Write a story no longer than 500 words (shorter is fine). Your story should include the word ‘orange’.
You can enter as many times as you like, but each entry must include a separate competition entry form. This may be printed from the website (see competition rules), photocopied, or contact us to have one emailed or posted to you.
Your entry can be handwritten or typed. Make a copy of your entry as we cannot return entries.
A $20 book voucher is awarded to the winner in three age categories: Under 7s, Under 9s, and Under 12s.
Write a poem no longer than 12 lines. Your poem should contain the word ‘dragon.’
Include a competition entry form. This may be printed from the website (see competition rules), photocopied, or contact us to have one emailed or posted to you.
Your entry can be handwritten or typed. Make a copy of your entry as we cannot return entries.
A $20 book voucher is awarded to the winner in three age categories: Under 7s, Under 9s, and Under 12s.
Write a piece of original verse, based around an Australian theme or C J Dennis. Verse must have good rhyme and metre. Cost of children’s entries is $2 per poem. Entries open to children from anywhere in Australia.
Children’s Categories:
First Prize $20 plus a book prize Second Prize $10 plus a book prize Third Prize $5 plus a book prize
CJ Dennis was born in South Australia in 1876, but he moved to Toolangi in the wooded hills east of Melbourne in 1908. It became his home for the remaining 30 years of his life, and he wrote all the books for which he became famous in or near Toolangi. (You might remember his poem, ‘The Triantiwontigongolope’ which we published in issue 3 of Alphabet Soup magazine.)
In 2008 a festival was held at ‘The Singing Gardens’ to celebrate the centenary of CJ Dennis’ arrival in Toolangi. It was a great success, and has now become an annual event. This year, it will be held on the weekend of November 12 – 13. The closing date for entries to the poetry competition is 7 September (CJ Dennis’s birthday).
Here is the winning Under 12s story from our spring 2010 writing competition. You were asked to write a funny story about a musician.
A reminder: always check the rules of the competition. If you go over the word limit, we have to disqualify your entry and that makes us sad!
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Under 12s winner: Megan Flack, WA
Dad’s New Craze
Hi, I would like to tell you about my dad. His name is Eric and he is a violin player.
Dad is a very good violin player, but now he wants to be a comedian. It gets very annoying because he cracks jokes all the time.
One day I brought a note home from school about a talent show and dad entered it, to my dismay.
On the day, dad got ready to go and perform for the school. When it was my dad’s go, I hid myself. My dad played the violin awfully and he told lots of jokes like, “How do you spell mouse trap in just 3 letters? C.A.T!”
It was embarrassing but dad really enjoyed it. In the end dad fell off the stage! That was funny.
When the judges were calling out the winners, guess who won? My dad! I was amazed but what do you expect with a really awesome dad like mine?
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Congratulations to Megan! She receives a $20 book voucher for her winning story.
Here is the winning Under 9s story from our spring 2010 writing competition. You were asked to write a funny story about a musician.
A reminder: always check the rules of the competition. If you go over the word limit, we have to disqualify your entry and that makes us sad!
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Under 9s winner: Suanne Mostert, WA
The Jazz Concert
One shiny, sparkly, early morning there was a beautiful, glamorous special lady woken up by a croaking sound from a frog. Her name is Sophie and her friends are going to travel the world.
Sophie got dressed into a fantastic light green sparkly and shiny top and some nice blue pale glamorous jeans. Then she ate cornflakes with milk and a glass of water. Next she fed her dog. Then she went to her music class.
“Sophie is the best saxophone player,” mumbled her teacher with a tear. So Sophie walked into the music house with her saxophone gold and sparkly.
Then her teacher said, “You have to go to the Opera House to play in the jazz concert. Really.”
“Oh really!” Sophie replied in shock.
“You start tomorrow so go home and have a good night’s rest.”
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ
The morning came. She got dressed in a black and purple dress, ready for the concert.
“Good morning ladies and jellybeans,” announced Mr Egain with a delightful and caring grin. “Today you will be listening to a jazz concert. First up, put your hands together for Sophie Burgess!”
They listened with excitement for about half an hour. The whole concert finished and it was time to announce the winner. Mr Egain came on from the backstage in a muddle. (Sigh)
“OK, OK, the winner is …”
“He’s fainted!” someone called out from backstage.
Another lady called out: “Get him to the hospital … ”
There was silence. He coughed and woke up.
“I am all right. It was just stage fright. OK, where was I? The winner is (ah). My pants fell down! (wow) (wow) (wow) (ah).”
He fell over. Everyone was laughing at poor Mr Egain. Sophie ran out and pulled Mr Egan up.
“Are you all right, Mr Egain?”
“Oh yes I am, Sophie. Do you want to announce the winner?”
“Yes please. OK. The winner is Sophie Burgess.”
They clapped and cheered. So Sophie went and got her trophy, then she went home. She fed her dog, Brigy, and ate her dinner and went to bed.
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Congratulations to Suanne! She receives a $20 book voucher for her winning story.
The bad news is that we haven’t had as many entries as we usually find in our PO Box. The good news is, there’s still time to enter! (And we can’t guarantee that you’ll win, but with fewer entries you have a slightly better chance of winning. But shhhh, we didn’t tell you that.)
For this competition, you have to write a funny story about a musician—maybe that scared off a few writers but we’re sure you can write something funny about a crazy conductor or a brass player who likes blowing bubbles out of his tuba, or … a dog howling whenever his neighbour practises the recorder … or … ___________________<– enter your own idea here.
The competition is judged in 3 age categories: under 7s, under 9s and under 12s and there are $20 book vouchers to be won.
Here are the details:
SPRING 2010 WRITING COMPETITION
Entries close 22 October 2010
Write a funny story about a musician. Length: up to 350 words—shorter is fine. Your entry can be handwritten or typed.
Include a competition entry form. This may be printed from the website, photocopied, or contact us to have one emailed or posted to you.
We accept emailed entries (if you include a scan of the entry form) and entries postmarked 22 October.
Just a reminder—if you want to enter our design-a-cover competition, entries close on 16 September 2010. The winner will see their artwork on the cover of our summer competition (out in November) and receive $20 worth of art supplies. You can find details and an entry form on the Alphabet Soup website.
And if writing is more your thing, don’t forget we run a writing competition for kids in every issue of the magazine. Our spring story competition closes on 22 October 2010. There are $20 book vouchers for the winners in three age categories. You’ll find details and an entry form over at the Alphabet Soup websitefor that, too.
Meet Sandy Fussell, author of the Samurai Kids series, Polar Boy, and Jaguar Warrior
stories and poems by adults and children
inside a hotel made of ice
writing tips for kids, from The Book Chook
book reviews
writing competition – win a $20 book voucher!
We’ll also have details of the 2010 design-a-cover competition. The winner will have their artwork featured on the cover of our summer 2010 issue (out in November 2010). For details, check inside issue 7, or visit the competitions page on the Alphabet Soup website on Monday 17 May 2010.
Are you a subscriber? Subscribers are entered into a draw every season – this season’s winner receives a $200 book pack from Walker Books! (Books may differ from those pictured.)
Write a story no longer than 500 words (shorter is fine). Your story should include the word ‘orange’.
alphabetsoup.net.au 