Write Across Sussex offers new writing competition

A major new writing competition will give authors across Sussex the chance to be published.
Kate MosseKate Mosse
Kate Mosse

Chichester-based independent authors group Chindi has joined forces with Sussex Newspapers to launch Write Across Sussex, a free short-story writing competition for all budding or published authors residing or working in Sussex, with the prizes to be presented by Kate Mosse.

Julian Kirkman-Page, who has masterminded the competition with his CHINDI colleague Jeremy Good, said: “We know how exciting it is to see your story available for others to read, and so all entries meeting our criteria under the rules of entry will be published on the Sussex Newspapers competition website page for everyone to see. There are three age group categories, one for under 12s, over 12 to 16 years old, and 16 to adult, with ten overall prizes. There is absolutely no restriction on genre, so get your ideas flowing and start writing.

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“The ten overall winners will additionally have their story published in e-book format and bound in paperback as part of an anthology of the best ten stories. Each winner will receive a copy, and the book will then be available on Amazon for your friends and family to purchase. The stories will be judged by a panel of four top Sussex-based published authors, but the public will be additionally able to comment on the stories online.”

Kate MosseKate Mosse
Kate Mosse

The prize-winners will be invited to a ceremony in January 2016 when the prizes will be presented by Chichester-based novelist Kate Mosse.

Kate said: “The desire to tell a story, to create characters and work out a plot, is an ambition that many of us share. Some are lucky enough to start writing - and be published - when they first get going, but most of us work in other careers and have to find a way to scribble away in our spare time. So the importance of literary competitions is that it gives emerging writers the chance to put their writing first and to take their writing seriously. This is why the collaboration between CHINDI and the Chichester Observer, which has long championed the work of yet-to-be-published authors, is so welcome. This competition invites every writer to submit work to be judged by experts. CHINDI, since setting up in 2014, has succeeded in bringing together writers of all genres, all preoccupations and all ages, working in the Chichester district and surrounding areas. CHINDI runs workshops, gives advice and provides a community (on and off-line) where writers getting started - as well as those already launched on their careers - can meet and talk. All writers need support and encouragement, and this competition - we hope - will provide both.

How to enter:-

To submit your entry visit www.chindi-authors.co.uk and submit your story through the special competition page

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The competition will run for 3 months, from the September 1st to November 30th.

The competition is open to all living in and/or working in East or West Sussex.

Entry is free.

The short stories must be the writer’s own work and not be previously published and by submitting you are confirming that the work is your own.

There is no topic or theme restrictions.

Writers can enter as many different short stories as they wish.

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The categories are: under-12s (500 words max); 12 to 16 (1000 words max); 16 to adult (1000 to 3000 words max)

Entrants must be of the correct age category upon entry to the competition. Under 12s and 12 to 16s must supply their date of birth with their entry.

Entrants agree that their first name and surname initial will appear on the website against their work.

Stories are to be submitted through the Chindi website contact page and will be vetted by Chindi. Stories should not contain any swearing or be liable to grossly offend. Chindi reserves the right to reject any submissions.

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Entries will be uploaded onto the Chichester Observer & other Sussex Newspapers websites.

Worldwide copyright of each entry remains with the author, but by entering the competition, entrants agree to their work being published across the Chindi and Sussex Newspapers websites and newspapers, and also for inclusion in the prize anthology book; Chindi Write Across Sussex, and any relevant promotional material should they win.

No royalties will be paid to entrants for any work published in the prize anthology.

The Judges

Peter Lovesey, from Chichester, is the author of over a hundred short stories and has had five collections published. His stories have won many awards including the Crime Writers’ Association Short Story Dagger, the Mystery Writers of America Golden Mysteries Prize and the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine Readers’ Award.

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Araminta Hall is the author of two novels, Everything & Nothing and Dot, both published by Harper Collins. Everything & Nothing, a psychological thriller, was a Richard and Judy book club read in autumn 2011. Before becoming an author Araminta was a journalist, working on some of British media’s biggest titles including The Mirror. She lives in Brighton with her husband and three children.

Lizzie Enfield teaches journalism and creative writing. Her latest novel, Living With It, (Myriad Editions 2014) was a Mail on Sunday Book of the Week and featured on Woman’s Hour. Lizzie has written two previous novels, Uncoupled and What You Don’t Know and her short stories have been broadcast on Radio 4 and published in magazines including Woman’s Own and the Sunday Express.

Liss Norton, a former primary school teacher, is a children’s author living in Fontwell. She’s had more than forty books published; including eleven of the ‘Secret Kingdom’ series published by Orchard, the Bluebell Woods books published by Stripes, and the ‘Pet Finders Club’ series published by Macmillan. Liss also writes plays, short stories and poetry for children.

Chindi Authors

CHINDI is a network of independent authors living in and around

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West Sussex. We share ideas, expertise and contacts to reach as many readers as possible in a cost-effective manner.

CHINDI organises events to promote our books and encourage more independent authors to follow their dreams and get writing. We believe that independently published books are as valid and exciting as those produced the traditional way, and we aim for the same excellence in production values and gripping content.

We will work with local retailers, media and event organisers to promote our books, working in harmony with traditional agents and publishers. We represent a wide range of genres and are non-political in nature.

www.chindi-authors.co.uk.

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