Launch of the Neil Gunn Writing Competition
Cash prizes for aspiring writers are being offered as The Highland Council launches the 2007 Neil Gunn Writing Competition.
Organised by The Highland Council and the Neil M Gunn Memorial Trust this premier writing competition is open to both adult and school age writers from all over the UK. When it was last held in 2004 it attracted a record number of entries in all age categories.
The theme for this year’s competition is “Highland spaces” and there are four different entry categories -
• adult poetry
• adult prose
• secondary school poetry or prose
• primary school poetry or prose.
Originally launched in 1988 by the former Ross and Cromarty District Council to encourage creative writing, The Highland Council picked up the baton and the competition is now one of the most prestigious events in the Scottish Literary Scene. Entry to the competition remains free.
Former winners such as Bess Ross and Michel Faber have gone on to become established, published writers whose works have received critical acclaim and now enjoy a loyal readership.
The competition is organised by The Highland Council’s Library Service in conjunction with the Neil Gunn Memorial Trust. It is the only writing competition in Scotland for all age groups which is promoted by a local authority.
The Highland Council’s Reading Development Co-ordinator Cindie Reiter said: “We feel that it is particularly appropriate to celebrate the Highland Year of Culture 2007 by commemorating the works of one of Scotland’s greatest writers
S3 pupils from Dingwall Academy held a special session in their school library earlier today to coincide with the Junior competition launch. As well as listening to extracts from the work of previous junior winners they took part in a discussion about the “Highland Spaces” theme before looking at a display on current publishing for teenagers.
Entry forms and publicity posters will be available in all Highland Libraries and Service Points or from the Highland Libraries website.
The closing date for all entries is 28th June and a judging panel will select the winning entries. A prize-giving ceremony will be held on the 31st October.
ENDS