The Hall Caine Prize for Creative Writing 2014/15 is launched today, with the theme of ‘discovery’.
 
The prize, which is in its fifth year, is open to students aged 21 and under who are in full-time education in the Isle of Man. They are invited to write a short story, a memoir or the opening chapter of a novel.
 
Judges will look for strong characterisation, good narrative flow and, above all, imaginative story-telling.
 
Gloria Rukeyser, who is a great granddaughter of Sir Hall Caine and lives at the novelist’s historic home, Greeba Castle, founded and sponsors the prize to foster the love of writing.
 
Launching this year’s prize, Gloria – herself a writer and journalist – said: ‘I am hoping that this year’s theme, with all its possibilities, will really capture the imagination of young writers.
 
‘We always try to choose a theme that will appeal right across the competition’s age range and in the four years to date, when we have set themes of ‘memories’, ‘hope’, journeys’ and ‘heroes’, I have been amazed by the varied interpretations young people have come up with and by the skill of their story-telling.’
 
The prize has four categories: Primary, in which entrants must write up to 500 words, with prizes of ?100, ?75 and ?50; Key Stage 3 – up to 1000 words with prizes of ?150, ?100 and ?50; Key Stage 4 – up to 1500 words with prizes of ?175, ?125 and ?75 and Key Stage 5/IoM College of Further and Higher Education – up to 2000 words with prizes of ?200, ?150 and ?100. Up to 10 highly commended entrants in each category will receive prizes of ?25.
 
Teachers and lecturers from the DEC’s primary and secondary schools and King William’s College will judge the prize.
 
The closing date for entries is Friday 23rd  January 2015. All entries must be accompanied by an entry form and entries themselves must not carry identifying markers, such as the author’s name or school. They must contain an accurate word count. Entries that don’t adhere to this won’t be considered.
 
Entrants are advised to study the full rules, which will be advertised in all schools and at the Isle of Man College of Further and Higher Education, can be viewed at www.gov.im/hallcaine or can be obtained by contacting jo.overty@gov.im
 
For the first time this year, students can enter online via the web page.
 
The competition is again a validated Children’s University activity and entrants will receive three hours’ credit in their passports for taking part.
 
A prize-giving ceremony will take place in spring 2015.