WICKED YOUNG WRITER AWARDS Scribble Towards their Seventh Year
By: Liz Cearns Sep. 21, 2016
THE WICKED YOUNG WRITER AWARDS, created and sponsored by the award-winning musical Wicked in association with the National Literacy Trust (www.literacytrust.org.uk), is pleased to announce that the acclaimed author and illustrator of the How to Train Your Dragon books, Cressida Cowell, will return as Head Judge for the awards for the third consecutive year. Jonathan Douglas, Director of the National Literacy Trust, will also be returning as part of the judging panel.
Launched in 2010, this is the seventh year of the acclaimed Awards. The initiative raises money for the National Literacy Trust who campaign to improve public understanding of the vital importance of literacy.
This year, the Awards will be launched with two Story Surgery events: at the Young Adult Literature Weekender at the Southbank, London on 15 and 16 October, for 13+ year olds, and at the StoryStock Festival at the Lyric Hammersmith, London on 27 and 28 October, for 7-12 year olds. Young people will be able to take part in special, free workshops with published writers including young adult writers Nicole Burstein, Tamara MacFarlane and Lisa Williamson.
The Awards will work in partnership with Young Writers, CLPE (the Centre for Literacy in Primary Education), First Story, Just Imagine, NAWE (National Association of Writers in Education) and Pobble.
Her Royal Highness, The Duchess of Cornwall is Patron of the Awards, set up to encourage and recognise excellence in writing, and creativity, and help develop literacy and writing talent in young people between the ages of 5 and 25. Since launching, over 25,000 young people have entered original and thought-provoking pieces of writing that consistently reflect the interests, concerns and deepest thoughts of young people, providing a first-look at the emerging voices of a new generation.
How to Train Your Dragon author and illustrator Cressida Cowell commented, "Last year's finalists addressed really big issues - war, homelessness and prejudice. There was an incredible range of styles and an array of brilliantly original voices, but they all had this in common: they made us judges feel something."
Michael McCabe, Executive Producer of Wicked said, "We are incredibly proud of this project and greatly indebted to Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall, Michael Morpurgo and Cressida Cowell for their support. Their passionate commitment to encouraging creative writing and improving literacy standards amongst young people in the UK is an inspiration to us all."
As in previous years, entrants can enter one of five different age categories; 5-7, 8-10, 11-14, 15-17, 18-25. In addition, the 2017 Awards sees the second year of the FOR GOOD AWARD for Non-Fiction, encouraging 15-25 year olds to write essays or articles that recognise the positive impact that people can have on each other, their communities and the world we live in. This category celebrates the WICKED: FOR GOOD philanthropic programme, which supports the work of multiple charities.
Entrants can submit their writing by visiting www.WickedYoungWriterAwards.com, where they will also find writing tips and resources from the Award judges.
120 finalists from across the UK will see their work published in the WICKED YOUNG WRITER AWARDS Anthology, which will be published in association with Young Writers (www.youngwriters.co.uk). The 120 finalists are also invited to an exclusive ceremony at London's Apollo Victoria, home to the musical Wicked since 2006, where judges and members of the Wicked cast announce who has won in each category.
The Awards are open for entries and close on 13 March 2017. Pieces of original writing can be submitted individually, or by a teacher, parent, carer or guardian on behalf of an entrant. Prizes include:
The overall winners from each category will win £50 book/eBook tokens, and the 5-14 year old winners will get £100 worth of books for their school library donated by Hachette Children's Group.
Winners in the 15-17, 18-25 and FOR GOOD categories will also win an exclusive writing experience with one of the Awards' literacy partners.
The three schools that submit the most entries will also win a Creative Writing Workshop for their school for up to thirty students delivered by Wicked's education team.
Winners in all categories receive a VIP family experience at the West End production of Wicked, including tickets, an exclusive backstage tour and a meet-and-greet with members of the cast.
The WICKED YOUNG WRITER AWARDS, created by the award-winning musical Wicked, were set up to encourage and recognise excellence in writing, and creativity, and help develop literacy and writing talent in young people between the ages of 5 and 25. Since launching in 2010, over 25,000 young people have entered original and thought-provoking pieces of writing that consistently reflect the interests, concerns and deepest thoughts of young people, providing a first-look at the emerging voices of a new generation.
The WICKED YOUNG WRITER AWARDS are separated into six categories, for entrants between the ages of 5-25. They allow young people from across the UK and Ireland to enter a piece of writing on a theme or subject of their choice. Young people are free to submit entries written at home or at school, and teachers are encouraged to enter writing on behalf of their pupils. Exclusive teachers' resources can be found online including tips for inspiring and encouraging writing in the classroom.
Schools and individuals can download entry forms and find tips and videos about the award at
STORY SURGERY EVENTS
Young Adult Literature Weekender
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/whatson/young-adult-literature-2015-93154
Southbank, London
15 and 16 October 2016
13+ year olds
StoryStock Festival
Lyric Hammersmith, London
27 and 28 October 2016
7-12 year olds
2017 AWARD PARTNERS:
YOUNG WRITERS
CLPE - Centre for Literacy in Primary Education
www.justimaginestorycentre.co.uk
NATIONAL LITERACY TRUST
One person in six in the UK lives with poor literacy. This holds them back at every stage of their life. As a child they won't be able to succeed at school, as a young adult they will be locked out of the job market, and on becoming a parent they won't be able to support their child's learning. Lacking these vital skills undermines their wellbeing and stops them making a full contribution to the economic and cultural life of our nation.
The National Literacy Trust is a national charity dedicated to raising literacy levels in the UK. It works to improve the reading, writing, speaking and listening skills in the UK's most disadvantaged communities, where up to 40 per cent of people have literacy problems. Its research and analysis make it the leading authority on literacy. Because low literacy is intergenerational, the National Literacy Trust focuses its work on families, young people and children.
For more information visit: www.literacytrust.org.uk
WICKED
Based on the acclaimed novel by Gregory Maguire that ingeniously re-imagines the stories and characters created by L. Frank Baum in 'The Wonderful Wizard of Oz', Wicked tells the incredible untold story of an unlikely but profound friendship between two sorcery students. Their extraordinary adventures in Oz will ultimately see them fulfil their destinies as Glinda The Good and the Wicked Witch of the West.
Now celebrating 10 years in the West End and acclaimed as "a wicked and wonderful vision of Oz" (Evening Standard) and "pure magic" (Time Out London), Wicked has now been seen by almost 8 million people in London alone and is the recipient of two Olivier Audience Awards, nine WhatsOnStage Awards, an Evening Standard Theatre Award and over 100 international awards.
For more information visit: www.WickedTheMusical.co.uk
Through its FOR GOOD programme and other charitable endeavours, Wicked is proud to support the remarkable work of the following UK charities: Anti-Bullying Alliance (ABA); the Cybersmile Foundation; the Helen Bamber Foundation; the Rainbow Trust Children's Charity; Stonewall's 'Education For All' campaign; The Woodland Trust and the National Literacy Trust.
ABOUT CRESSIDA COWELL
Cressida Cowell grew up in London and on a small, uninhabited island off the west coast of Scotland. She was convinced that there were dragons living on this island, and has been fascinated by dragons ever since. Cressida has written and illustrated twelve books in the popular How to Train Your Dragon series which has sold over 7 million copies worldwide, and is published in 38 languages. How to Train Your Dragon is also an award-winning DreamWorks film series, and a TV series shown on Netflix. Also the author of picture books, Cressida has won the Nestle Children's Book Prize and has been shortlisted for many others. Last year she won Philosophy Now Magazine's Award for Contributions in the Fight Against Stupidity. She has been an Ambassador for the National Literacy Trust for ten years. Cressida lives in Hammersmith with her husband and three children.
For more information visit www.WickedForGood.co.uk.
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