12 NOVEMBER 1988, Page 45

SPECTATOR

Write your own success story . . .

The Spectator Young Writer Awards protide a unique opportunity - not only to have your writing talent recognised, hut to be launched on a career in jountaltIsm. Ifyou win, your entry will be published in The Spectator and you will receive a three month writing contract during which you will be commissioned to write further articles.

The winner and runnels-up will also receive .L1,900 in cash prizes and 11,500 worth of books, kindly donated by Ha/chards the Booksellers. The competition asks promising young writers to write an article of fewer than 2,000 words on a subject of their choice. So if you are imaginative, resourceful and under 25, take this chance to see your work published.

Why not make these awards your ticket to success.

How to enter

Simply write an article on a subject oJ)'ullr choicejbr publication in The SpeCtator.

The judges will be looking for a clear, well written article showing an imaginative choice of material There is no restrictiott on subject matter, but entrants are encouraged to Make use of their own particular interests and resources. The range ofsub/cc/s covered by The Spectator will provide a useful basis for ideas.

Prizes

First prize: the winning article be published in The Spectator andfurther articles will be commissioned and paidjOr during a three month writing contract. The winner will also receive £500 in cash and .4500 worth of books of his or her choo.sing Runners up: the second and third prize winners will receive £500 in cash and ,f.500 worth of books and n£250 iii cash and £250 worth of books respectively. There will be a special prize for the best entry from someone still at school on the closing date of the competition, of .5_200 in cash and 4200 worth of books of his or her choosing.

Allprizes will be presented at a special luncheon held at The Spectator. Winners will be able to choose books to the value of their prize money from Hatchards main branch in Piccadilly.

Rules

1. You must be under 25 on the closing date of the competition, 31stJanuary 1989. Your entry is welcome whether or not you are in higher education.

2. You are limited to 2,000 words, accompanied by your name, address and school/college (if applicable).

3. Entries will not be returned and no correspondence regarding them can be entered into.

4. Your entry must not have appeared in print before.

5. All entries must by typed. 6. Winners must comply with any publicity demands made in relation to their entry.

7. No employees of The Spectator or members of their families may enter this competition.

8. The judges will be Charles Moore, Editor of The Spectator, Dominic Lawson, Deputy Editor of The Spectator and Mark Amory, Literary Editor of The Spectator. The decision of the judges will be final.

9. Send your entry to: Young Writer Awards, The Spectator, 56 Doughty Street, London WC1N 2LL.