A much loved Australian novel inspired this year’s theme for Otago’s annual writing competition.
The University’s annual creative writing competition opens for entries today, with the theme: The Getting of Wisdom.
Writer 2023 is open to Otago staff, students and alumni, with each invited to submit one entry – either a poem or a short story – inspired by the theme.
One of the competition’s organisers, Nicola Cummins, a Senior Teaching Fellow in the English and Linguistics Programme, says this year’s theme “The Getting of Wisdom,” borrowed from Henry Handel Richardson’s famous Australian novel, will allow contestants to explore the universally appreciated quality of wisdom and the process of its acquisition.
“We imagine writers will deal with wisdom in many different contexts and the emotional resonances of making tricky choices, overcoming challenges, and transacting moral dilemmas will encourage empathetic and authentic responses.”
The competition was established in 2019 as part of the University’s 150th celebrations and proved to be very popular.
This year’s judge is Kathryn van Beek, a New Zealand writer and editor, and the 2023 University of Otago Burns Fellow. Van Beek won the Mindfood Short Story Competition and the Headland Prize, she has a collection of short stories, Pet, which is also is available as a podcast, and she is published in Overland, akahe, Newsroom, The Spinoff, and the Sunday Star-Times. She lives with Bruce, a famous cat about whom she’s written two books: Bruce Finds a Home and Bruce Goes Outside.
“We’re thrilled to have a writer of Kathryn’s scope and experience judging the 2023 Writing Competition,” Ms Cummins says.
Co-organiser University Publications Editor Lisa Dick says the competition always highlights the depth of writing talent within Otago’s staff, student and alumni communities.
“We’re really excited to read the entries again this year.”
The winning entries will be published across multiple platforms, including print and radio, as well as via social media.
The competition opens for entries on 17 July and closes at midnight on Monday 11 September. Winners will be announced on Thursday 12 October.
The competition is supported by University Book Shop, Otago University Press, Dunedin City of Literature, Otago Access Radio, and the Otago Daily Times – with prizes for each of the category winners.
Further information can be found here and below.
Further information
Further information can be found below or on the English and Linguistics programme website: Writer 2023: Creative writing competition for staff, students and alumni
Who can enter?
The competition is open to all staff, students and alumni of the University of Otago.
What’s the deadline?
Entries are due on or before midnight on Monday 11 September.
How do I submit a story or poem?
Email your entry as an attached word document to:
Can I submit any story or poem?
Short stories and poems must relate in some way to the competition’s writing prompt: “The Getting of Wisdom”.
What is the word limit?
Poems can be of any length (within reason), stories must be no more than 2,500 words (though we stress this is an absolute maximum not an aim, any length up to 2,500 will be accepted).
How many entries can I submit?
Just one entry per person across poetry or short fiction, student, staff or alumni categories. You must choose which of the six categories suits you best.
Stories and poems must be original and previously unpublished (entries will be run through the University’s plagiarism checking system Turnitin).
Can my entry be in te reo Māori?
Yes. However, to assist the judge it would be helpful if you included a translation into English.
Who is the judge?
Writer Kathryn van Beek [https://www.kathrynvanbeek.co.nz/] backed up by a small support team which will include Otago Publications Editor Lisa Dick and English and Linguistics Programme Teaching Fellow Nicola Cummins.
Are you happy for us to print and use your poem or story?
By entering, you grant permission for us to post your writing to the University website and Facebook page and other social media, and for your writing to be printed by external media and on posters around campus if selected as a winner in this year’s competition.
Still have questions?
Please contact the competition team:
Good luck!