’Champion short story time again

SECOND-level pupils in Clare and South Galway are being challenged to put their imagination and writing skills to the test once again for the seventh annual Clare Champion short story competition.

One of the most prestigious student writing competitions in the country, a prize fund of €1,500 gives the entrants added incentive to start tapping away on their laptop or PC.

Schools will be formally contacted in the coming weeks about the competition and posters will give full details of what is required. The closing date for entries is Friday, February 8.

The Christmas holidays could provide the writers the perfect opportunity to prepare their stories.

The Clare Champion Second-Level Schools Short Story Competition 2013 is expected to receive a big entry from over 20 schools. This is the seventh year of the competition and to date, more than 1,200 stories have been submitted.
Each year, €300, €200 and €100 is presented to the top three stories in both the Junior and Leaving Cert categories and there are also cash prizes for highly commended entries. All of these stories are published in The Clare Champion in May.

Stories are also posted on the Clare County Library website and yet another added dimension is that prize-winners are invited to read their work at the following year’s Ennis Book Club Festival.

Pupils really look forward to the challenge of crafting a story of between 1,000 and 1,500 words on any subject under the sun, ranging from comical to the macabre as well as issues that are common in everyday life.

Many of the young writers have emerged as winners on a number of occasions despite the fact that stories are anonymous when read by an experienced panel of judges.

One writer has the distinction of winning first prize in both the Junior and Leaving Cert sections over a number of years.
Short-listed writers are joined by teachers, family and friends at the annual awards ceremony at the de Valera Library in Ennis.
Musical performances have enhanced the awards proceedings.

Editor Austin Hobbs is looking forward to reading the entries. “It’s very encouraging from the point of view of seeing the work of many potential writers of the future stacked in front of me. The students never disappoint; they have great imagination and writing skills,” he said.

Managing director, John Galvin said The Clare Champion’s association with the short story competition has been very rewarding. “ I too am looking forward to plenty of new reading material when the deadline closes,” he said.