High school pupils who live and school in Ekurhuleni and the South of Johannesburg are being given an opportunity to express their creativity and enter the Caxton Creative Writing Competition.<\/p>\n
After a successful first year in 2012, Brandfluent SA and Alcatel One Touch have come on board as sponsors for the Caxton Creative Writing Competition 2013.<\/p>
In a world dominated by shorthand writing, texts and abbreviations, the annual writing competition seeks to reintroduce the art of creative writing to the youth and encourage them to unleash “their inner Zakes Mda”.<\/p>\n
“This competition is a project close to my heart because Caxton has played a vital role in kick-starting my career in the media industry, and I am happy that we have the opportunity to present it again this year,” said an excited Malcolm Maifala, creative writing coordinator at Caxton Joburg South.<\/p>
The competition will run from the first week in September and calls entrants to action.<\/p>\n
Once the submissions are closed in October, the writers’ work will undergo a strenuous two-tier adjudication process to identify the finalists.<\/p>\n
In the final, three judges, representatives from Brandfluent SA and Caxton, will read and score the writers’ work to determine a winner.<\/p>\n
These judges are Bryony van Zyl – director Brandfluent SA; Gien Elsas – human resources development manager for the Caxton Group and Christiaan Louw – digital support specialist for the Caxton Group.<\/p>\n
“The competition is not a once-off activity; it seeks to identify writers with potential and offer them the opportunity to undergo training in the media industry,” Maifala explained.<\/p>\n
The investment in these individuals has a long term ripple effect and, like Maifala, jump-starts a successful career in journalism.<\/p>\n
“Shaping young lives is something we at Brandfluent SA are very passionate about,” said Bryony van Zyl.<\/p>\n
The competition culminates in a prize-giving on November 30, where the first prize is a One Touch Tab Evo 7 and One Touch T-Pop cellular handset, and an opportunity for further training, if required.<\/p>\n
Runners-up will each receive a One Touch T-Pop handset.<\/p>\n
To stand a chance of winning these amazing prizes, keep an eye out for the competition in the Caxton East Rand publications, looklocal, Facebook and\/or Twitter.<\/p>\n
Here are the competition rules and a guideline on how to enter:<\/p>\n
* The competition is open to students schooling and living in Ekurhuleni and the south of Johannesburg. Children who are home-schooled may also enter.<\/p>\n
* Entries from people who have completed school or left school will not be accepted.<\/p>\n
* The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. Prizes on offer are not transferable for cash.<\/p>\n
* Only students from Grade Eight to Grade 12 may enter, no other students are eligible to enter.<\/p>\n
* The competition starts on September 2 and closes on October 31, 2013<\/p>\n
* Short stories or essays should not be longer than 800 words.<\/p>\n
* Entrants may enter as many themes as they wish, but may not submit more than one entry on the same theme.<\/p>\n
* Family members of Caxton Local Newspapers, Brandfluent and ALCATEL ONE TOUCH may not enter for the competition.<\/p>\n
* Themes for the competition:<\/p>\n
Open letter to our leaders<\/p>\n
Spring time melodies<\/p>\n
Today I am the president of South Africa<\/p>\n
Any Topic<\/p>\n
* Send entries to writingcomp@caxton.co.za, or drop off entries at your nearest Caxton newspaper office.<\/p>\n