Travel Writing Competition

Entries are invited for the 6th annual Alexander Cordell Literature Competition.

It’s fifty years since Alexander Cordell’s international best seller – Rape of the Fair Country – was published in 1959, putting the tiny iron and coal town of Blaenavon on the international map.

In this anniversary year, we invite aspiring and accomplished writers to submit a piece of travel writing which will place Cordell Country on the world travel map.

Cordell loved to tell stories about the Valleys of South Wales. Follow in his footsteps or find your own forgotten landscape to write about. Tell us a travel story that will inspire people to visit this special part of Wales - a story about people and places celebrating history and culture.

Note for Entrants

Cordell honed his own writing skills by entering a competition in 1957, run by the South Wales Argus, which offered a prize for 'the most interesting literary project'. His submission, 'Life among the Ironworkers of Garndyrus and Blaenavon', was the basis of Rape of the Fair Country. It seems only fitting that 50 years later he should be remembered through a competition which encourages a new generation of writers to look more closely at South Wales.

For the purpose of this competition Cordell Country is defined as stretching across the South Wales Valleys from Monmouthshire in the East to the Neath Valley in the West, from Caerphilly in the South to the Brecon Beacons in the North.

Judges

We are delighted that this year the judges will include the Cardiff–based travel writer, photographer and painter Patricia Aithie. She is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers and a fellow of The Royal Geographical Society. South Wales Argus journalist Mike Buckingham completes the judging team.

Closing date for entries is 31st May 2009
Prizes
1st Prize £500, 2nd Prize £300, 3rd Prize £150 (and publication)

For information about Cordell Country, The Cordell Country Tours, The Blaenafon Heritage and Cordell Museum or the Blaenavon World Heritage Site call 01495 742333.

How to Enter

If you would like a copy of the Cordell Country Literature Competition entry form simply click here to download a PDF version of the form or email us with your details.

NOTE: You will need Adobe Reader to view/print the competition entry form. This comes as standard on most machines. If you have any problems opening the PDF file you can download Adobe Reader FREE of charge from http://www.adobe.com.

Attach your completed entry form to your manuscript with payment and send to:

The Alexander Cordell Travel Writing Competition 2009, Blaenavon World Heritage Centre, Church Road, Blaenavon, Torfaen NP4 9AS

Closing date for entries is 31st May 2009

Email us:
blaenavon.tic@torfaen.gov.uk

Rules

Entry:

1. Entries must be the original, unpublished work of the author and no more than 1500 words.
2. Entries must be typed in double-spacing on one side of A4 paper only.
3. All entries are judged anonymously. No covering letter or other material should be enclosed with your entry. The name of the entrant must not appear on the manuscript which should be firmly attached to the entry form.
4. Entries will only be accepted when accompanied by an entry form (forms may be photocopied) and £3 entry fee.
5. Cheques and postal orders in sterling only should be made payable to Torfaen County Borough Council.
6. No entries can be returned.
7. Receipt of your entry will only be acknowledged if a SAE marked ACKNOWLEDGEMENT is enclosed.

Judging:

1. The competition deadline is 31 May 2009.
2. The winners will be decided by a panel of judges. Their decision is final and no correspondence can be entered into regarding that decision. The organisers reserve the right to change the panel of judges without notice and not to award prizes if in the opinion of the judges such action is justified.
3. The list of prize winners will be placed on the Cordell Country website www.cordellcountry.org. If you wish to receive a list of prize winners enclose a separate stamped addressed envelope marked PRIZE WINNERS.
4. Winners will be announced in July 2009. All winners will be personally notified in July 2009. Winning manuscripts will be published on the Cordell Country website www.cordellcountry.org and in other suitable tourist/ travel media as appropriate.

Copyright

Copyright will remain with the competitor, but the authors of the winning entries will grant Cordell Country the right to publish or broadcast manuscripts for one year from 30th July 2009. Other use of the manuscript during this period will be subject to the permission of Cordell Country organisers. Submission of an entry implies the competitor’s acceptance of the conditions detailed here.

We would like to thank our supporters: Capital Region Tourism and the County and Borough Councils of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Rhondda Cynon Taff and Torfaen.

‘The work of Alexander Cordell - and the passion for the valleys around Blaenavon that he displayed in his writing - is clearly a continuing inspiration to others. I’m sure that the Cordell Writing Competition can now go on to become one of the premier writing prizes in the UK.’  Frank Barrett, Travel Editor The Mail On Sunday