In an email from Helen, siren_songs mentioned the above entitled competition, being run by Durham County Council. I haven’t entered a writing competition in years, actually not since I came second in the Meridian TV television ideas contest at the Southampton Writers’ Conference back in 1995 (gee, is it really 9 years already?!), still I think this might be one that I’m going to go for.
An annual competition, the 6 best entries are to be read by Clare Alexander of Gillon Aitken Associates (a major literary agency) and David Almond (one of my current favourite writers!). The brief this year is to write a synopsis plus the first 1000 words of the text of a ‘crossover novel’, i.e. one that could appeal to both adults and children (a la JK Rowling, Philip Pullman, Mark Haddon, etc), plus a 200-word appreciation of ‘your favourite contemporary children’s writer’ (I probably ought to choose someone other than David Almond though, even if it does happen to be true!).
Just about sums up Blood & Fire anyway, so I think I’ve got to go for it…
