dlr Local Voices: Writing competition – A Creative Ireland Initiative

News Type

Date

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Location

dlr County

Intro Text

dlr Libraries would like to invite you to write a short story about this time in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown. Given the current situation, we’d love to hear your stories, fact or fiction, memoir or journalism – any genre is acceptable but we would like you to reference somewhere or someone in Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown in your story if at all possible. At time of writing, we are all asked to stay within a 5k walking range of our house so your story might include a mention of a local landmark or historical feature.

Our judges are Leo Cullen, Sadhbh Devlin and Sara Keating. We list the maximum lengths below but we welcome stories of any length within that range, so whether you’re a flash fiction fan or a 6 word memoir minimalist, get cracking with your creativity!

When dlr LexIcon opened to the public at the end of 2014, we celebrated with the publication of an anthology entitled Taking the Plunge, featuring the work of local writers based in the County. This project is similar. We will publish a selection of your stories in a dlr broadsheet or pamphlet and online on our website.

dlr Arts Office are simultaneously running a Poetry Competition, please see here. Please note slightly earlier closing date of May 26th.

Please scroll down this page (below images) for competition rules.

We look forward to receiving your entries!

News Details Main Slider

dlr Local Voices Competition

Sadhbh Devlin, dlr Writer in Residence and Judge, dlr Local Voices Competition 2020

Is scríbhneoir do pháistí í Sadhbh Devlin agus an Scríbhneoir Cónaithe 2019-2020 le dlr LexIcon. Foilsíodh a chéad pictúirleabhar, Bí ag Spraoi Liom! in 2017 (Futa Fata) agus an dara ceann, Beag Bídeach, in 2018 (Futa Fata). Ainmníodh Beag Bídeach ar ghearrliosta ceithre ghradaim; Leabhar Pháistí Éireann: Leabhar na Bliana, Gradam Réics Carló, Cumann Litearthachta na hÉireann: Leabhar na Bliana agus iBbY Ireland: Hans Christian Andersen Honour List 2020. Beidh an tríú pictiúirleabhar uaithi, Geansaí Ottó, foilsithe ag Futa Fata in 2020. Scríobhann Sadhbh Splanc-Fhicsin do dhaoine fásta freisin. Tá roinnt píosaí uaithi foilsithe in Splonk Magazine.

Sadhbh Devlin is a children’s author and the dlr Writer in Residence 2019-2020. Her first picturebook, Bí ag Spraoi Liom! was published in 2017 (Futa Fata) and her second Beag Bídeach, in 2018 (Futa Fata). Beag Bídeach was shortlisted for four awards; Children’s Books Ireland: Book of the Year 2019, Gradam Réics Carló, LAI: Book of the Year and the iBbY Ireland: Hans Christian Andersen Honour List 2020. Her third picturebook, Geansaí Ottó, will be published by Futa Fata in 2020. Sadhbh also writes Flash Fiction for adults and has had some pieces published in Splonk Magazine.

Leo Cullen, Judge, dlr Local Voices Competition 2020

Leo Cullen is the author of a collection of short stories Clocking Ninety on The Road to Cloughjordan and a novel, Let’s Twist Again, both published by Blackstaff Press, and is a frequent contributor of New Writings to Sunday Miscellany, RTÉ Radio. He has also had stories broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and poems, stories and articles published in many journals and collections. He is a frequent contributor to Sunday Independent (Ireland). His short stories have also won prizes including PEN Ireland, and he has been the recipient of writing grants from Arts Council of Ireland.

Leo frequently gives readings of his work, with venues as diverse as the National Concert Hall Dublin, the Pavilion Theatre, Dún Laoghaire, and the National Arts Club in New York. He enjoys conducting workshops for creative writing and has done so in New York and Sydney as well as in Ireland.

His current writing work is a novel made up of interlinking short stories. A story from the work, entitled ‘Brown Ford Cortina’ is currently on the long list for the prestigious Sunday Times Audible Short Story competition.

Sara Keating, Judge, dlr Local Voices Competition 2020

Sara Keating is a writer and cultural journalist. She is a facilitator of dlr Libraries' Baby Book Club and was Associate Writer at the Mountains to Sea dlr Book Festival 2019/2020. She writes a monthly Children's Book Review Column for The Irish Times, and is delighted to get the opportunity to read work by local young writers.

A Creative Ireland Initiative

Notes:

The 3 Categories and prizes are as follows in both language categories (Irish or English):

Children under 12 (Max 500 words) 1st prize €100, 2nd prize €50 and 3rd prize €30

Young Adult 12-17 (Max 1,000 words) 1st prize €150, 2nd prize €100 and 3rd prize €75

Adult 18+ (Max 2,000 words) 1st prize €500, 2nd prize €300 and 3rd prize €200

· Maximum of two entries each per individual will be accepted.

· Entries must be within the upper word limit or they will not be eligible for judging.

· Name and category must be included with each entry. In the categories for Children and Young Adult, age must also be given. Please include word length with all entries.

· Entries should be typed. Scanned copies of handwritten entries will not be eligible.

· Entry is free and open to all who go to school, study, work or live in the County of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown.

· Email entries to localvoices@dlrcoco.ie No hard copy entries will be accepted; entry by email only. If sending in 2 entries, they are to be attached to the one email.

· Stories must not have been published elsewhere and must be a new piece of work and the original work of the author. By submitting an entry, the author acknowledges that if it is judged a winning entry, it may be featured by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council in a broadsheet or pamphlet or on social media platforms. The author retains copyright and may publish the work subsequently following its initial publication by DLRCC but the Council must be acknowledged in future publications.

· Entries must be received by Friday 29 May 2020 at 5.00pm.

· Judges’ decision is final. The Council will not enter into correspondence concerning any entry and will not be in a position to acknowledge receipt of entries.

· Results will be announced by 30 June 2020 and the winners will be published online on the Council’s website.