Today is all about the John Marsden Prize for Young Australian Writers because we’re happy to announce that entries are now open! 

Head over to our website for all the usual information on submitting your best poem, short story of first chapter of a novel. As always, the generous cash prizes are on offer, as is the chance to be judged by a legend of Australian writing, Mr John Marsden himself, and to be published in Voiceworks magazine.

In honour of this announcement, we’re taking a look at some of the magic from John Marsden Prize winners of the past.

On the Virgule blog, two previous winners of the prize have talked about what winning the prize meant to them; Anders Villani, winner of the over 18 poetry prize in 2010 and Ruby Murray, winner of the 2005 over 18 fiction prize (who has since gone on to publish her first novel, Running Dogs).

For a special treat, watch an incredibly young under 18 poetry winner from 2010, Rory Burg, read his winning poem at the Express Media Awards.

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Opportunities and Events

On June 22 a talented bunch of Footscray Primary School students will launch 10 radio plays they have created with the help of Express Media, SYN FM and 100 Story Building. If you are in Melbourne and would like to attend from 11am-1pm at Footscray Community Arts Centre contact lach(at)100storybuilding(dot)com(dot)au.

Realise Your Dream 2013 is now open! This is a whopper of a prize, so check out all the details on the website. Applications close on July 28.

Storytellers on the Sunshine Coast can look forward to the Now Hear This event in Noosa tomorrow night. Why not get up and tell your own story on the theme of ‘the first time’? More information on the Facebook event page.

The Brisbane Writers Festival is coming up in September, and the callout for volunteers and interns has opened. This is a fantastic opportunity to get experience in one of the best literary festivals in Australia. Check out the volunteer and intern pages for more details. The internships in particular start soon, so get your applications in asap.

Today’s quote is from Mr Marsden himself

Writing is not a job or activity. Nor do I sit at a desk writing for inspiration to strike. Writing is like a different kind of existence. In my life, for some of the time, I am in an alternative world, which I enter through day-dreaming or imagination. That world seems as real to me as the more tangible one of relationships and work, cars and taxes. I don’t know that they’re much different from each other – John Marsden

And today’s poll is an all important question…

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