THE SA WRITERS’ COLLEGE

2012 Annual Short Story Award

For Emerging Writers in South Africa

Open for Entries

This competition is to acknowledge excellence in creative writing in the Short Story genre. The contest is open to any emerging writer residing in South Africa who has had fewer than four stories/articles published in any format (print or digital).

PRIZES:

• First Prize: R 5 000.00 plus entry into one of our short courses
• Second Prize: R2 000.00
• People's Choice Award R 1 000.00

Top two entries will be published on our college site and the top five winners will receive individual editorial comments on their submitted works.

We will also run a public vote called the 'People's Choice Award'  for the top five entries. This result will be announced by 31 May.

DEADLINE: Midnight 31 March 2012, via e-mail only to Nichola@sawriterscollege.co.za.

Entry is free.

THEME: Roll of the Dice

GUIDELINES FOR ENTRIES:

• Entry is limited to South African residents only.
• Entrants must submit a story of maximum word count: 2000 words. Any entries exceeding the word count by 50 words will not be considered.
• We aim to support and acknowledge beginner writers, so we only accept stories from writers who have been published fewer than four times in any genre, in any publication (for payment or otherwise). This does not include articles for community or work newsletters where the circulation is under 1000.
• Stories must not have been previously published. Entrants must own full copyright to the story submitted.
• Only one story per entrant is allowed.
• Only e-mail submissions are acceptable, with stories attached as Word Documents. Mark your entry clearly with the subject line: SAWC Annual Short Story Competition, and submit according to rules below.
• If you have not received an acknowledgement of your submission within three days, please re-send your entry.
• All submissions must be sent to Nichola Meyer: Nichola@sawriterscollege.co.za

ENTRY FORMAT:

• Your first page of your Word document must include the story title, your name, email address, and total number of words of the entry.
• Do not include your name on any page of your story, except the title page. All entries will be judged blind.
• Make sure your story has been edited and polished according to tips and guidelines provided on our college site under “Writing Resources”.

THE JUDGES:

The top five entries will be assessed by a panel of award-winning international writers who tutor at SA Writers’ College.  Judges still to be confirmed. 

  Henrietta Rose-Innes has written two novels, Shark's Egg (Kwela, 2000) and The Rock Alphabet (Kwela, 2004), and has compiled a book of South African writing, Nice Times! A Book of South African Pleasures and Delights (Double Storey, 2006). A number of her short stories and essays have appeared in local and international publications.

Most recently, Henrietta's story "Poison" won the 2007 Southern African PEN / HSBC Writing Award. She won the 2008 Caine Prize for African Writing.

  Ginny Swart has sold over 400 short stories to women's magazines all over the world. On any day of every month she has at least 15 stories out there on editors' desks. Her more serious work has appeared in literary publications in America, South Africa, Canada, New Zealand and on the Web. She is also the author of three romance novels (Ulverscroft Press UK) a book of short stories (Lulu.com) and a book for teenagers: Nosipho and the King of Bones (MacMillan Boleswa SA).

In 2003 Ginny won the esteemed UK The Real Writers' Prize from over 4000 entrants.

  Karen Jeynes studied English and Drama at UCT. Her plays include "Laying Blame", "sky too big", "Backwards in High Heels" (co-authored with the cast), "Don't Mention Sex", "Kiss Kiss" and the multi award-winning "Everybody Else (is Fucking Perfect)". She has also directed "The Best Man", "Pillow Talk" and "Txt Me". Her adaptation of Thomas Rapakgadi's "The Purse is Mine" aired on Bush Radio last year, and she is busy writing a radio drama series for Safm with Nkuli Sibeko, tentatively entitled "Office Hours".

Her teenage novel, Jacques Attack (co-authored with Nkuli Sibeko) was published in 2004, and her new book, Flipside, co-authored with Eeshaam September, is due for release this year.

 Helen Brain is the author of over 30 books for children, and has contributed stories and plays to numerous school anthologies. Her teen novel, Tamara won an ATKV award. She has also published short stories for adults, and her highly acclaimed memoir, Here Be Lions was published by Oshun in 2006.

 Karin Schimke was a political writer for The Star and The Cape Times before turning to freelancing in 2000. She has written columns and feature articles for a variety of mainstream newspapers and magazines, and also publishes short stories and poetry. She reviews books for the Cape Times and has a regular column on Parent24.com.

Karin has written two non-fiction books: Fabulously 40 and beyond (with Margie Orford), and Mother Country due for publication in 2011. Her children’s picture book Layla had a lovely dad was published in 2009. She also edited Open, a collection of literary erotic short stories by South African women writers.

Karin mentors and tutors young writers at a publishing house, and is currently working on a novel and a collection of her poems for possible publication. She hosts a regular weekly poetry happening called Off The Wall in Observatory, Cape Town.  

CRITIQUES: We unfortunately do not have the time to supply a critique for each submission. If you wish to receive a professional one- to two-page report of your work, please state your requirement on your title page. We charge R120.00 per critique.

COMPETITION RULES:

• The competition is open to anyone living in South Africa over the age of 16.
• The competition closes at midnight on 31 March 2012, and winners will be announced and displayed on our web site by 30 April 2011.
• Prizewinners will be notified via email as well as on our web site; please ensure you supply a valid email address with your entry.
• Prize money will be paid via electronic transfer.
• We only accept entries written in English.
• Entrant must own full copyright of the piece.
• Writers retain copyright, but give permission for their work to be displayed on our website.
• The judges' decision is final; no disputes will be entered into.
• If your entry has not been acknowledged within 72 hours, please contact us –your mail may have got lost in transit.
• SA Writers’ College reserves the right to extend the competition deadline, or cancel the competition should the entries not be of publishable quality or up to the required standard.

    View our archived competition entries here