Win with 2009 Wild Writing Competition

The John Muir Trust announced today that it is accepting entries for the 2009 Wild Writing Competition at the Fort William Mountain Festival. The competition, which is free and open to all, encourages both aspiring and professional writers to pen stories about Scotland’s landscapes and wild places.

“We are looking for inspiring short stories with the broad theme of’ ‘experiences in wild places,’” commented competition organizer Alison Austin. “Your entry can be factual or fictional and could incorporate a journey, a place, an expedition, a mountain or river, a walk, climb, sail or kayak.” First Prize is a place on a Writing and Place course at Moniack Mhor, Scotland’s creative writing centre.

Now running in its third year, the competition attracted over 50 high quality entries in 2008. Previous judges have included well-known writers Cameron McNeish, Jim Perrin, Cynthia Rogerson and Kenny Taylor. This year’s judges are the writer and teacher in creative writing Linda Cracknell and Hamish MacDonald, playwright, novelist and Director at Moniack Mhor.

It is hoped that the Gaelic, poetry and children categories will extend the reach of this year’s competition.

The closing date is the 26th of January 2009 for entries (not exceeding 1200 words) in English or Gaelic. Entries selected for final consideration will be exhibited at the 2009 Fort William Mountain Festival. The winning article will be published in the John Muir Trust Journal. Entry forms can be found on the websites of the Mountain Festival and the John Muir Trust.