Tuesday 14 October 2008

Jane Austen Short Story Award 2009!

Chawton House Library has just announced a Jane Austen short story competition to celebrate 'the bicentenary of Jane Austen’s arrival in the Hampshire village of Chawton – where she spent the most productive years of her literary life'.

It looks really exciting! Here's part of the blurb from the Chawton House Library website:

Our intention is to publish the very best short fiction inspired by Jane Austen or Chawton House – a place she knew well.

We are looking for short stories of 2,000-2,500 words in length. The inspiration for your story can be taken from any theme in Jane Austen’s novels: it might even be a character or a single sentence that sets your creative juices flowing. Or perhaps your imagination will be fired by the Elizabethan mansion, Chawton House, where Jane Austen and her family often gathered, and now houses a rare collection of early women’s writing.

Stories can have a historical or a contemporary setting – anything goes as long as it is well written and you state on the entry form exactly what inspired you to write it.
...

First prize: £1,000. Two runners up: £200 each. All three finalists will also win a week’s writers’ retreat at Chawton House. Fifteen other shortlisted authors will receive £40 plus publication in the winners’ anthology.

The closing date for entries is the 31st March 2009.


What are you waiting for?! Head over to Chawton to download a PDF entry form and read the rules and regulation. :D

I have to say, I love the broad theme of the competition - it is so broad it tempts me to have a go ... inspiration taken from a theme, or a sentence, or the great house itself - I love that! I am not a fan-fiction person myself (sorry, no offense!!) so I'm very excited.

Pic: Chawton House viewed from the South Lawn from: Chawton House Library

7 comments:

Icha said...

Ha! This looks like something I can contribute, being a fanfic freak myself (no offense taken, M!). Alas, I have no time nor inspiration now. But I might be able to ask Jane herself, see if she helps me with this ;-)

mamma jakeline said...

Oh interesting! My inspiration alas is lacking... Haven't even been able to update my I remember love. But if I do find something to write about I will let you know! :)

hugs and kisses from Maria & Peanut

Michelle said...

Hi Maria (& Peanut) & Icha!

You know the best thing about it? They're publishing an anthology of the winners + shortlisted stories. Isn't that fantastic?! You can read about it on the rules and regulations PDF. I had a panicky moment after posting the article - bc I didn't know if it was an international competition. But yes, it is.

And the next best thing, is the deadline in March. Hopefully we'll all be inspired sometime before then. Very exciting! Good luck!

mamma jakeline said...

Oh that is good news Michelle! I will see what I can do...

Hugs and Kisses from Maria and Peanut

Anonymous said...

Oh boy! Oh boy! Oh boy! I am inspired! Me! Me!

(Can you tell I am excited?) It will be the very place for me to expose myself once more!

I must go download the PDF immediately! Thanks Michelle, from another non fan-fiction person (except Icha's).

Linda the Librarian

Icha said...

Ha! Linda the Librarian is excited! Can't wait what she will write about! Well, at least we'll have you, Maria, and who else entering the contest with a saccharine dose of Tom Lefroy in the stories? ;-)

mamma jakeline said...

Icha, if I'm entering there will of course be a lot of Tom in the story! ;) hehe... Must have it done before Peanut comes though, because after that I'm not sure when I'm supposed to be able to sit down and write! ;)

hugs and kisses