The annual Hall Caine Prize for Creative Writing is launched this week with the theme of ‘space’.
The prize is in its seventh year and each year a new theme is chosen.
Organising the competition for the Department of Education and Children is Margaret Mansfield, who said: ‘While the recent exploits of Major Tim Peake may encourage young people to cast their eyes skywards for inspiration, students may choose to write about open space, their personal space, a space that’s special to them, etc.’
Entries are invited from those in full-time education in the Isle of Man aged 21 and under.
The competition is judged in four categories: Primary, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 and Key Stage 5/University College Isle of Man (UCM), with word limits for each.
There are cash prizes for first, second and third placed and highly commended entries.
Winning entries are compiled into a book, with copies going to the young authors, schools and public libraries.
The prize was founded by Gloria Rukeyser, great granddaughter of the famous Manx novelist Sir Thomas Henry Hall Caine, to foster a love of writing in the young.
Gloria, a retired journalist, generously sponsors the prize each year.
She said: ‘Writing brought fulfilment and success to my famous ancestor and I found it a fulfilling career, too.
‘Every year at this time, I am excited to think about young people sitting down with a blank sheet of paper or, more likely now, a blank computer screen, unlocking their imaginations and crafting their unique stories.’
Tim Crookall MLC, Minister for Education and Children, said: ‘Writing is an important life skill which, if nurtured, can be a source of great pleasure, a hobby and even a career.
‘In school, students are encouraged to develop their writing skills in both fiction and non-fiction by writing for different audiences. The prize supports our curriculum in this area.’
For posters, rules and entry forms, visit www.gov.im/hallcaine or email hallcaineprize@gmail.com
The closing date for entries is Friday 20th January 2017 and winners will be invited to a prize-giving event.
You can follow the competition on Twitter @hallcaineprize
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