Tuesday 13 April 2010

Rowan Coleman's Short Story Competition.

My writing career started after I won a short story writing competition in Company Magazine. A lot of people don't believe that that's what started it, because prior to entering that competition I worked in bookselling and then publishing for the best part of a decade. You must have had help, people think. Its all about the people you know, others say. But the truth was that even though I worked around books all that time, and even though I wrote in my spare time, if anything, working in publishing put me off trying to write professionally because I saw how hard it was to get published back then, and then how hard it was to stay published. And if it was hard then its nearly impossible now.

I was an Editorial Manager for Ebury Press, my job consisted of managing data, inputting ISBNs, commissioning artwork and chasing editors for stuff they should have done but hadn't. As a consequence I'd spot an editor at their desk across the office and invariably, between me setting off and arriving they'd vanish into thin air (or underneath a desk). It wasn't a job that made me popular....but still, I enjoyed it. I liked my little office (when I started I literally in a cupboard, but time I left I'd got moved to one that a window that overlooked a brick wall) and I liked the people. I learnt a lot about publishing there and I think I would have quite happily have stayed in that job and moved on in publishing without ever really having the guts to try and write professionally myself. And then I accidentally entered a short story competition.

One of the good things about my job was that nobody understood it, especially the data management bit, so I could quite happily shut the door of my office and get on with writing, whilst pretending I was ever so busy and that it was all really hard. One morning I was flicking through a copy of Company Magazine when I came across the competition. The story could be about anything you liked, it had to be 2000 words long. And that was it. I glanced around, it looked liked everyone was hiding from me, I was up-to-date with all my work so I thought, why not. I thought I'd give it a go, even though at that stage I wasn't really serious about sending it in. I came up with a story about a parallel universe where women aspired to be fat. No matter how she tried, my main character just couldn't put in weight, and so never felt attractive. I finished it, read it through, corrected all the mistakes I spotted (which weren't nearly all of them) and on an impulse put it in an envelope and sent it off to Company. Then I forgot about it.

I'm not sure how many months went by, but I think it was about four. And then one Saturday morning I woke up to the sound of a letter dropping through the door. I was a bit confused to see the logo for Company on the letter head, I wondered if I'd applied to a job and this was a rejection letter....then my eyes focused and I read the letter. It was telling me I'd won their Young Writer of the Year Competition. I'd actually won it...out of several thousand entrants, they'd picked me to win. My prize was the have the story printed in the magazine, a years worth supply of books and lunch with a publisher and agent. As you can imagine I was very excited. I danced about a lot, called everyone I knew...who congratulated me and then reminded me that it was only 8.30 on a Saturday morning. But still, even then I didn't really think it would lead to anything.

I duly went off and a very nice lunch with the then editor of Company, Sam Baker, the publisher in question and a charming agent at The Ivy. It was very exciting, all I remember at the time the most exciting thing was being in the next cubicle from Lulu in the ladies (is that wrong?) I had a very nice lunch and lot of really amazing feedback and advice. And it made think for the first that maybe, just maybe, I could be writer.

Lunch at the the Ivy with (almost) Lulu aside, what winning that competition really did for me was to give me confidence to try. I've met a lot of aspiring writers in the last nine years who have asked me what my top tip for getting published is and I always say write, because if you don't write you've got no chance. But apart from that, and essential component you need is the confidence to try.

I would really love to give the same opportunities I had to another aspiring writer out there which is why I've decided to run my very own short story competition to celebrate the forthcoming publication of my eight novel THE HAPPY HOME FOR BROKEN HEARTS.

My latest novel is about young widow Ellen Woods who's sheltered life as a wife and mother comes crashing to an end when her beloved husband is killed in an accident. Faced with financial ruin the only way Ellen can keep a roof over her and her eleven year old son, Charlie's head, is to take in lodgers.

In a matter or weeks Ellen's safe little world is changed beyond recognition and she's faced with the prospect of starting over again, and finding the strength to move on.

And so if you want to enter ROWAN COLEMAN'S SHORT STORY COMPETITION I'd like you write a story of 1000 words approximate on the theme of 'Starting Over.'


It must be a completely new and original work that has not previously been published, even on your blog. This is a competition for aspiring, as yet unpublished writers who do no have a contract or an agent.

and now for the bit I'm really excited about - the prizes!!

FIRST PRIZE: 3 months creative writing online mentoring from Rowan Coleman, Tea and Cakes at Random House Publishing with Arrow Publishing Director Kate Elton and Rowan Coleman, a letter of introduction and agent feedback from David Higham Associates, £100 to spend on Random House books, your story to be published on Rowan Coleman's blog/website and a signed copy of THE HAPPY HOME FOR BROKEN HEARTS.

SECOND PRIZE: 1 months creative writing online mentoring from Rowan Coleman, £50 book vouchers to spend on Random House books and the story to be posted on my blog and a signed copy of THE HAPPY HOME FOR BROKEN HEARTS.

THIRD PRIZE: £25 Worth of vouchers to spend on Random House books and the story to be posted on my website and a signed copy of THE HAPPY HOME FOR BROKEN HEARTS.

ALSO five runners up prizes each winning a signed copy THE HAPPY HOME FOR BROKEN HEARTS.

The competition will be judges by Rowan Coleman, Lucy Diamond, Cally Taylor, Tamsyn Murray and Caroline Smailes. Rowan Coleman will have the final decision.

All entries MUST be sent to rowanswritingcomp@btinternet.com


PLEASE READ THESE RULES CAREFULLY!



By entering ROWAN COLEMAN'S SHORT STORY COMPETITION, you agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions;

1. Competition closing date is FRIDAY 16TH JULY 2010. Entries received after this date will not be entered into the competition. The promoter does not accept any responsibility for lost or late entries. Proof of sending will not be accepted as proof of receipt.

2. Only entries received by e-mail will be accepted. Entries will not be returned. Send your fictional story of no more than 1000 words on the theme of ''Starting Over” to:

rowanswritingcomp@btinternet.com


Your story must be sent in a word attachment and will be scanned for viruses and bugs before it is opened. Your document must be double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font and pages must be numbered. Please include the title but NOT your name on your story. Please attach a separate cover sheet that includes the following: the title of your story, word count, your name, address, email address and telephone number. Only entries will be accepted at this e-mail address, no other correspondence will be read.
*

The competition is only open to residents of the UK and Ireland who have not had a novel or short story collection published and/or do not have a publishing contract. Only one entry per person will be accepted.
*

You warrant that your story is original to you and does not infringe the legal right of any other party. You warrant that your story has not previously been published in print, on the internet or in any other format throughout the world.
*

Entries will be read anonymously by Rowan Coleman, Lucy Diamond, Cally Taylor, Tamsyn Murray and Caroline Smailes who will provide a short-list of twenty stories. Rowan Coleman will make the final decision and select three prizewinners (1st, 2nd and 3rd) and five runners up. The results of the competition will be posted on this blog by August 19th 2010.
*

The winning three stories will be published on this blog where they will remain online at the discretion of Rowan Coleman. Copyright in the stories will be retained by the authors who grant to the promoter a non-exclusive licence to use extracts from the work to publicise and promote the competition, the website, Rowan Coleman and/or “The Happy Home for Broken Hearts”.
*

All prize winners will be contacted by email by 19th August 2010. The prize winners must respond within 14 days to accept their prize. (FIRST PRIZE: 3 months creative writing online mentoring from Rowan Coleman, Tea and Cakes at Random House Publishing with Arrow Publishing Director Kate Elton and Rowan Coleman, a letter of introduction and agent feedback from David Higham Associates, £100 to spend on Random House books, your story to be published on Rowan Coleman's blog/website and a signed copy of THE HAPPY HOME FOR BROKEN HEARTS. SECOND PRIZE: 1 months creative writing online mentoring from Rowan Coleman, £50 book vouchers to spend on Random House books and the story to be posted on my blog and a signed copy of THE HAPPY HOME FOR BROKEN HEARTS. THIRD PRIZE: £25 Worth of vouchers to spend on Random House books and the story to be posted on my website and a signed copy of THE HAPPY HOME FOR BROKEN HEARTS.) No cash alternatives to these prizes will be made available.
*

Prize winners attending a one-on-one consultation will be required to take up their prize before 31 December 2010 and to pay for their own transportation to Random House. The date of the one-on-one consultation will be arranged by Rowan Coleman. Alternatively, a phone appointment may be arranged for prize winners unable to travel to the promoter.
*

Entering or winning the competition does not guarantee an offer of representation from David Higham Associates or publication by the Random House Group.
*

The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. A full list of judges and prize winners may be made available on request.
*

The promoter reserves the right to withdraw or amend this competition at any time without notice.
*

The promoter is Rowan Coleman in association with Random House
20 Vauxhall Bridge Rd
London SW1v 2SA

45 comments:

Jenny Beattie said...

*Sigh* What a wonderful opportunity. I just wish I didn't live in Thailand.

Rowan Coleman said...

Sorry JJ, if this one goes well I'm going to do an international one.

Tamsyn Murray said...

This is such a awesome prize, Rowan. Someone is going to be very lucky indeed :)

Caroline said...

Can I come for cake? I look forward to reading the entries. x

Amber Kirk-Ford said...

Sounds exciting!!! Can 11 year olds enter?

JaneyV said...

Rowan - this is the most amazing and generous competition. Excellent prompt too - I think you're going to get some goodies!

Rachel Green said...

Not sure what the last chap was promoting* but what an opportunity! I actually started writing a story for it (I have no agent) until I spotted 'aspiring'! hehe.

Good luck to those entering.

*This only makes sense of the previous comment (which I guessed was spam) hasn't been deleted.

Rowan Coleman said...

Thanks guys - please help me spread the word, I really want as many people as possible to find out about the comp!xxx

Karen said...

I never thought I'd be happy to say I'm not eligible to enter!!

It sounds like a wonderful opportunity for a lucky writer :o)

Colette McCormick said...

Great prize. I'm sure there'll be loads of entries.

lizzie-shiftfifty.blogspot said...

Love it - so positive and encouraging. I just wish I wasn't leaving the UK in June. Dammit.

Keris Stainton said...

It's an amazing competition and I love the sound of your prize-winning, life-changing short story, Rowan. Is it available anywhere?

Rowan Coleman said...

only in a back issue of Company Keris!! I lost the original some years ago, I'm sorry to say. If I can find it thought I will post it here.x

Lorna F said...

You describe the disbelieving joy of winning so well - no wonder you want to give somebody else that fairy tale moment. It's a good deed in a fallen world, Rowan! Great prizes - I'm sure you're going to see some very interesting stories.

Mrs Darling said...

A fabulous competition and amazing opportunity for the lucky winners, thankyou. I remember reading about you in Company and wishing it could be me...so time to get my thinking cap on!

Sharni said...

My entry is in :)

Patsy said...

What a wonderful opportunity!

Could you please clarify one point - are people who've had short stories published (but no novels) able to enter?

Rowan Coleman said...

Hi Patsy - short stories published in magazines, as winners of pervious competitions or as part of a collection, but not an entire collection of your own stories. And most importantly you must not have a contract or agent now.

Patsy said...

Great - thanks!

Rowan Coleman said...

Hi Alena - thanks for you comment!x

Downith said...

Rowan,

What an inspiring story. I've vowed to write a short story this month as part of the grass roots National Short Story Month** movement. Now I have my topic!!

Downith

** - see www.writeitdownith.blogspot.com

Heather said...

Can you extend the competition to the Commonwealth?

Heather said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Laura Rachel Fox said...

Yes, please do an international contest. Characters are already scratching to get out of my head. I got ahead of myself and began hoping before I saw the resident restrictions.

Thanks for sharing the encouraging story of your beginnings as a writer. I may write the story anyway, just for the practice and because if I don't, these characters will continue to stalk me.

Rowan Coleman said...

Hi guys - I would love to make this an international contest - and hopefully a yearly event. But as this is my first go, I can only keep in in the UK and Ireland at present. I do feel your pain and I have been admonished by many non uk residents for the restriction! But in the mean time if you fancy working your writing muscles I have a weekly competition open to everyone on my facebook page - the link is on this blog. Every Friday write a short story in 420 characters or less and post in your status and on my page so that the whole world can see it! There are a weekly top three and some prizes, but most of all its lots of fun.xxx

Administrator said...

It's a great competition, thanks for this. Although i'm not sure what chance totally unpublished, aspiring writers have, up against professional short story writers who regularly have their stories published by magazines. It's difficult to find comptitions which are geared up for those still trying to get their first break!

Still, it's all good practice:)

Good luck everyone.

Sam

Lily Childs said...

Hi Rowan

Thanks for inviting us all to enter your exciting competition.

Can I just check, I have had many stories published online but only this week had stories accepted into two US anthologies. I had to sign an 'anthology contract' for each, but don't have a personal or professional contract with an agent or publisher, which is what I assume you are referring to in your rules?

I look forward to entering!

Sheila, Canary Islands said...

Thanks for doing this, even though I can't enter.

[Sigh] Nobody ever has competitions just for residents of itty-bitty islands. I'd love it if you did an international one later. But thanks for enlarging the cake.

Katherine Moriarty said...

Hi Rowan,

Like Lily Childs, I have been signed into the similar US anthology contract, and wondered if this counted as part of your rules, and also, is there an age restriction as I am fed up with being underage for competitions.

Hopefully look forward to entering!

Pixie

christine said...

How exciting - I shall enter as soon as I've created my masterpiece!

Thank you for giving someone else the opportunity to experience that same thrill that you had:)

Call in for a chat with me! Christine's Chatter is at:-
http://cadugdale.blogspot.com

christine said...

to Pixie J King - I hate to say it, but, somehow in this life, we're seldom the "right" age!! We end up wishing our lives away, hurrying ourselves along until we become the perfect age, only to discover that our aspirations have changed, and so has the age requirement:(

C'est la vie! Enjoy each day, you'll soon be old enough for so much more:)

Call in for a chat with me! Christine's Chatter is at :-
http://cadugdale.blogspot.com

Ladyhihi said...

Rowan - this is the most amazing and generous competition. Excellent prompt too - I think you're going to get some goodies!


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thanh tung said...

Thank you for giving someone else the opportunity to experience that same thrill that you had:)
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anhkuzit said...

It's a great competition, thanks for this. Although i'm not sure what chance totally unpublished, aspiring writers have, up against professional short
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I never thought I'd be happy to say I'm not eligible to enter!!

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