Writing competition with chance to win book deal

CathyMoran

There is a writing competition on Ryan Tubridy's show with a chance to win a book deal - good luck everyone.


www.rte.ie/arts/2007/0425/tubridyr.html

"
Chance to win book deal on Tubridy show


RTÉ Radio 1's Tubridy Show and Gill & Macmillan have teamed up to offer a publishing deal worth €10,000 with Ireland's leading publisher.
The search is on for an unusual, human story with a strong Irish angle. It must be a true story, something a bit different, out of the ordinary.
The competition will be officially launched on The Tubridy Show on Tuesday 01 May and will run for two weeks.

A telephone line will be open for entrants to leave a three minute message outlining their true story. Entries will be judged by a panel comprising The Tubridy Show, a leading author, Gill & Macmillan and a bookseller.

The short-listed entrants will be interviewed by Ryan Tubridy before the overall winner will be announced the week of 21 May and later presented with a publishing contract. A ghost-writer will be available to work with the winner on their story.

Ryan Tubridy said: "Nearly everyone in Ireland believes they have a book in them. They certainly have a story to tell, we all do, and that's what we're trying to tap into with this competition.
You can call the competition line on 1520 501 650. Lines strictly open Tuesday 01 May - Tuesday 15 May.
For terms and conditions visit: www.rte.ie/radio1/thetubridyshow "

Note: Calls to the above number are charged at 15 cents per minute from Irish landlines. Call charges from mobile phones may vary.

silvine

You've to leave an outline of your idea on an answering machine on a premium rate number. This seems like a bit of an RTE money spinner?

Has anyone entered yet? The prize is pretty sweet..

CathyMoran

I plan on entering - have to revise what I originally planned to say as I ran it past one or two people who said that it needed revising but am going to enter it as I am writing a book in any case.

Dark Artist

The "true story" part certainly dampens the creativity. Hmmm... I'll see how kind my memories are to me.

EcoGirl

I wonder how much writing the winner will get to do, though - given that they have a ghost-writer on hand. It sounds to me like they just want your dramatic story, not your writing skills.

DeVore

Noone would believe half of my stories, lol

DeV.

Briony Noh

I'll be giving it a miss, (a) because I'm a writer not a diarist and (b) if Gill & Macmillan are interested in publishing a book I think I'd prefer it to go to them without the trappings of a competition.

I don't know if I'm total crap or what, but I never win competitions - though RTE did broadcast one of my non-placed entries once.

But that's just me.

CathyMoran

I just entered it - you only have 3 minutes to leave your name, telephone number and story. I may have said mine in too much of a hurry, I hope that they understood me. Good luck to all those entering.

schiz0phren1c

Damn it,
I'm half way through a book of true stories...
But they're all from Thailand and South East Asia.

supertramp

So beause someone had a chance of, say crossing Antartica, and I only went to Feckinvarna, that makes them a better story teller???

Pity RTE aren't creative.

hypercrawl

CathyMoran wrote: »

an unusual, human story with a strong Irish angle. It must be a true story, something a bit different]

Haven't we got past the 'true Irish story' phase yet? I know: My aged grannie told me the story of how she bought her house by selling shares in traditional industries at an inconvenient moment; but she made up for it by buying a house in the middle of what is now the IFSC and refusing to sell until the last minute. There was a bit of traditional death and a few pints supped (there might have been a banshee, a fact that I would neither confirm nor deny).
Anyway, the auld girl had a few euros but she bet most of them on the lads at the world cup - so lost the feckin lot.
And there's a moral - buy houses in the eighties, otherwise yer f......

owlwink

If you take yourself seriously as a writer, do you always want to be known as the guy who wrote the Tubridy book????????????

magnia

Yeah how has that skinny freak even got a show, dire show. This is as bad as X-factor as far as I am concerned. They should give Ryan the 10k and tell him to get some new suits, the ones he wears make him look like he is off to his confirmation and he is the 5th brother to have worn the suit.

silvine

I'm guessing you didn't win then, magnia..

owlwink

There is no winning in such a situation,this we both pointed out already.

trojan_horse

this idea smacks of euro star and the pop idols scheme (to make lots of money) isn't it strange to have to submit a verbal taster to whats ultimatley going to be a written piece?
why not e-mail the piece?
na! Tuberdys up to something here no doubt.

Forsaken1

magnia wrote: »

Yeah how has that skinny freak even got a show, dire show. This is as bad as X-factor as far as I am concerned. They should give Ryan the 10k and tell him to get some new suits, the ones he wears make him look like he is off to his confirmation and he is the 5th brother to have worn the suit.

Rofl :pac::pac::pac:

Matt Holck

I tried contests

I can't punch my way out of a paper bag

Isar

.. Isnt the comp. over?

Matt Holck

I won

I don't much like wandering solicitations
I'm going to write
if someone wants me to write for them
they know where to find me

holden c

I would imagine guys, although I may be corrected on this, that the theme of the competition has been determined by the publishing house. It is a win win situation for all because they basically buy the story, and RTE gets a boost in listenership. The theme is also pretty reflective of what the general public find interesting (or have been forced to find interesting); reality TV shows have been dominating prime TV slots for the past five years and if you check the best sellers list every week you will see titles from Jordan & Jeremy Clarkson dominate the charts over any qualtiy fiction or prose.
However, in saying all that, to get published is a big step for any budding writer so......
The Stinging Fly Comp (short story) is open until the end of the month. It has a 25K prize and plenty of kudos to boot!! Ann Enright won the last which was four years ago.
But then, we all just write for the love of it, right??

Best of luck!!!

Forsaken1

Consider that the book might have his mug on the cover or inlay sleeve.
That'll reduce entries by 66%:rolleyes:

busted flush

holden c wrote: »

But then, we all just write for the love of it, right??

yep