Hong Kong’s first true Creative Writing Festival – a celebration of our students' fertile imaginations – all without the editing or correction by teachers or parents -  a truly inspirational festival for Hong Kong’s most inventive minds.

 

Age

Date

Time

Entry Fee

Format

Code

5-7yrs

5th March

9:30 -11:30am

$100

Workshop only

ACH160387

10-12yrs

5th March

1 – 4pm

$120

Workshop & Competition

ACH160389

 

 

 

 

 

 

8-10yrs

12th March

9:30 -12:30pm

$100

Workshop & Competition

ACH160388

10yrs - Teens

12th March

1:30 - 4:30pm

$140

Workshop & Competition

ACH160390

Prizes:  

All participants will receive a participation certificate.

Age Group

Position

Prize

Open Category

1st

$1,000 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

(10s to Teens)

2nd

$700 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

3rd

$500 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

4th

$300 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

5th

$100 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

Age Group

Position

Prize

10-12 years

1st

$800 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

2nd

$600 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

3rd

$400 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

4th

$150 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

5th

$100 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

Age Group

Position

Prize

8-10 years

1st

$600 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

2nd

$400 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

3rd

$200 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

4th

$100 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

 

5th

$100 book vouchers + winner’s certificate

Competition Rules

  1. All participants must be enrolled in primary or secondary education.
  2. Writing topic/theme/structure will be given on the day of the competition
  3. There is no word limit, however writers are limited to the writing space provided attached to their competition entry – no additional paper is to be used.
  4. Entries submitted will not be returned to participants
  5. All entries will be marked multiple times by a panel of judges
  6. An awards ceremony will be held at YWCA on 30th April 2016. All children (plus parents/guardians) whose entries have been chosen as winners are invited to attend this ceremony.
  7. Students can enter multiple competition categories if they fit the age group to challenge themselves.
  8. Late access to the competition is limited to/during the workshop period only (see times for details). Once the main competition has started, late entrants will forfeit their place and fees.

Judges

The Creative Writing Festival judging panel is comprised of an international group of native English speaking professionals from both educational and professional backgrounds. The judging panel has no access to any personal details (age/sex/name) of any participant other than the Festival category they entered. Neither Gateway Education nor the YWCA will have access to scores or comments of the judging panel until final decisions and winners have been chosen.

Judging criteria

  • THEME - and identifiable 'meaning or message' to the piece
  • LANGUAGE USAGE - a usage and understanding of English that sets your work apart from others within this category - clear and sensitive use of vocabulary, literary devices and tools.
  • CHARACTER - Clearly developed characters with believable (or explainable) attributes and a defined physical/social/emotional profile
  • ORIGINALITY AND CREATIVITY - An ability to write an original piece of literature or to ádapt/twist or manipulate' a standard tome in an original and interesting manner
  • STRUCTURE/PLOT/PACE - (STRUCTURE) A clearly defined beginning three act structure that allows for paced character and plot development without requiring the reader to make plot assumptions. (PLOT) an understandable, believable and identifiable plot that allows characters to move throughout your piece in a realistic manner. (PACE) an evenly paced piece that does not jump from one aspect to another without due consideration for the reader.

Creative Writing Workshop:

The Workshops will guide the participants on the key elements of creative writing before the actual competition starts. Each workshop will follow a similar structure, some selected segments of the workshop (but not all) are:

  • Building that character
  • The 3-act play (beginning/middle/end)
  • Avoiding common mistakes (character, plot, structure)
  • Literary devices - how to use and not abuse
  • Identifying a theme (and not getting carried away with the usual ones)
  • STOP USING those boring VERBS, ADJECTIVES and ADVERBS
  • Being original without sounding weird
  • That first / last paragraph

 


For enquiries or sign-up:

Tel 3476 1340

Email clle@ywca.org.hk

3/F, 1 MacDonnell Road, Central Mid-Levels

Terms and Conditions

 

  1. Creative Writing Festival 2016 is jointly organised by Gateway Education and HK YWCA. Organisers have the right to alter the Competition and Competition Rules or make exceptions without any prior notice.
  2. Organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entry for any reason, but in particular if any of the Competition Rules have been broken or if the material supplied is offensive, with violent or inappropriate content.
  3. By entering the Creative Writing Festival 2016, you give the organisers permission to contact you with regard to the competition.
  4. Organisers retain the rights to any publicity or marketing activity, which they deem necessary to promote either the Competition or its Entrants, their Entries, the Competition Sponsors and organisers themselves. Entrants agree to participate in any reasonable request by the organisers to fulfil marketing obligations relating to the Competition and their own Entry.
  5. The competition will be judged by a panel of judges. The judges may withhold some or all of the awards when the submissions are not of notable quality. In the event of a tie, the award will be shared. The judge’s decisions will be final.
  6. No personal data relating to the Entrants will be disclosed to the judges to ensure the judging is as fair as possible.
  7. In submitting competition entries, each entrant (or legal representative) permits Gateway Education (Cantab Education ltd. or their successors) and the YWCA HK, full and unrestricted perpetual license to edit, amend, print, re-print, publish (in any chosen current or future media) or adapt for marketing / promotional purposes as these organisations see fit and will at no point require remuneration and/or notice to the entrant upon publication.