Calling all young authors and quaranTEEN writers!

Entries are open for the 2020 Australian Christian Teen Writer Award and Young Australian Christian Writer Award.

Do you know any budding young writers who will be encouraged by participating in this year’s SparkLit awards? Ask God to bring them to mind and share this opportunity with them.

Both awards discover and empower young unpublished authors and promote writing that kindles hope and points Australians to Christ. Winning works are written from the heart and incorporate personal experience. You can read extracts of previous successful entries on the SparkLit website. The 2020 winners will be announced in August. They will be judged with an eye for:

• Original nature of the work
• Literary style and suitability for the target audience
• Contribution of the work to a need for Christian writing in Australia.

Entries close on 31 May for both awards.

Australian Christian Teen Writer Award

$1,000 first prize for the best unpublished work by an Australian resident under 18 years of age

Suggested length: 3,000–5,000 words

http://sparklit.org/awards/australian-christian-teen-writer-award/

Young Australian Christian Writer Award

$2,500 first prize for the best unpublished manuscript by an Australian resident under 30 years of age

Suggested length: 10,000–30,000 words

http://sparklit.org/awards/young-australian-christian-writer-award/

These awards are administrated by SparkLit. SparkLit advances God’s kingdom by empowering Christian writers and publishers around the world. Where the gospel is preached, books are needed! We make Christian books available, accessible and affordable where commitment is strong but support and resources are scarce. We nurture emerging publishers, encourage local initiative and champion sustainable enterprises.

Here in Australia, there is also a need for Christian books that address our unique context.

Entries have already closed this year for the division of our awards devoted to published books. On 1 July we will release the shortlist for the 2020 Australian Christian Book of the Year Award, featuring a maximum of ten newly published books.

Please pray that this year’s shortlist and awards will celebrate and encourage the endeavours of Australian writers and publishers. Pray that authors like you will encourage Christians to be salt and light in their communities, shaping the consciousness of their fellow Australians.

And pray that young Christian writers will be mobilised to share their stories of hope.