Make Your Own Story Book

Kirra Somerville with Anna Liscia and her published book, previously a winner in the Make Your Own Story Book Competition. © Gay Tierney

Contacts Sue Ruse --favesue@bigpond.net.au-- Ruth Nitschke -- ruthnitschke@yahoo.com.au-- 2009 Entry Form [PDF] No Year 9/10 category in 2008 Important Dates Hints for Teacher Librarians Make a book now [PDF] NOTE: This competition is only open to WA residents.

Other Local Young Writers' Competitions

• Competitions organised by Public Libraries in Western Australia
• The West Australian Newspaper organises the annual Young Writers' Contest as part of their Newspapers in Education program

Important Dates 2008

Hints for Teacher Librarians

• Promote the Competition at a staff meeting early in First Term.
• Talk to interested teachers on an individual basis. Make sure both you and they understand the conditions. There may be changes from year to year.
• Make the school closing date a week earlier so you can check the books entering the competition. Check that all details on the entry form are correct.
• To ensure the originality of the work, encourage staff to ensure students complete the final draft of the story at school.
• Ask for a photograph of the student at the end of Term 1. This gives parents the holidays to obtain a suitable one.
• Whiteboard different methods of layout: including dedication, title page, opening sentences, endings, author's biographical details.
• Have a book launch for successful entries, remembering 10 per class may be submitted. Each class may prefer to have its own launch.
• Type in your school's details on the entry form before photocopying it for each teacher. Have spare photocopied entry forms ready for last minute entries.
• Encourage students to share their books with their peers and choose some for reading aloud to the class.
• To complete a book is a big achievement - celebrate it!
• Publicise the Competition in the school newsletter and request and thank parents for their cooperation and support.
• Advise the local community newspaper if your student is a placegetter - it helps if you write the article and request a photographer.
• Students may put hours and hours into their books. Encourage teachers to have a timeline on the board to help students pace themselves, so that the process is challenging not pressurised.
• In the first week of Term 2, remind all teachers of the closing date. See that it is written in the school calendar.