Creative Writer Programme 2011 - 12

Schools Across Borders and Poetry Ireland would like to announce a very special opportunity open to the students in the 2011 / 2012 programme:

We have engaged a professional writer, SEAMUS CASHMAN, to act as a Mentor and advise you on how to develop your creative writing skills.

This is also a competition!

There will be an award for the SAB Young Writer of the Year with a generous prize to match!

Work of a high standard will be published on the Poetry Ireland and SAB websites

Follow these simple steps...

Stage 1: Email us at: writers@schoolsacrossborders.org

• State your name, age, school
• In 150 - 250 words, introduce yourself – and include your personal interests and the sort of themes you would like to write about. That's all!
• Attach your chosen submission for review by the Mentor, Seamus Cashman

It can be a poem, song, short story, a journal/diary entry or the first chapter of a longer work.

The themes are completely open. Here are some suggestions, but you decide...!

• a favourite object
• a value we believe in
• justice
• integrity
• poverty
• fair trade
• the landscape
• the voice of young people
• the other we don't know
• crossing borders
• a polluted river
• anger
• hunger
• freedom
• peace
• a theme of your choice

SEAMUS CASHMAN will then email you back with advice on how you can develop it into a real piece of art!

Stage 2: Shaping your Piece

Working with the advice that Seamus gives you, take time to re-write your piece

Email us your revised piece to writers@schoolsacrossborders.org You will get a further assessment from Seamus Cashman: You will know then if you are selected to enter the Competition

Stage 3: The SAB Young Writer of the Year Competition

• If you are successfully selected, your piece will be posted up on the SAB website along with those of the other entrants.
• You must choose a prominent word from one of the other entrant's pieces and write a poem or short story based on the word you have chosen!
• Email us your submission and it will be adjudicated by a select panel of writers nominated by Poetry Ireland. Updated information will be posted on the SAB website.

Good Luck!