short Story International Entry Fee £5 Max word count 2500 Top Prize £50

sat 30 nov All Day Gregory O’Donoghue International Poetry Competition 2024 Category Poetry Entry Fee €7

sat 30 nov All Day Bath Children’s Novel Award 2024 Category Novel International Entry Fee £29.99 Max word count 5,000 plus one page synopsis of novel Top Prize £5,000

sat 30 nov All Day Anthology Travel Writing Competition 2024 Category Non-fiction International Entry Fee €15 Max word count 1000 Top Prize €500

sat 30 nov All Day THE BATH NOVEL AWARDS International writing competition for novels and children’s books Category Novel International Entry Fee £29.99 ( sponsored places for writers on a low income available) Max word count 5,000 Top Prize £5,000 and full manuscript feedback

sat 30 nov 6:25 am sat 11:59 pm Tadpole Press 100-Word Writing Contest Category Multiple categories International Entry Fee $15 Max word count 100 Top Prize $2,000

sat 30 nov 2:35 pm sat 2:35 pm This event is FREE to enter! Yay! Eleventh Hour Literary’s Prose Contest Category Multiple categories USA Entry Fee Free Max word count Check organizer's website for details Top Prize $200 and publication

December 2024

dec The Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry Contest Category Poetry International Entry Fee $25 Max word count 75 lines Top Prize $500 and publication

sun 15 dec 1:00 pm sun 1:00 pm This event is FREE to enter! Yay! Minotaur Books/Mystery Writers of America Best First Novel Competition First Crime Novel Competition Category Full Manuscript, Novel Entry Fee Free Max word count Full manuscript (check organizer's guidelines for minimum word count) Top Prize $10,000

tue 31 dec All Day This event is FREE to enter! Yay! Stories of Inspiration - Non-Fiction Essays Open Submissions Throughout 2024 Category Essay, Non-fiction International Entry Fee Free Max word count 2,000 Top Prize Publication

tue 31 dec 12:00 am tue 11:59 pm Killer Shorts Horror Short Story Competition Category Short Story International Entry Fee $30 Max word count 6000 Top Prize Publication, Career Mentorship Call, Scrivener Writing Software, Book Brush 1 Year Gold Membership, trophy

January 2025

jan The Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry Contest Category Poetry International Entry Fee $25 Max word count 75 lines Top Prize $500 and publication

tue 14 jan 4:05 pm tue 4:05 pm The 2025 Colorado Prize for Poetry Category Poetry International Entry Fee $28 Max word count 100 pages Top Prize $2,500 honorarium and publication by the Center for Literary Publishing

wed 15 jan 2:50 pm wed 2:50 pm StoryBottle Co. Short Story Contest Category Short Story USA Entry Fee $15 Max word count 10,000 Top Prize $1000

fri 17 jan 11:59 pm fri 11:59 pm Jerboa Lit's Inaugural 48-Hour Flash Fiction Competition Category Flash Fiction International Entry Fee $20 Max word count 500 Top Prize $1,000

tue 28 jan 3:41 pm tue 3:41 pm The 12th Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry Competition Category Poetry International Entry Fee €5 Max word count 50 lines Top Prize €750

February 2025

feb The Poetry.com Contest Monthly Poetry Contest Category Poetry International Entry Fee $25 Max word count 75 lines Top Prize $500 and publication

thu 13 feb 12:00 am thu 11:59 pm Next Generation Indie Book Awards Category Full Manuscript Canada Entry Fee $75 Max word count No limit Top Prize $1500

thu 27 feb All Day Next Generation Short Story Awards A not-for-profit international awards program for authors of short stories. Category Short Story International Entry Fee $25 Max word count 5,000 Top Prize $500 and publication

fri 28 feb 8:22 pm fri 8:22 pm This event is FREE to enter! Yay! The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition Category Poetry International Entry Fee Free Max word count 500 Top Prize £300 for winner and £1000 for their school library

sun 30 mar 10:47 pm sun 10:47 pm Rhina Espaillat Poetry Award Category Poetry International Entry Fee $7 Max word count 50 lines Top Prize $2,000 and publication

tue 01 apr 7:11 pm tue 7:11 pm This event is FREE to enter! Yay! Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest Category Poetry International Entry Fee Free Max word count 250 lines Top Prize $2,000 plus a two-year gift certificate, and publication

mon 30 jun 9:21 pm mon 9:21 pm The 9th To Hull and Back Humourus Short Story Competition Category Short Story International Entry Fee £10 (early bird entry) Max word count 2,500 Top Prize £1,000 and publication

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Copyright School Challenge 2023/2024: Creative Writing Competition

The Copyright School Challenge: Creative Writing Competition is back this year with a brand-new theme! CLASS is launching its second edition of the Creative Writing Competition for primary school students with the aim to encourage creativity and promote copyright awareness among students.

About the competition

The Creative Writing Competition is aimed at inspiring primary school students to write as well as empowering them to express their creative thoughts and opinions through poetry or as an essay. Similar to the last edition, the competition has two separate categories: Essay Writing and Poetry Writing.

– The Essay Writing category is open to Primary 3 & Primary 4 students. – The Poetry Writing category is open to Primary 5 & Primary 6 students.

The closing date for submissions is Sunday, 31 March 2024 . The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during the Asia Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) in May 2024.

The theme for this year’s competition is CURIOSITY .

Please refer to the format requirements for the submissions:

– Essay writing: Maximum of 300 words for Primary 3 students and 400 words for Primary 4 students. Title is not included in the word count. Font must be Arial or Times New Roman, 12pt, black, and double spaced. – Poetry writing: Written in English. Maximum of 20 lines, excluding the title. Font must be Arial or Times New Roman, 12pt, black, and double spaced.

The author’s name should be included in the document or file name. No illustrations should be included as part of the entry. Submit as either a Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) or PDF file.

The top 3 winners in each category are as follows:

– 1 st Prize : $500 + Trophy – 2 nd Prize: $300 + Trophy – 3 rd Prize: $200 + Trophy

Registration & Submission

You may register your interest and submit your entries by clicking on the button below.

There will also be a poetry and an essay writing workshop held in conjunction with the competition. These workshops will be reserved for participants who register their interest by 29 February 2024 , are limited to a first-come, first-serve basis and will be held at the NLB. Further information regarding these workshops will be provided by January 2024.

To register for the workshops, please visit the following links in January 2024:

Poetry writing workshop: Registration for workshop is now  CLOSED Essay writing workshop: Registration for workshop is now CLOSED

*Submissions can be made at a later date after registering of interest.

Check out the Top 2 entries from each category from last year’s competition below!

Poetry Writing

Maanav Praseed – Chess, A Work of Art

Me and my chess board, black and white Time for some strategy, fun and fight!

In ebony and ivory, the pieces stand, Each with a purpose and a plan.

The clock ticks down, the tension mounts, A clash of minds, and a battle of thoughts.

Oh! A move I haven’t seen before, But don’t give up! Give him more!

I stare at the board rubbing my chin, Ah! The perfect sequence to secure my win.

The pawns, the bishops, the rooks and knights, With will and valour they all fight.

I realise I blunder a beautiful fork, I sit there thinking I’m a dork.

My queen comes out to avenge my rook, And my plan worked… I made him look!

Time passes by and the attack brews, His hand stretches out to say I lose!

I love my chessboard, a work of art, A game well-played, fills my heart.

Runner-Up Hailey Chua Yixin – Play

My fingers poise on the scintillating keys, The obsidian and ivory beckoning to me. With my right hand, I press down the first note of the song, Launching the charming canon. My body bobs along.

The tune starts off gleeful, airy and sweet. It billows in the air, in light, cheerful beats. Mezzo piano, whispered. Diminuendos, gentle. Digits trickle o’er the piano, a skipping instrumental.

Then my left hand comes in, and the phrase becomes a story, Told by two alluring sirens, crooning in harmony. It deepens like marionettes waltzing to my nails, Which cascade in a glissando. I sway, ridden of travail.

The crescendos build in suspense; my tension unravels… My enthusiasm builds with the keys pounding like gavels. Eventually, the tempo slows, and the melody softens. My eyes close, the piano shuts. Click. An elegy to a coffin.

Music is the wax that binds us to our souls, And unleashes our pressure with the ring of a doh. Till death, this wonderful piano I shall forever play. This is my lighthearted, lyrical way of… play

Essay Writing Writing

I sit on a bed, my mottled legs dangling lifelessly. My glazed eyes stare blankly at the far wall. They fall on a picture of a young boy, his hand tightly grasping the sleeve of a smiling, grey-haired woman. He has a penetrating stare, his jet-black hair jutting out at odd angles. I frown. Who are they? I cannot seem to remember. A tear trickles down my face.

A young boy runs in, with a grin on his face. He flings his arms around me. Who is he? Why is he hugging me? My eyes tilt involuntarily towards the picture on the wall. I look back in front of me. He is just like that boy, but older. He takes out an oddly familiar object. What is that?

“Do you remember we played four-in-a-row last week? You won all seven times!”

But I don’t remember. Is my mind playing tricks on me? Is he playing with me? At the back of my mind, I know that he is not.

A flicker of connection sparks in my mind as I pick up the rounded disc, hesitantly slotting it into a hole. I remember how to play. Not just to play the game, but play itself.

He puts another piece in, blocking my path. I frown. Then I remember how to smile as I continue playing.

A familiar smell wafts into the room. Chicken rice. That is my favourite food. I keep silent for a moment.

“Come on, let’s go on playing!” He urged as a slightly worried look crossed his face. A moment later, it was gone.

Are my eyes playing tricks on me?

“The doctor said play is good for you,” He says as he blocks me once again.

I remember how to laugh as I put in another piece.

As I look around me, I know I am at home, on my bed. My home. My bed. I sit there and cry. Tears after tears bucketing down. I remember I played with him last week, and the week before. Through the tears, I smile once again.

“Are you alright?” The boy asks, the creases of worries plain on his face.

“I remember,” I say, as I slot my next disc in.

“Grandma, do you know who I am?”

I reply, “I don’t know who you are, but I know I love you.”

Aidan Weckx

“Where is Aidan? Is he off to play with his mates again?” muttered my mom in exasperation, as she picks up our sweaty ski gear in the restaurant. “Yes mom,” sighed Dylan, my 6-year old brother. “You know where he always is whenever we are here.”

Every year, my family heads off to our “happy place” – Club Med Valmorel in the French Alps, several hours from Paris. We spend our week skiing in the breathtaking snow-capped mountains, enjoying the fresh air of the Alps. Ski class starts at 9:00 am, we break for lunch, and then we are back on the slopes for the afternoon class. But my real “play time” starts way before ski class, and continues during our breaks, and “apres-ski.”

I love to play ping-pong and whenever I have time to spare between ski classes, I can be found in the basement kids club with about 15 boys, from ages 6 to 20. At first, with all the French chatter, I did not feel I belonged to the eclectic group. But after I played ping-pong with the boys, some of whom were serious experts, I felt a real sense of belonging, like I was in special club with like-minded friends bonded by a common passion.

Whenever I pick up my paddle, I feel my adrenaline rush through my veins. A good player has to have the speed of a cheetah, the grace of a gazelle, the precision of an eagle and the power of a lion. I was inspired by the older teenager boys, who played so skillfully and artfully, with such finesse and grace. And every single day, I would be at the basement, playing my heart out.

All good things come to an end and it was time to return home. I had found my passion, and that was ping-pong. My dad even bought me a mini ping-pong table so I can play in the living room anytime, and my mom signed me up for a professional ping-pong holiday camp. Play time was no longer in front of my computer or TV – it was always at the ping-pong table, where I felt the most at ease.

Just eight more months and I will be back in Club Med Valmorel again, playing with speed, grace, precision and power – where I am back in the game, and back in the happiest playground on earth.

Terms and Conditions

All registration and entries must be filled and submitted by the parents, teachers, or guardians of the participants (student or child). Each participant can submit only one entry, and manuscripts must be in Microsoft Word or pdf.

Participants (students) must submit their entries by Sunday, 31 March 2024 . All submissions must be made via the online form through the student’s teacher or parent/guardian.

Only entries that are duly received by us by the aforementioned closing date will be eligible for the competition. We will not accept responsibility for any entries that are lost, delayed, or damaged and we do not consider proof of submitting an online entry as proof that we have received it.

All entries must be an original piece and developed by the student or child. The entries must not have been published on any other forms of media (including the internet, social media, newspapers, and school publications). Entries must not have been submitted for any other contests before.

The poetry writing and essay writing workshops are free of charge for registered participants of the competition.

Any entries containing excerpts, translations, or plagiarism, infringing on others’ copyrights, will be disqualified, and rendered invalid. Revocation of any award and return of prizes will be required.

All personal information including contact details must be provided and accurate. The registrants will be contactable via email and/ or phone for the purpose of the competition only.

Prize-winning entries are subject to publication, distribution, and promotion by the Organiser without prior notification.

The decision of the judges is final, and no discussion will be entertained in relation to their decision.

Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony during the Asia Festival of Children’s Content (AFCC) in May 2024, with the date to be confirmed. Parents/guardians and teachers including the entrant must be present for the ceremony to receive the prize.

For any enquiries, do send us an email at [email protected]