Information on new Writing Competition!

[Meluivan Indil]

Hey, everyone. I was contacted about a writing competition that Portico books is hosting and was asked to make this announcement to all memebers. I really think that some of you might have what it takes to win this thing. So please don't hesitate to enter.

M.

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COMPETITION
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WIN EVERYTHING YOU EVER
WANTED AND MORE
THE CHANCE OF A LIFETIME
NOT TO BE MISSED FOR ANYTHING
INCREDIBLE AND TRULY UNIQUE
A STARTLING OPPORTUNITY OPENING THE DOORWAY TO DIMENSIONS OF PROFESSIONAL SATISFACTION AND GLORY
HITHERTO RESERVED ONLY FOR THE LITERARY ILLUMINATI
A TURNING POINT
THE MOMENT THAT COULD CHANGE YOUR WHOLE LIFE AND SEND TREMULATIONS OF ECSTASY
FORWARD THROUGH TIME AS A GIFT TO YOUR GENETIC LEGACY
A REVELATION
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
The BAD IDEA Anthology, a paperback collection of the best writing from BAD IDEA magazine, will be published by Portico Books in the summer of 2008.

To celebrate, we’re running a writing competition for our readers with a very special prize: the chance to be a featured author in the anthology itself. PLUS, the winner and other finalists will have their work reviewed by Tom Bromley, publisher of Portico Books, and literary agent Charlie Campbell, of Ed Victor Ltd.

To enter, write a non-fiction story under 1500 words on the following topic:
The pen is mightier than the keyboard.

Has the internet liberated new writers? Or are blog-zombies taking over our brains? Is the publishing world a closed, elitist coterie? What is Web 2.0 anyway? Is the “democratisation” of media a good thing or is this age of selfbroadcasting insane vanity? Should content be free or expensive? And who the hell writes in longhand these days?

We’re looking for narrative non-fiction features that are imaginative in form and content, as opposed to “I think…” comment pieces with no basis in personal research or experience.

A WORD FROM THE JUDGES…
“As a publisher, I’m always on the lookout for new voices, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what talent this competition uncovers.”
Tom Bromley, Publisher of Portico.

“My previous experience of judging prizes has involved terrible, filthy s*x writing and, worse, contemporary poetry,
so this prize comes as a tremendous relief. I’m hoping for lively, unusual stories.”
Charlie Campbell, Ed Victor Ltd.

“Let the games begin!”
Jack Roberts & Daniel Stacey, BAD IDEA Editors

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PRIZES & PRACTICALITIES
Entries should be no longer than 1500 words long. The final deadline for entries is January 31, 2008.

Please email submissions to: [e-mail], or post hard copies to PORTICO/BAD IDEA COMPETITION, 10 Southcombe Street, London W14 0RA.

The eventual competition winner will be chosen from 5 finalists; all finalists will win a year’s subscription to the magazine, a signed copy of The BAD IDEA Anthology, and a bottle of whisky. The overall winner will see their work published in The BAD IDEA Anthology and also BAD IDEA magazine, and will win a year’s supply of Portico titles.

The verdict of the judges will be final.

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P.S. If any of you underage writers win, I get the bottle of whiskey.

[neb92]

Yes, well, even if I were planning on entering this, (and I'm not lol, I don't think I'd have the patience to do the research), my mom would get the whiskey. In my professional opinion, she needs to get drunk more often, since she works so hard and my sister is under the impression that even a drop of alcohal (that's misspelled...) will kill her or something.

It sounds like a great opportunity for someone else to do it though ^.^ Good luck everybody!

Neb

[Meluivan Indil]

Ah well. I was trying to get free booze. (Like I really drink all that often.)

[LadyRiona]

Shoot, I ain't givin' up whiskey! I might give it to my dad, but only after some bribery. Hehehe...errr....M, you've rubbed off on me.

So I suck at non-fiction. But it might be fun to try anyway. Thanks for letting us know.

[neb92]

*whispers so only Ri can hear me* That's my cover story. I wasn't planning on giving up the booze either. *snickers*

Neb

[Meluivan Indil]

I may be old, but my hearing is still just fine, neb.

The topic itself just doesn't interest me, so I know darn well I'd bomb out on it, but there has to be someone on this site that can figure it out.

M.

[Lady Mage]

I guess it's too late to submit now, but it would have been cool to do!