Learning Media and the Elsie Locke Memorial Trust announce
THE ELSIE LOCKE WRITING PRIZE 2010
for original writing by children in Years 7 and 8

Elsie Locke, born in 1912, was the author of many books for children and wrote more than 30 stories for the School Journal. 
Her first story, “The Secret Rescue”, was published in 1959 and her last, “A Present from Pudding”, in 2001, the year of her death.  Find out more about Elsie Locke’s life in the School Journal Part 4 Number 1 2009.

The Elsie Locke Writing Prize commemorates her life, both as a writer and as a person who was concerned about peace, the environment, women’s issues, and being a citizen of New Zealand. This is the second year of the competition.

The winner will receive a cash award of $400 and book tokens to the value of $100, together with a commemorative bookplate.  The winning entry will be published in a Part 4 School Journal.

For the 2010 competition, students need to:


Judging
Entries will be judged on their impact and sincerity of tone.  The judges will be looking for:
•    The ability to engage the reader and convey meaning;
•    A sense of time and a place;
•    The ability to organise and develop an idea;
•    Clarity and coherence in the writing.

For examples of stories that convey a clear sense of time and place, see “The Seagull Sponge” (School Journal 4.1.09) and “Flowers for James” (School Journal 3.1.09) or some of the many children’s stories and historical novels published by Elsie Locke over the years.

Competition Rules
•    The competition is open to all students in years 7 and 8.
•    Entries may be of any length up to a maximum of 500–600 words.  They may be handwritten. 
•    Entries must be the writer’s own work.
•    Entries should be sent to the following address, to arrive no later than Friday, 16 April 2010:

      Susan Paris
      Editor, School Journal
      Learning Media
      Box 3293
      Wellington 6140
  
Because of the number of entries expected, it will not be possible to acknowledge receipt of scripts, return scripts, or give editorial comment.  Entrants are advised to keep a photocopy of their contribution.

Virtually all published material is subject to some degree of editing.  The winning entry may need to be edited, but the Journal editors will follow their standard practice of negotiating with the writer about any editorial changes that seem necessary.

Download the flyer and entry form here.