THE 2011/12 Hall Caine Memorial Prize for Creative Writing has been launched.
This year the theme is 'Hope'.
The prize, which is in its second year, is open to students who are in full-time education in the Isle of Man. They are invited to pen a short story, a memoir, a one-act play or the opening chapter of a novel.
Judges will look for strong characterisation, good narrative flow and, above all, imaginative story-telling.
Sir Hall Caine is best known for works such as The Deemster (1887), The Manxman (1894) and The Christian (1897). Almost all of his books were turned into silent films or plays.
Gloria Rukeyser, who is a great granddaughter of Sir Hall Caine and lives at the novelist's historic home, Greeba Castle, founded and sponsors the prize to foster the love of reading and writing.
In March, she presented the prizes to the inaugural winners – Katie Craig, 17, of St Ninian's High School, Isalen Cooper, 12, who is home educated, and Eve McGregor, 11, of Rushen Primary – and to second and third-placed students.
Mrs Rukeyser, a writer and journalist, said: "In the inaugural competition I was thrilled to see so much talent, backed up by solid hard work. I loved the vivid, soaring flights of imagination and the patient, careful research which anchored them.
"Many contestants showed an easy grasp of the fundamentals of creative writing – plot, characters, theme and setting.
"I found their characters especially compelling, which was good, because characters are what make a reader interested enough to stay with a story to the end.
"These characters were diverse in age, gender and occupation as well as hopes, dreams and expectations. Some were tragic, some optimistic, some plain strange, but all of them interesting."
Addressing potential entrants this year she said: "So much of being a good writer comes from being a regular reader.
"Reading can enhance your style, expand your vocabulary, improve your grammar, show you what works in a sentence, what is interesting and what is flat and boring.
"You'll hear people say that print is finished.
"You may even think so yourself. New technologies are transforming the world of publishing. You can go online and find dozens of interesting literary magazines, and you can read the stories in their current issues for free.
"In the early 14th century another huge change took place as printed books began to take over from oral storytelling. The Canterbury Tales appeared. Then, and now, it's an exciting time to be writing."
The prize has four categories: primary, in which entrants must write up to 500 words, with prizes of £100, £75 and £50; Key Stages 3 – up to 1,500 words with prizes of £150, £100 and £50; Key Stage 4 – with the same world limit and prizes and Key Stage 5/IoM College – up to 2,000 words with prizes of £200, £150 and £100.
Up to 10 highly commended entrants in each category will receive prizes of £20.
Judging the primary entries will be headteachers Jill Gill (Ballacloan Infants) and David Jenkins (Dhoon Primary). Representatives of secondary English departments will judge the older age categories.
The closing date for entries is Friday, January 27 2012.
Entrants are advised to study the full rules which will be advertised in all schools/the Isle of Man College from September, can be viewed at http://www.gov.im/education/competitions or can be obtained by contacting jo.overty@gov.im
