Metro Éireann and Duke University’s Kenan Institute of Ethics have announced their third annual intercultural writing competition.

Over €3,000 in prizes are up for grabs in the contest that invites young writers living in Ireland to submit individual works of writing, whether short fiction or poetry.

Announcing the 2017 competition, project co-ordinator Bill McCarthy said: “Writers between the ages of 14 and 21 – immigrants and non-immigrants – are encouraged to enter submissions that explore the ethical challenges associated with intercultural diversity in Ireland.

“Submissions are due by midnight on 30 July 2017 and may take one of three forms: a short story of no more than 2,000 words, a novel extract of no more than 2,000 words, or a selection of poetry comprising no more than five poems.”

Cash prizes for a winner (€800) and runner-up (€400) will be awarded in three categories: 14 to 17, 18 to 21 and a Spirit of Intercultural Ethics prize for ages 14 to 21. The winning submissions may also be published in Metro Éireann later this year.

Judges will select winners and runners-up according to a list of criteria that includes engagement with the themes of ethics and intercultural diversity, creativity and originality, organisation and structure, impact on the reader, and initiative of beginning writers. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony scheduled for Friday 4 August.
All submissions must be typed in 12-point Times New Roman and double-spaced, and send to info@metroeireann.com with the entrant’s full name and the word ‘Submission’ in the subject line. 

Each submission should include a cover page with the entrant’s name, age, address and telephone number. The cover page should also include details about the entry, such as its age category and title.

Workshop sessions will also be held in Dublin for entrants seeking guidance with their writing. Dates for those sessions are yet to be announced but booking will be first come, first served.

For more information, visit Facebook.com/MetroEireann or email info@metroeireann.com. Alternatively you may contact Bill McCarthy at 087 160 5950 or Chinedu Onyejelem at 01 878 3441 weekdays between 10am and 5pm.