Calling All Budding Writers

(Written for The London Library and published on The National Student)

Do you want your work published in a national paper such as The Times? Well, here’s how you can get your foot on the ladder…

The London Library is working with The Times and FreshMinds to offer The London Library Student Prize, a writing competition open to all final year undergraduates studying at higher education institutions in the UK.

The London Library is looking to discover the next generation of writers, thinkers and opinion formers. It doesn’t matter what you are studying, or where you are studying for that matter, as long as you have an opinion and you want to get it heard.

The theme of the competition is, “The future of Britain lies with the right-hand side of the brain”, with the only guideline being that your piece should be no longer than 800 words.

Students from all degrees are encouraged to enter and the winner will be the entrant whose work demonstrates creativity, clarity and originality of thought, and confident handling of the subject matter.

The judging panel, who will decide the winner, includes journalist and Chairman of The London Library Trustees Bill Emmott, The Times Deputy Books Editor Tom Gatti, actress and author Sheila Hancock OBE, FreshMinds’ Head of Marketing Sophie Murray and The Times Books Editor Erica Wagner.

This judging panel will select a shortlist of four entries, to be announced in April 2012, with the winner from this shortlist to be announced in June 2012.

The winning piece will be published in the comment pages of The Times and in The London Library Magazine, and a prize of £5000.

Three runner-ups will also be offered £1000 each, the chance to spend some time with journalists at The Times in a mini-internship, 1 year’s subscription to The Times and 1 year’s membership to The London Library.

Matthew Smylie, 3rd Year Journalism student at University College Falmouth has already submitted his entry. He says, “It seemed like a great opportunity for me to exert a little creativity, with set boundaries and one with a fantastic prize.”

This is a great opportunity for all students, to expose their talent to thousands of readers, no matter what your degree.

The deadline for entries is midnight on 12th January 2012, and for further information and to enter visit www.londonlibrarystudentprize.com