Over 500 entries & 100 writers line up for Croc Prize 2014
30 June 2014
KEITH JACKSON
IT was quite a weekend in the Jackson office. The fag end of the Crocodile Prize national literary contest (entries close today) witnessed a torrent of creative writing pouring in through the email.
Many new writers made a first appearance, bringing the registered total to more than 100 with many yet to be processed.
The number of entries received will total well over 500 by the time this creative part of Papua New Guinea’s writing awards is done and dusted.
Now follows some weeks of judging and selecting which entries are good enough to be published in the annual Anthology.
Then on Thursday 18 September the winners are announced and the Crocodile Prize Anthology 2014, which looks as though it will run to about 400 pages, is launched.
The impact of the recently-established Simbu Writers Association was clearly discerned by the disproportionate amount of new writing – especially poetry and short stories – emanating from the rugged mountains and rich valleys that dominate the central highlands of PNG.
It was good to see the number of high school children, doubtless influenced by conscientious teachers, who decided to test their skills against their peers by submitting stories and poems, often beautifully illustrated, to the contest.
Meanwhile, half of the 30 places at the annual Crocodile Prize writers’ workshop have been spoken for. If you’re interested in attending this event, you can read all about it here. But you’ll need to register in a hurry.
The Crocodile Prize Organising Group, COG, is grateful to our wonderfully supportive and generous group of sponsors:
Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea
Buk bilong Pikinini Award for Children’s Writing
Cleland Family Award for Heritage Writing
Kina Securities Award for Poetry
Ok Tedi Award for Lifetime Contribution to PNG Literature
Ok Tedi Mining Award for Book of the Year
PNG Association of Australia Publishing Program
PNG Chamber of Mines & Petroleum Award for Essays & Journalism
People's Award for Short Stories
Congratulations to Jim Drekore for his efforts on the SWA
Posted by: Mathias Kin | 05 July 2014 at 07:31 PM
That's the idea Phil, after the PNGSWEP was a fail I decided to form SWA. We'll see which province will follow suit.
Posted by: Jimmy Drekore | 02 July 2014 at 02:26 PM
I'm starting to think that setting up writers' associations in each province is the way forward for PNG literature.
Setting up a central organization in Port Moresby is just too big an ask.
Posted by: Philip Fitzpatrick | 02 July 2014 at 10:44 AM
One of the most respected news organisations in the world - the BBC - has a College of Journalism. It's aim is to help train and mentor aspiring journalists and commentators, and to this it has established a college of expertise.
At first it was intended as in-house training, then it expanded to any UK students, but now has been made available to anyone world-wide. Free of charge for the next 12 months.
This is an important educational resource. It covers mainstream journalism, Internet reporting, radio and TV, and social media. It could be of value to communications studies students, web bloggers, aspiring writers and boring old amateurs like me.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/journalism
Worth a look.
Posted by: Peter Kranz | 02 July 2014 at 10:22 AM
Yes, Leonard, it would be good to see a Bougainville Writers Association. Let's see if other provinces can take the challenge on board.
Posted by: Jimmy Drekore | 01 July 2014 at 08:10 AM
Jimmy - Dreaming to move along your model when I am finished with DWU and settle down well in Bougainville.
Just a dream.
Posted by: Leonard Roka | 30 June 2014 at 09:22 PM
Thank you Keith for the compliments and mentioning of the Simbu Writers Association (SWA).
SWA is slowing sending out roots and we are starting with schools in Simbu. We are trying to generate an interest in reading and writing and its good to see our students taking it with enthusiasm.
We look forward to a fruitful and an exciting 2015 should we bring the beast up to Simbu.
On this note, on behalf of SWA, I thank you Keith and Phil Fitzpatrick for your tireless efforts in this endeavour - regenerating the Crocodile Prize interest and setting up the COG team, well done.
Congratulations to all the writers who have entered the 2014 Crocodile Prize; no doubt the 2014 Croc Prize Award is set to be the biggest event yet.
Posted by: Jimmy Drekore | President, Simbu Writers Association | 30 June 2014 at 07:57 PM