“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” – Maya Angelou. A Listowel Writer’s Week invitation, to sit down, get going and send them what you put on paper, opens with an inspirational quote.
It’s from a writer who, as a young, black, American girl joined the Harlem Writers’ Guild in the late 1950s. She did so at the suggestion of a friend and she went on to become the author of over 30 best selling titles.
”It’s time to get writing or to retrieve those short stories, poems, plays and humorous essays from your files and enter one or more of our Creative Writing Competitions. There is only a couple of weeks left to enter and submit,” the invitation urges.
Awards on Opening Night
Prize-winners of all competitions will receive their awards on the opening night of Listowel Writers’ Week on Wednesday, May 31st. 2017. The total prize fund of €40,000 includes the following two awards: The Irish Novel of the Year is generously sponsored by Kerry Group Plc and carries a prize of €15,000.
It remains the largest monetary prize for fiction available solely to Irish authors. Novels must be published between 1st February 2016 and 1st February 2017.
Pigott Poetry Prize
The Pigott Poetry Prize, now in its fourth year, is generously sponsored by Mark Pigott KBE and the Pigott Family. The €5,000 Prize is awarded for a published collection of Poetry by an Irish poet. Collection entries must be published between 1st February 2016 and 1st February 2017. All other Creative Writing Competitions are open to entries that are previously unpublished and include: The Bryan MacMahon Short Story Award; The Eamon Keane Full-Length Play in association with Siamsa Tíre; the Single Poem and the Poetry Collection; Listowel Writers’ Week Originals; the Con Houlihan Young Sports Journalist Award and Kerry County Council Creative Writing Competitions for Youth.
March 3rd Closing Date
All of the above include a generous prize fund and many can be entered online through our website. Closing date for receipt of entries is March 3rd 2017.
All that’s left for you to do is to let those stories, poems and essays that are bubbling away inside of you to break free now. Write them down, submit them, and be in with a chance of success.
Full details and criteria for all creative writing competitions are available on the website and many of the competitions can be entered online through the site: www.writersweek.ie
If you would like to receive a copy of the workshops and competitions brochure, you’re invited to send an email to info@writersweek.ie with your postal address or you can download a copy from the website.
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