Have you ever wished for a children’s story about the sarimanok? Or a story with a kulintang player, or okkir carver, or another Meranaw theme? Have you ever wanted to write such a story yourself?
Sari-Sari Storybooks is holding a writing contest for a Meranaw children’s picture book. Contestants can be of any age, profession, or ethnicity. However, we especially encourage Meranaw writers to enter, and to write to their culture.
A panel of Meranaw readers will give feedback to finalists, and Sari-Sari Storybooks will select the winner. Panelists include Sorhaila Latip-Yusoph, of MSU Marawi, and Sittie Noffaisah Pasandalan, of MSU-IIT.
Details
• The submission period is Oct 1 – 31, 2015.
• Three finalists will be chosen to revise their stories, with panelist feedback.
• The winner will receive a cash prize of P18,000, and a contract to publish the story with Sari-Sari Storybooks. The runners-up will receive P500 each.
• Judging will be blind (author names will be removed from the stories).
• We encourage contestants to spend time researching Meranaw culture, or interviewing their community, before beginning to write. This pre-writing process will help generate story ideas, as well as conversation about Meranaw culture.
Tips for Writing a Children’s Story
• The main character should be a child.
• The audience will be 6 – 8 year olds (Grades 1-3). Consider what they enjoy reading, what makes them laugh, and what they understand, when writing your story. Try reading your story to 6 – 8 year olds, to get their reactions.
• Vocabulary and sentence structure should be simple, and appropriate for 6-8 year olds.
• “Show don’t tell.” Let the dialogue, action, or details tell the story, rather than explaining to the reader.
• Creativity is encouraged. Take risks!
• Humor is encouraged. Kids love funny stories.
• Consider how magic can surprise and delight your readers.
• Allow any teaching moments to be part of the whole story, rather than the main theme. Children are more attracted to stories that engage their imagination, rather than didactic stories.
• Look at other children’s stories, to get a sense of the language and feeling.
To Submit
• Submit your story in Word format, double-spaced.
• Story must be 500 words or less.
• Please submit entries in English. (The finished book will be bilingual, in English and Meranaw, but for judging the story, please submit in English.)
• Include your name, email and phone number on the first page.
• Email your entry (from Oct 1 – 31 only) to: meranaw@sarisaristorybooks.com
Questions? Don’t be shy. Email or call us:
Christina Newhard: christina@sarisaristorybooks.com
Sorhaila Latip-Yusoph: +63-917-324-0413
Sittie Noffaisah Pasandalan: +63-919-880-9819 / +63-917-470-4063