OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS NOW
DEADLINE: 29 February 2020
The Library is delighted to announce the launch of the fourth Neilson Hays Young Writers Awards, and invites students ages 10-18 to submit illustrated children’s picture books or short stories in English to our children’s writing competition.
In this competition, aspiring young writers and illustrators in the final round will be invited to participate in a workshop at Neilson Hays Library, where published writers and illustrators will critique and coach the students on their works.
Winners of the competition will be receive certificates and cash prizes of 10,000 baht per category.
Instructions
2020 Theme: “Life”
Contest categories:
- A. Original picture books by 12 years and under (no more than 20 pages and 500 words), Thai/Bilingual schools
- B. Original picture books by 12 years and under (no more than 20 pages and 500 words), International schools
- C. Original picture books by 16 years and under (no more than 24 pages and 800 words), Thai/Bilingual schools
- D. Original picture books by 16 years and under (no more than 24 pages and 800 words), International schools
- E. Original short story by 18 years and under (no more than 1,500 words), all schools
For categories A-D, individuals or teams of up to 3 students may submit one entry to each category. Category E is individual work only.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Submissions that exceed page and/or word limit may be disqualified
Key Dates
Submission deadline: No later than 29 February 2020
Finalists’ Workshop: Finalists will be selected by March 20, and 3 finalists or finalist teams for each category will be invited for a workshop with published authors and illustrators, to be held on 28 March 2020 at Neilson Hays Library.
Awards ceremony: The final awards ceremony will take place on 6 June 2020 at the Neilson Hays Library.
Submission mechanics
- ONE hard copy must be sent via registered mail or by hand to:
Neilson Hays Library
195 Surawong Road, Si Phraya, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500 Telephone: 02-233-1731
Categories A-D: picture book mock-up no larger than A4 size
Category E: Typed, double-space, Times New Roman font size 13 on A4 paper
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Submissions will be judged anonymously, so please DO NOT write your name(s) on the mock-up or on the pages of your work. However, please include the following information on a separate piece of paper accompanying your work:
- a. Individual or Team name
- b. Story Title
- c. Contest Category
- Make a payment for entry fee of 500 baht by one of the following methods, making sure to retain your receipt:
- a) Cash payment by hand (please do not mail cash payments)
- b) Bank transfer
Bank : Siam Commercial Bank
Account Number: 002-265834-2
Account Name: Associate Neilson Hays Library - c) Credit card payment via this link.
- Then, fill out the online application form at bit.ly/2nZKhHo (you will need to open a free google account to fill our this form), making sure to upload
- a. proof of payment for the entry fee
- b. an electronic copy of the work in PDF file
*IMPORTANT NOTES:
- Please make sure to name the file according to this format:
Category.[StoryTitle]
For eg: A.GoodnightMoon
Or: C.TheLorax - DO NOT include your real name(s) in the file name or on the pages of your work
- For categories A-D, please send a single PDF file per entry, otherwise your work may be disqualified
- Deadline: 29 February 2020
Rules
- All works must be original and will be checked for plagiarism.
- Entries should not have been previously published (online postings should be removed prior to submission).
- For categories A-D, individuals or teams of up to 3 students may submit one entry to each category. Category E is individual work.
- Work that exceeds the page and/or word limit for that category may be disqualified.
- Peer editing is allowed (in the same grade or younger).
- No adult assistance with the following exception: parents/teachers/older siblings are welcome to type out the work of younger writers, but should not make corrections other than spelling mistakes for the sake of comprehension. The texts for picture books may be handwritten. Minor grammatical mistakes shall not be penalized.
- Please retain a copy of all works submitted, as we are not able to return submissions.
- Entries will be judged on creativity, story-telling flair, and use of effective illustration (for picture books).
- Only finalists and winners will be notified by email, and their names will be announced on the NeilsonHaysLibrary.org website and our Facebook page
Prizes
- 1st prize – 10,000 Baht cash prize per category. If a team is awarded 1st prize, the prize money will be split evenly among team members. Winners will also receive certificates from the library.
- 2nd and 3rd runners-up will receive certificates from the library.
Contact email: YoungWriters@NeilsonHaysLibrary.org
For more information, please visit NeilsonHaysLibrary.org
