"Appy" ending for aspiring young authors

Saturday 08 March 2014

Budding young writers could have their short stories read by a worldwide audience as this year’s The Write Stuff competition goes global.

Schoolchildren across the Channel Islands are being challenged to write a story for this year's literary competition and win the chance to have them illustrated on a new App.

The competition is part of the Guernsey Literary Festival which takes in place, but is open to Jersey students from Year 3 upwards. Each story has to be less than 300 words and include the dialogue - “Everything you have just told me is a complete and utter lie. Now tell me the truth and we might both live” -  in the middle of it.

Tamara O’Brien, Deputy Managing Director, JT (Guernsey) said: “As technology sponsor we are pleased to be able to help take The Write Stuff competition to the next level by offering winners the chance to have their works digitised. Seeing their work transformed into a digital publication will bring many advantages for the winners including developing their own digital literacy, which is vital for any aspiring writer today. Understanding the advancements in digital publishing is essential, as it encourages the writer to consider the varied ways in which their stories will be received and viewed by an audience.  This in turn will help enhance their writing skills we hope.”

The winners will get to see their story being digitally developed during a one-day hackathon event in Guernsey’s Guille-Alles Library during the Guernsey Literary Festival in May. After the event one story will be published per day through the festival’s social media channels.

Guernsey Literary Festival director Catriona Stares said: "The literary world is becoming increasingly digitised and with so many people now reading books and poetry on smartphones and other devices we wanted to introduce a digital element to this year’s festival.”

All entries have to be in by 15 April and all the details of how to enter can be found on www.writestuff.gg