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VATE is excited to launch our 2024 writing competition A Story in Miniature. Students in Years 7 to 12 and their teachers are invited to submit a story between 300 and 500 words in length inspired by the writing competition theme.

"Short stories do no say this happened and this happened and this happened. They are a microcosm and a magnification rather than a linear progression." - Isobelle Carmody

We encourage students and teachers to find inspiration from the miniature stories that make up their daily life - the small interactions and delightful tidbits that make up their day - and transform them, with brevity, into a piece of polished prose. What could a story in miniature be?

A moment in time. A short interaction between friends. A vignette depicting the future. A portrait of daily life at home. A slice of an imagined world. A snapshot into another life. A glimpse of the past.

Yellow Submarine Sarah told her friends she'd rather die than go away with her stupid family. She said she'd prefer to make out with some creepy dude with bad breath than endure, for two whole weeks, her brother's surliness, her dad's relentless optimism, her mum's jeans. The morning they pulled out, the sun igniting the dew on their lawn, she stared out of her window and contemplated the vast pointlessness of everything. Thirteen kilometres later, she caught herself humming along to Yellow Submarine on the radio, then noticed her father watching her through the rear-view mirror. He winked. She may have smiled.© Paul Connolly (Text Publishing)

There are four categories available in the competition. Schools may submit up to five entries in each of the categories.

Years 7 and 8 students | Years 9 and 10 students | Years 11 and 12 students | Teachers

Each entry must be accompanied by a completed entry form and emailed to writingcompetition@vate.org.au by 4pm on Friday 20 September 2024. Entries without a completed entry form will not be considered. The winners of each category will receive a $150 book voucher, and their stories will be published in Idiom. The runners up will receive a book package from our competition supporters.

"It's possible, in a poem or a short story, to write about commonplace things and objects using commonplace but precise language, and to endow those things - a chair, a window curtain, a fork, a stone, a woman's earring - with immense, even startling power." 

- Raymond Carver

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This September, The Portsea Camp is hosting a Teen Creative Writer's Camp, led by the award-winning author Andrea Rowe. This weekend camp is designed to turbocharge teenagers' academic and creative prowess through the captivating power of storytelling and dynamic creative expression.

Creative Minds Unite: Dive into the Pages of Our Creative Writer's Camp!

• When: Friday, September 20th (5-6pm Drop Off) to Sunday, September 22nd (11:30am Pick Up and Story Showcase)
• Where: The Portsea Camp
• Cost: $400 for the weekend (Drop off only)
• Limited Spots: Only 50 places available!

Why This Camp is a Must for Creative Teens:

• Led by Andrea Rowe: Learn from an award-winning children's author.
• Master Writing Techniques: Explore various writing styles, techniques, and structures.
• Expand Creative Boundaries: Engage in dynamic writing prompts and exercises.
• Express Themselves: Use writing to express thoughts, feelings, and personal experiences.
• Build a Supportive Community: Make lasting friendships with fellow writers.
• Showcase Creativity: Celebrate their work in a writer's showcase.

Real-Life Skills: Enhance communication, problem-solving abilities, and creativity.