Mum’s Mail is running the ‘My Story’ writing competition to promote creative writing for children in schools, grades 1 to 7, in KZN. Creativity is the highest valued ability in all areas of life and with this in mind the ‘My Story’ competition seeks to encourage creative writing in a fun and exciting way.
Prizes:
- Each winner’s story and profile will be published in Mum’s Mail magazine.
- Each winner’s story will be illustrated by Cristy Zinn and published by Kidsbookclub.co.za, 10 copies gifted to the winner, plus a copy sent out to all their subscribers.
- Each winner’s school will receive 100 books from Priddy Books, 50 for their own school library and 50 to donate to their chosen disadvantaged school.
- Each winner’s school library and their chosen disadvantaged school will win a reading corner ‘makeover’ arranged by @doing_life_with_us
- Finally, all four schools will receive a visit from ECR Breakfast Show Host Darren Maule, who will read the winning story to the school children.
There will be two winners, one from each category: Category 1 (Grades 1-3) and Category 2 (Grades 4-7).
Victoria Arthur, Editor of Mum’s Mail, is passionate about the value of creativity and she explains this is the motivation behind this writing competition. “In today’s world, more than ever, creativity is valued. We want to see our children growing up to be creators and not just consumers. Creative writing is rewarding in many ways; children develop skills, confidence and self-esteem and it’s great fun to let your imagination go wild writing a story! We wanted to give children a fun competition, with super exciting prizes, to motivate as many as possible to give it a go. Who wouldn’t want to have their own story published?”
“It is important to us that schools buy into the competition and we have had great feedback from our initial work with principals. We aim for any child from any school to be able to enter. All the entrants will be winners in our eyes but the prizes will go to the stories judged the most creative, rather than ‘polished’ – it’s not a grammar competition after all! We can’t wait to read the stories, good luck everybody and enjoy!”
Darren Maule, East Coast Radio Breakfast Show Host, is looking forward to visiting all four schools to read out their stories and had a message for all the budding young writers. “The only thing better than living, is living in a world that you have created. And writing allows you to do that.”
Rules Summary – Be Creative!
- To enter you need to live in KZN and be in Grade 1 to 7, and have the permission of an adult (Parent/Guardian or Teacher).
- You need to write an original story that is no more than 500 words long (there is no minimum word count).
- Entries will be judged on the following criteria; Creativity, enjoyment, storyline, characterisation and language
- Your story must be all your own original work – you must not copy someone else’s story. Your story must be an original piece of fiction and not an account of real events past or present.
- Entrants can use fictional or real-life characters in a completely made up story.
Entries close on Wednesday 31st July 2019.
Judging will take place throughout August and the winners announced by Friday 23rd August 2019
Any parents or schools that would like to get involved or would like an information pack with full Terms and Conditions can contact the editor at Mum’s Mail, please email mystory@mumsmail.com or call 031 573 1731.
Sponsors
This competition relies on the support of sponsors who want to support the creative writing initiative, children and schools.
We want to thank our generous main sponsors: Kidsbookclub.co.za and Cristy Zinn, Priddy Books, Darren Maule and micro blogger Kirsten Coates @doing_life_with_us
Thank you also to our Library Corner ‘Make Over’ item sponsors; Three Little Monkeys, Zoe Bird, FOMO Print, Kids Emporium Umhlanga, Kids Original, Ella and Scarlett Creations and Kidlet Collection. Many thanks also to Penny Katz Photography and Crawford School La Lucia.
#MyStoryComp
Picture: Nadine Kann (kidsbookclub.co.za), Victoria Arthur (Editor – Mum’s Mail), Darren Maule (ECR Breakfast Show Host), Kirsten Coates (@doing_life_with_us) and children from Crawford School La Lucia.
Photo: Penny Katz Photography.