Theres a new writing competition launched to recognize and encourage creative talents for those 50 and older in B.C.
The Cedric Literary Awards were created to attract unpublished B.C. writers of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.
This is a first of its kind literary awards program in the nation created by Dr. Peter Dale, chairman of Better Than 50, a website created to connect the 50-plus demographic by providing relevant and local information.
Because were a new program, were just opening this right up and not being too restrictive, said Veronica Osborn, executive director. We want people to get really interested in this particular literary award. Were opening it up right to whatever people have to offer.
Theres no word limit on works submitted.
We really are trying to find those people who have never been published at all, said Osborn.
The awards will be a juried writing competition with panel members selected from B.C.s diverse and established writing community.
Each category winner will receive $3,000, along with a special prize to be awarded to a First Nations storyteller.
Writers are welcome to enter each of the three main categories including fiction, nonfiction and poetry, but will only be able to take the top prize in one category. The special prize will go to someone who has submitted in one or all the categories and self-identified as a member of the First Nations.
We are very excited to give unpublished B.C. authors in the 50-plus demographic an opportunity to showcase their literary work, said Osborn. There are so many people in B.C. who have been writing or storytelling all their lives, but perhaps didnt think anyone would want to read their work - let alone publish it.
A call for submissions to the Cedric Literary Awards will be issued Feb. 1. Deadline for submissions is May 1 and entry fee is $25.
The competition will wrap up with a Gala Awards Dinner held in November 2015.
For more information visit www.thecedrics.ca or e-mail Osborn at [email protected].
