faqs

Authors

Q Why do I need to give my date of birth?
A So we know in which section to place your story.

Q I have not received my confirmation e mail.
A Look in your junk mail.

Q Why do I have to nominate a local paper?
A Because the competition is open to readers of Johnston Press Group newspapers.

Q What if I don't read their newspapers?
A Not a problem, nominate the nearest to you and keep reading the on-line version for updates.

Q How will I know if judges like my story?
A You will be able to check your scores using a mobile phone, see the competition website for details.

Q Can I enter more than one story?
A You can enter as many stories as you like; provided they are all completely different.

Q Can I use a nom du plume or pen name?
A You can call yourself by whatever name you choose but bear in mind that names like William Shakespeare, Charles Dickens have all been used before.

Q What will happen if I use swear words or the story is unduly violent or repugnant?
A Each story submitted will be vetted before it is published on the website and if it is deemed unacceptable for a family newspaper then it will be rejected. You will be informed of its rejection by e mail. {See section 5.4 of Terms and Conditions}

Q What is the definition of an acceptable story?
A Any story that would be acceptable to a family if they sat down to read it. Therefore it should not be offensive to anyone.

Q If my story is rejected, can I have another go?
A Yes of course, simply adjust the text to comply with what is generally acceptable and re enter.

Q Why do I have to write explaining my motivation for the story?
A To give the Editor of the local paper the opportunity to write something about you, which will help direct judges to read what you have written.

Q Suppose I am lucky enough to win the local competition, what happens next?
A Your story will be entered into the regional competition and will then be read by a much wider audience who will also vote.

Q Will I be able to buy the compendium of winning stories?
A Yes, after the national competition the winners' stories will be available to purchase and each winning entrant will receive their own copy as part of their prize.

Q I live abroad, can I still enter?
A Lots of local newspaper readers live abroad, it is how they keep up with local news back home. Of course you can still enter provided you are able to come to the UK if you win.

Q How does the voting and scoring work?
A Each judge has the opportunity to vote once for each story. Each vote carries a score of between one and five stars, giving it a vote and a score as well.

Q If I register as an author can I be a judge as well?
A By registering you are automatically entitled to judge stories.

Q What is this about translating old manuscripts to digital text?
A We are working with Carnegie Mellon University. Scanners cannot read old text as well as humans, so by registering for the competition you are helping to digitise old text.

Q Can I be an author and a judge as well?
A Yes please do submit your story and then judge others.

Q What about copyright, is my story still my own if I submit it?
A Yes of course it is, see the Terms and Conditions if you are not sure.

Judges

Q Am I eligible to vote?
A Anyone who completes the registration is eligible to be a judge and vote.

Q Why do I need to give my details to register?
A So that you can read and judge local stories from your local newspaper area.

Q Why do I have to give my age?
A So that you can read the stories from your age group. Children and young adults will not be eligible to read adult stories, however adults will be able to read all age categories' stories.

Q What if I don't live near one of the local newspaper's areas?
A You will need to nominate a local paper to enter and become a judge so choose one that is nearest to you and keep monitoring the on-line version for updates on what is happening at local level.

Q How does the scoring work?
A Voting is completed by reading the story and then giving it a rating using the 1 to 5 stars system. One star would mean that you didn't like the story very much and five stars would mean that you thought it was very good.

Q Can I think about each story so I can compare them?
A Yes, once you have read a story, you can place it in your Briefcase so that you can read others and make a comparison. However, you will have to vote on it when you open it again.

Q When does the competition close for entries?
A Midnight on 30th April is the last date we can accept stories.