Are you one of those rare people who can write funny stories for kids? You are? Excellent, then why not check out the Greenhouse Funny Prize, which is being run in conjunction with Writer's Workshop Festival of Writing. Sarah Davies launched the competition on 3 May from her blog post. The Greenhouse Literary Agency, specialising in children’s fiction, is keen to find new writers who can make kids laugh. The prize is open to un-agented writers who are resident in the UK and Ireland. Judging the entries will be Sarah Davies (Greenhouse agent) and Leah Thaxton (from Egmont Children’s Books). The lucky winner will be offered representation from Greenhouse and receive a weekend ticket (worth £525) to the Festival of Writing (7-9 September 2012). They want to see the first 5,000 words with a few lines about the book plus a one-page outline or you can submit the whole text if you have a picture book or the text is under 5,000 words in total. And they only want emails (YAY). Closing date for submissions is 30 July.
So if you're currently without an agent, working on a manuscript for children and you think it's funny then why not have a go. After all there's no entry fee and no postal cost. What have you got to lose?
Credit: Photo of the laughing Gloucester Old Spot taken by Charles Roffey.
I heard Michael Rosen talking to Vanessa Feltz on the radio yesterday - part of a discussion about whether 'Where the Wild Things Are' is the best children's story ever - and he urged parents and grandparents everywhere to make up stories for the children in their lives. I used to do so for my boys, but I've never formally written a children's story. This might be just the incentive I need, so thanks for the info.
ReplyDeleteI used to make up stories for my son when out walking - not sure if I made them up for him or me in truth? Writing funny is a real challenge - I've been to the library to get in the mood and borrowed Mr. Gum and How to Train Your Dragon...Let me know if you have a go!
ReplyDeleteGreat prize.
ReplyDelete