Counting down to your summer holiday? I know I am, well here's the chance to test out your postcard writing skills before you jet off. Forget about telling Aunt Mavis about the lovely weather though, this is a chance to be really creative.
Inspired by the Royal College of Art's annual display and auction of postcard-sized original artworks, Waterstone's asked thirteen well-loved authors from around the world to write an original piece of work, on a blank postcard. Now members of the public can have a go too with two adults and one child being chosen to appear in a book alongside the author's cards.
A Waterstone's spokesperson said: "With over 30,000 books the average Waterstone’s has a lot of stories to tell. But we want more. They say everyone has a story in them, so let it out!"
So do you fancy being in the same book as J K Rowling, Michael Rosen, Doris Lessing, Nick Hornby, Sebastian Faulks, Tom Stoppard, Irvine Welsh, Neil Gaiman, Margaret Atwood, Lauren Child, Richard Ford, Lisa Appignanesi and Axel Scheffler? Me too!
To take part you can either download, print and scan your postcard or work on one online. There is no word count but your piece must fit on the postcard. You can illustrate your postcard too so they can see excalty how you want your work to look when its published on the Waterstone's gallery. Postcards may also be chosen to feature in store window displays alongside copies of the author's cards.
The national winners aged over 18 will also win an Arvon Writing Course and winners under 18 will receive £500 of Waterstone’s vouchers.
Rules include only one story card entry per person and entries must be previously unpublished.
Entries must be received by June 19, 2008.
The author's cards will be sold by Waterstone's at the What's Your Story? charity auction in aid of English PEN and Dyslexia Action and their stories will be available to read online from June 11.
Ann Campbell, Communications Director, Dyslexia Action said:"Campaigns like What's Your Story? are vital in raising awareness of dyslexia. Books and stories are often closed to the 10% of the population affected by dyslexia. The money and attention raised will help these adults and children find a new and lasting interest in reading and writing. Please tell us your story."
For more details visit www.waterstoneswys.com/
* Update: My 'What's Your Story' entry 'An Island' is now on the Waterstone's website gallery. Let me know what you think and don't forget you can post a comment to tell blog readers about your entry.
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