Library Lovers’ Day 2016

To coincide with Valentine’s Day, Friday 12 was Library Lover’s Day in the GFL.  During the week we had Blind Book Date with a book, and ran a Poetry competition.  All of the entries were very good, and the judges had a hard time picking the winner.  In the end, there were two winners: Andrew Persic 12J, and Louise Solomonides 12FA and they took very different approaches to the competition, both entering genuine and warm pieces.  We had two runners up Frazer Kamp 12 Deighton and Jasmine Grey 11A, and special mention must be made of Mr Rohan Murphy’s heartfelt tribute to his wife and family.

Thank you to all students and staff who got involved in these fun activities.

Library Lovers’ Day is on its way!

There’s nothing nicer than being able to celebrate a day of love!

Library Lovers’ Day, which is traditionally celebrated on February 14th in Australia, is inextricably linked to Valentine’s Day.  This is the reason that the fun competitions run in our library are focused around encouraging students to write love poems and letters.

This year, students are encouraged to write a poem about their favourite person, pet or library!   Entries should be placed in the box on the GFL front desk by Thursday 11th February.  Include your name and House and you will be in the running to win a Village Movie pass or a small Valentine’s bear.

While visiting the GFL, check out the displays and be sure to take a Speed Book Date!   The plain paper bags scattered around the GFL are labelled to indicate the gender of the novel’s main protagonist – pink: female, blue: male and green: both male and female.

Happy Library Lovers’ Day everyone!

The notJack Writers’ Prize

The notJack Writers’ Prize recognizes the significance of place for Australian writers and encourages submissions from people in any area.

The prize welcomes submissions from all genres – including prose, essay, flash fiction, short story, poetry, biography, memoir, plays, screenplay – in which place, and writing from place, figures prominently. Submissions are not limited by the specific examples provided here.

Entries may be up to 3000 words or 40 lines of poetry.   Check the notJack Writers’ Prize website for the entry form, guidelines, prizes and other details.

The youth category is open now and closes 14 March 2016.

The Ampersand Project

Be inspired!

Melissa Keil was the first time winner of the 2013 Ampersand Award with her debut novel: Life in Outer Space!  This year, Melissa’s second novel: The incredible adventures of Cinnamon Girl is short listed for the Children’s Book Council of Australia Award.

Whip out your pens and start writing so that you are ready to enter The Ampersand Project.

What is it? An opportunity for unpublished writers to get published!
What’s the goal of the Ampersand Project? A way to find brilliant debut novels and new authors!
What’s to be gained? The selected writer will get a contract, an advance, and serious editorial development to bring their book to market.
When must manuscripts be submitted? From Tuesday 1 September until midnight on Monday 14 September 2015
More information: The Ampersand Prize

My Story My Content – Short Film Competition

Another awesome opportunity to create a short film and be in the running to win some awesome prizes – including $1000 for the first place winner – has been announced.

To be created around the theme ‘Movies Matter’ submissions of 60 second films from students across Australia are invited.

Submit entries online and read more about this fabulous competition here.

All entries must be submitted by August 10th 2015.

The 2015 John Marsden Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers

If you are aged under 25 and are a keen writer, you really should consider getting an entry into the 2015 John Marsden & Hachette Australia Prize for Young Writers because – quite simply – this is an inspirational competition with incredible prizes to be won!!

The writing categories are also very broad:

• Short fiction or first chapter of a novel (up to 3,000 words) by writers aged 18-24
• Short fiction or first chapter of a novel (up to 3,000 words) by writers aged under 18
• Poetry by writers aged 18-24
• Poetry by writers aged under 18

With prizes ranging from $500 – $3000 and the possibility of wining a manuscript assessment or mentoring session with staff from Hachette Australia, or your winning entry published in the December issue of Voiceworks #102 or on the Express Media website – the rewards for submitting an entry are too good to pass up!

Read more details online.

Entries close: September 7th 2015

 

Hidden Other: Short Story Competition

Writing and creating a film is a fabulous challenge!

Sponsored by The Salvation Army and open to students aged 12-18, entries are now invited to create a short film that breaks stereotypes and raises awareness of youth homelessness.

Make a contribution to our world and create a challenge for yourself by expressing your thoughts and in the process be in the running for some awesome recognition! So if you are looking for a good challenge and something to do over the school holidays, get involved!!  Entries close on July 17th 2015.

More details, including how to enter, can be read online.

Love reading? Then come visit the FAL and GFL!

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Or do you just love books and reading?!

Either way – make sure that you pop into the GFL this week to see what’s new!  With Library and Information Week running throughout the week, you’ll find lots and lots of great book suggestions, along with a fabulous display which highlights this years theme:

IMAGINE!

Join in the GFL celebrations by signing up for the Quiz to be held at lunchtime this Thursday 28th May.  As we always say – you gotta be in it to win it!!

My Life Short Story Competition

If you are an Australian student aged 8-13, you could win $1000 cash plus a full set of signed My Life books written by Tristan Bancks!  To enter, just write a 500 word story about your life that is funny, gross, weird or amazing!!

Entries must be submitted by Monday 31 August 2015.  Check further details about this Random House Competition online!

2015 Inky Awards Longlist announced!

The INKY awards is an annual event hosted by the Centre for Youth Literature at the State Library of Victoria. The Inkys are the only Australian awards for Young Adults which are voted on by Young Adults.

The 2015 Inky Awards longlist was announcement just last week and includes some awesome titles!

The Inky Awards recognise high-quality young adult literature, with the longlist and shortlist selected by young adults, and the winners voted for online by the teen readers of InsideaDog. There are two awards: the Gold Inky Award for an Australian book, and the Silver Inky Award for an international book.

The Awards are named after me, Inky – Inside a Dog mascot and all-round wonder-dog.”

Read more about the books longlisted on the Inside a Dog website and encourage young adults across Australia to put their hat in the ring to be one of the judges.  Read what is involved at:  Want to be an Inky Awards Judge?