TAF2020 | CHILDREN’S SHORT STORY COMPETITION

THE TAF FOR KIDS

CHILDREN’S SHORT STORY COMPETITION

2020 THEME: FEMALE DETECTIVES

We’re pleased to announce a new short story writing competition for children and young writers (to age 16) in the Huon Valley and surrounds.

Have you heard of Enola Holmes, Juno Jones or Trixie Belden?

We want you to create your own female detective – real or imagined, human or animal – and tell us how she solves a crime or mystery.

The competition is open to children up to the age of 16, regardless of home address, but please note that you must follow the process for entering a story.

Children who live in the Huon Valley and surrounding areas are strongly encouraged to enter. 

CATEGORIES

Up to Grade 2 - up to 100 words

Grades 3 and 4 - up to 500 words

Grades 5 and 6 - up to 2000 words

Open to the age of 16 (i.e. the entrant may be any age up to 16 on 31 December 2020) - up to 3000 words

PRIZES AND JUDGES 

A prize of a $50 book voucher will be awarded for each category.

Entries will be judged anonymously in two rounds:  shortlisted by one panel then winners chosen by a second panel.

ANNOUNCEMENT OF PRIZE WINNERS

The shortlisted and winning entries will be announced in mid-December on the TAF Facebook page and website.

STAY UP-TO-DATE

The entry form will be added to this page on Monday 2 November, when the competition opens.

To stay up-to-date, check back here or - if you are on Facebook - click here:

TAF2020 Huon Valley Children’s Short Story Competition Facebook event

choose ‘Going’ and receive notifications here.

RESOURCES

A range of resources is provided below.

Please note that all resources provided will be for parents, teachers and older independent writers.

Parents and teachers will work with younger children to help them understand the material at an age appropriate-level.

The most important tip is to start today!

Video

Watch and listen to this 6 minute video.

It explains the competition and how to approach writing a mystery short story for the competition.

This video is for parents, teachers and independent young writers.

Parents and teachers may need to explain the steps to younger children:

Posters

Read, and if you like, download and print the posters for the competition

TAF2020 Children’s Short Story Competition - A3

TAF2020 Children’s Short Story Competition - A4

Recommended Reading List - A3

Recommended Reading List - A4

How to Write a Story in 8 Simple Steps - A3

How to Write a Story in 8 Simple Steps - A4

4) Read the information and follow the links to more resources below

Prepare to Write Your Story

The most important things to think about are:

1.     Who is Your Main Character?

What is her name?

What makes her unique? 

2.     What is the Location?

Where does your story take place?

What is special about the way it looks, smells, sounds or feels? 

3.     What Happens?

Most stories have a beginning, a middle and an end. What happens in your story?

What case is your detective working on?

What will she do to solve her mystery?

What will go wrong?

How does your story end?

4.    Theme – for more advanced writers

Is there a reason you want to write this story?

Do you want to write a story about honesty or integrity or loyalty? Or maybe the excitement of adventure?

How do you want someone who reads your story to feel or what do you want them to think about?

Read Other Stories for Inspiration

There are already lots of stories of girl detectives out there, in Tasmania, Australia and around the world!

It’s a good idea to read a few, but be careful not to copy the ideas in other writers’ books.

Use them for inspiration, not a shortcut.

For example, if you read a story about a dog girl detective, it might inspire you to have a girl detective who is a cat, or a green parrot, or a Tasmanian Devil.

Or, if you read about a girl detective who has a very loud and annoying brother, it might make you think your girl detective could have a quiet, helpful twin sister.

Inspirational Reading

Some of the books listed below are for younger children, some for older. Some are gentle while others might be quite scary.

Please talk to your friendly local librarian to see which ones might be suitable for you/your child and if they are available to borrow.

If you’d like to purchase them instead, the book titles that are hyperlinked will take you to Booktopia.

The links are to ebooks to allow instant download and maximum social distancing.

If a series has more than three books, the name of the series is hyperlinked to either the first or last book in that series.

Any purchase made directly via these links will contribute a few cents to help run our short story competition.

For further inspiration, click here to read the shortlisted and winning entries from last year’s competition!

Extra Resources for Parents and Teachers

For one fourth grade teacher’s guide to teaching mystery writing to her class, click here.

For a writing teacher’s hints and tips for helping kids write a mini-mystery, click here.

Click here for the Entry Form

DATES AND FACTS TO REMEMBER

For Parents and Teachers

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1.     All entries must be submitted by email.

 To:  enquiries@terroraustralisfestival.com

Subject: CHILDREN’S SHORT STORY COMPETITION

By 6 pm SUNDAY 29 NOVEMBER 2020 

·       As this is a COVID-19 safe competition, it is being held entirely online. No paper entries will be accepted. 

·       All emailed entries must have two attachments:  this entry form and the story.

2.     Fill out the form by typing into the document online with an Adobe PDF reader, or print out Page 1 and fill it in, then scan and email it to us with the attached short story. If you’re unable to fill out the form, please see Page 3 of the form.

3.     Stories must be typed, using Times New Roman 12 pt font. Please submit your stories as Word documents.

·       You must not have your name or the child’s name anywhere in the story document, only in the entry form. Entries will be judged anonymously.

·       If your child is not able to type their story, you may enter their handwritten story by scanning it to create an electronic document (PDF).

·       Scanned documents must be clear and legible. Documents that cannot be read easily will not be considered. 

4.         There is a limit of two stories per child, each to be submitted separately.

5.         Shortlisted and winning entries may be published on the TARWF website.

6.         There is no cost to enter.

7.         There will be no extensions.

·       You are strongly encouraged to submit stories ahead of time, not at the last minute. 

·       As good writing practice you should aim to finish your story by Friday 20 November 2020 and only revise/edit it in the last week.

·       While there are no extensions, if you try to email in an entry before 6 pm Sunday 29 November and something goes wrong with your computer or internet connection, please don’t worry.

·       Take a screenshot or photo to show the time on the screen and what has gone wrong and contact us to let us know. 

We hope you enjoy writing your stories.

ENQUIRIES AND UPDATES

All updates will be given via the festival Facebook page and website.

Common questions asked on the Facebook page will be answered as part of an FAQ.

Please do not email asking for individual updates, they may not be answered.

Stay up to date on what’s happening at TAF.

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