January 9th 2017
Wadadli Pen challenges young writers in Antigua and Barbuda to tap in to their creativity and use their voice. It is an opportunity for them to tell the stories only they can tell, and to tell them in 600 words or less.
Yes, there are prizes to be won but Wadadli Pen, since its launch in 2004, has never just been about the prizes – its purpose is to contribute to both youth and arts development by nurturing and showcasing the literary arts in Antigua and Barbuda.
To participate, you have to be 35 years or younger. There will be winners in the 12 and younger, 13 to 17, and 18 to 35 age categories. You also have to be a resident and/or citizen of Antigua and Barbuda. Your story, poem, or creative non-fiction piece must be written by you, original, and previously unpublished; plagiarized submissions will be disqualified. Most importantly, while the stories can be any sub-genre (thriller to romance to action adventure and beyond), they cannot be “anywhere” stories; they must have a uniquely Caribbean aesthetic (which is to say that they must feel Caribbean even if set in outer space).
The Wadadli Pen team hopes young writers or young people simply looking to express themselves embrace the Challenge. Prizes are being solicited to reward their efforts. Confirmed patrons for the 2017 cycle are the Best of Books, Frank B. Armstrong through its Seven Seas brand, Jane Seagull, Joanne C. Hillhouse, Juneth Webson, Danielle George-John’s Sweet Dreams, and anonymous.
2016 patron Best of Books gets the ball rolling with a presentation to Wadadli Pen intern and past finalist Michaela Harris.
Submit entries as a Word attachment to wadadlipen@gmail.com subject line ‘YOURINITIALS WADADLI PEN 2017’. Get a jump on the February 6th 2017 deadline. Entries submitted after this date will be disqualified. Submit your name, age, school, email, physical address, phone number, three sentence author bio, three page summary of your entry on a separate cover page; failure to do so (especially age) can result in disqualification.
For information on the 2017 Wadadli Pen cycle – including submission details and writing tips see the ‘Wadadli Pen 2017’ link at https://wadadlipen.wordpress.com Remember, Wadadli Pen isn’t about who’s the best; it’s about challenging yourself. The Wadadli Pen team looks forward to the young writers and non-writers who have a story to tell rising to the challenge.
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NOTICE (JUST THE BASICS FOR EASY SHARING)
Want to win with Wadadli Pen? Submit your short story, poem, or creative non-fiction entry to wadadlipen@gmail.com by February 6th 2017. Keep it 600 words or less, make sure it’s original, Caribbean, yours, and has not been published anywhere else. You must be 35 or younger; and from or resident in Antigua and Barbuda. Find other details at wadadlipen.wordpress.com
Wadadli Pen 