Category: competitions

Posted in authors, competitions, info

Spring ’09 issue out soon!

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Well, here’s a photo of a daffodil which has just flowered in my front garden, isn’t it Happy daffodil growing in the Editor's garden!lovely? (Try not to notice the weeds at its feet!) This means, of course, that the spring issue of Alphabet Soup magazine is just around the corner – it will be out next week!

What will you find inside?

  • Q&A with Mark Greenwood, author of Simpson and His Donkey, The Legend of Moondyne Joe, and Fortuyn’s Ghost (among others!)
  • Curiosity corner: a family growing their own vegies
  • Stories and poems
  • Writing by kids!
  • Crossword
  • Book reviews
  • Writing tips for kids from The Book Chook
  • Spring writing competition
  • Design-a-cover competition

(You can subscribe to Alphabet Soup via our website – parents can order with a credit card online, or print off a form to post to us with a cheque. Subscribers with an Australian delivery address are entered into a draw each issue – this issue’s winner will receive a $200 book pack from Fremantle Press!)

Yes, this issue has a spring-is-in-the-air feel to it! Daffodils are easy to grow in Perth, and they suit my garden perfectly, as they don’t mind a bit of neglect! I do love to see their yellow trumpets bobbing about in spring. So – what’s growing in your garden at the moment?

Posted in competitions

Haiku competition

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

If you like to write haiku and senryu, you might like to enter the 2009 City of Perth Library Haiku Competition. (First prize in the primary school category is a $40 gift voucher!) Entries close Thursday 13 August 2009, at 5 pm.

Entries will be displayed on the Haiku Wall in the Library during the WA National Poetry Week (31 Aug – 5 Sept). Entries will be judged by the Office of the Consulate-General of Japan, Perth.

Make sure you read the entry conditions.

Posted in competitions, info

To improve your writing skills – keep writing!

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Well done to everyone who sent entries in for our winter ’09 writing competition!

Over the past two days we’ve read through some imaginative and entertaining stories – and we’ve come to the conclusion that you really are a talented bunch. It’s difficult to choose just one winner for each age category.

Remember that writing as often as you can is a good way to improve your writing skills. So, even if you are not a prize-winner this time, entering the competition has helped your story-writing. Keep writing!

You’ll read the winning stories in the spring ’09 issue of Alphabet Soup and there’ll be a new writing competition announced in the spring ’09 issue. (Hurrah!)

And of course, while you’re waiting for the next writing comp, there’s still time to send in your artwork for our design-a-cover competition (for kids under 12). For entry forms and more details, see the competitions page on the Alphabet Soup website.

Posted in competitions

Competition for young poets in Western Australia

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

If you are 25 or younger, live in Western Australia and like writing poetry, bushlandyou could enter your work in The Roland Leach Poetry Prize.

Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third in each age grouping. Winners receive book vouchers, a trophy and a certificate. The Roland Leach Poetry Prize is presented to the writer with the most outstanding entry.

Entries must be received no later than 5pm, Friday 4 September 2009.

For more information and an entry form, see the Nedlands Library website, or call them on 9273 3644.

Posted in competitions, info

Competitions for kids aged 12 and under

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Writing a story

Are you under 12? Do you like writing your own stories? Or are you a budding artist? Alphabet Soup magazine is currently accepting entries for two competitions:

1. WINTER 2009 WRITING COMPETITION entries close 3 JULY 2009

Win a $20 book voucher! Write a SHORT STORY up to 350 words (shorter is fine). Stories must include this line: ‘The paper aeroplane was gone!’

Please remember to include a COMPETITION ENTRY FORM for each entry. This may be printed from the Alphabet Soup website, photocopied, or contact us to have one emailed or posted to you.

2. DESIGN-A-COVER COMPETITION entries close 16 SEPTEMBER 2009

See your artwork on the cover of our summer 2009 issue (and win a pack of quality colour pencils too)!

Using any materials you like, design a cover for our summer issue. You may enter as many times as you wish but each entry must have a separate COMPETITION ENTRY FORM. This may be printed from the website, photocopied, or contact us to have one emailed or posted to you. 
See the ‘competitions’ page of the Alphabet Soup website for the rules and conditions, and to print an entry form.
Posted in competitions, info

Winter 2009 issue OUT NOW!

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Winter issue 2009

Doesn’t a serve of delicious alphabet soup sound like just the thing for this cooler winter weather? The winter 2009 issue of Alphabet Soup is out now!

Inside Alphabet Soup magazine this issue:

  • Q&A with Jo Oliver (author-illustrator of Pilgrim)
  • interview with an Air Traffic Controller
  • Stories, poems and good books
  • Kids writing (poems, stories and book reviews)
  • winners of our autumn writing competition
  • details of our winter writing competition
  • details of our design-a-cover competition
  • and more!

Where can you buy a copy? If you live in Western Australia, you can buy copies at Westbooks children’s bookstore (396 Mill Point Rd, Victoria Park) and   Zero to Ten (330 South Tce, South Fremantle).

You can also order single copies (or subscribe!) from our website www.alphabetsoup.net.au, where you can order online with a credit card, or print off an order form to post in to us with a cheque or money order.

Get reading (and writing)!

Posted in competitions, info

Winter issue out soon!

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Winter is the season to snuggle up under a blanket with something good to read – and maybe something good to nibble on at the same time. Don’t miss the winter 2009 issue of Alphabet Soup magazine – out in mid-May!

Inside you’ll find:

  • a Q&A with Jo Oliver (author-illustrator of Pilgrim)
  • info about what an Air Traffic Controller does
  • book reviews, stories, poems and writing tips
  • the winning entries in our autumn 2009 writing comp
  • the details of our winter 2009 writing comp
  • kids’ writing: book reviews, stories and poems!

You can subscribe (or order your copy of the winter issue) online via the ‘subscribe’ tab on the magazine’s website.

If you haven’t got your hands on a copy of the magazine yet, you can also download a sample copy of an earlier issue from the website’s homepage.

Happy reading!

Posted in authors, competitions

Write-a-book-in-a-day

Posted on by Alphabet Soup

Write-a-Book-in-a-Day is a fundraiser by the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers Centre and Princess Margaret Hospital Foundation.

Sponsored teams write a children’s book in a day, raising funds 40% for KSPWC and 60% for Children’s Hospitals in each Australian State. Additionally a copy of each finished book will be donated to the hospital library. Teams may compete from school, home, office, library, telecentre or elsewhere.

Write-a-Book-in-a-Day runs from April to the end of August and the teams of writers nominate their day to write a children’s book. (Teams will be given some details about the subject of the book they are to write.)

Teams of 5-10 people will obtain sponsorship (a minimum of $300 per team to enter) and will compete for awards in the following sections-

* Primary School – Minimum 2000 words

* Under 18 – minimum 4000 words

* 18 and over – minimum 8000 words

In addition there will be an award for the highest sponsorship.

A booklet containing rules, hints and judging criteria can be found at  http://kspf.iinet.net.au/bookinaday/