Competition goes Europe-wide

THE success of The Northern Echo's short story competition has gone Europe-wide for the second year running.

European literary website www.literati-magazine.com is urging its members to enter Orange New Voices, which is developing an international reputation.

Now it its third year, the competition has this year attracted entries from European countries, including France, as well as the US and New Zealand among more than 200 stories already received.

The competition, sponsored by telecommunications company Orange and Darlington Arts Centre, showcases undiscovered writers of all ages.

The maximum length of stories for the adult category is 3,000 words. First prize is £600 with second and third prizes of £250 and £150 respectively.

Stories in the junior category must be no more than 2,000 words and the winner will receive £300, with prizes of £150 and £100 for second and third place, as well as book tokens from Darlington bookstore Ottakar's. Entrants must be aged between 11 and 16.

The new category this year is for writers aged 16 or over who are asked to produce a story of no more than 2,000 words for children aged eight and under. First prize is £600, with second and third prizes of £250 and £150.

The closing date for the competition is May 31. Full details of rules and conditions are available on The Northern Echo website at www.theshortstory.co.uk or by sending a stamped, addressed envelope to John Dean, care of The Northern Echo Newsdesk, PO Box 14, Darlington, County Durham DL1 1NF.

* Almost 100 budding authors have attended free writing workshops arranged as part of the competition with sessions taking part in venues including Durham, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, Darlington, Eaglescliffe, Teesside, and Pickering, North Yorkshire.

04/05/06