Each year the Redland City Council runs the Redlitzer for adult and teen writers with fabulous prizes on offer from the city council and also The Queensland Writers Centre, culminating with a published anthology of the best stories.
This year, because of the popularity of the Redlitzer, the competition was extended to junior writers under 13 as well. Ten talented young writers were selected from the many entries to spend a day in July, workshopping their manuscripts for publication with published children's authors acting as mentors.
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| Judges and Mentors, Peter Matheson, head librarian, Louise Cusack, Rowena Cory Daniells, Marianne de Pierres and Angela Sunde |
I was thrilled to have been invited along for the second time as mentor this year. After a group masterclass with editor and dramaturg, Peter Matheson, together with mentor and author Marianne de Pierres, we split into smaller groups to focus on guiding our young writers through the task of editing and refining their manuscripts.
We were full on busy, but it was the best fun! These talented junior writers were super keen to learn the craft of editing.
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| Junior Finalists |
And the proof of all that hard work is the beautiful publication of the inaugural Junior Redlitzer Anthology.
The elegant Launch and Gala Event at the Victoria Point Library last Saturday, with lots of non-alcoholic fizz in fancy glasses; scrumptious, waitered, finger food; signing tables for adults, teens and juniors; and the most divine floral arrangements, was simply the icing on the cake. All the finalists and winners wore their prettiest frocks and smartest shirts. For the kids it was a grown-up moment they will never forget and a good example of a city council and library supporting (for all ages) the importance of the Arts and their place in the community.
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| The juniors' signing table |
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| Louise Cusack congratulating the newly published authors |
Thank you Victoria Point Librarians for your wonderful organisation. You shine so bright!
Well done, Redlands!
6 comments:
It was a wonderful evening and lovely to see you there, Angela.
What a wonderful thing to do, Angela. You would have been an inspiring mentor.
It looks such a happy evening!
Alison
Wonderful to see so many carefully crafted and creative minds in the making!
Thanks, Alison, Rowena and Dimity. I received some lovely feedback from one of my mentees and her mother. And I'm so excited that she placed 2nd and another placed 1st! They were so talented it was a joy.
What a wonderful initiative - and how exciting to be a part of it! No wonder you ALL had fun!
Thanks, Kat,
You can read more about the night and the efforts that the Redland City and Libary go to to support their writers here on Louise Cusack's blog:
http://louisecusack.wordpress.com/2013/10/12/redlitzer-awards-2013-encouraging-grass-roots-writing/
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