Competition Rules

SW Summer Competition 2008

Theme

A radio drama

Brief

Write a 15 min radio drama, not a monologue, with 2 to 4 characters.

The drama must be set in Slough.

Word Count

Up to 2500 words.

Judges

Mike Walker - Mike is one of the UK's leading radio dramatists and is also a feature and documentary writer and a published author. His awards include the "Drama Award (World Service)" in 2001's Sony Radio Awards, for his original play Alpha; the 1991 Sony Award for Best Original Script; and most recently a Sony Silver Community Award for the drama Oxford Road. Mike has adapted numerous books for Radio 4, including War and Peace, David Copperfield, A Day In The Life of Ivan Denisovich and a number of Agatha Christie titles. He was part of the Westway writing team and wrote the script for The Dark House - BBC Radio 4's first foray into interactive drama. Mike recently won a BAFTA interactive award. He has written several books, most recently Long Way Home about a real life convict escape story, published by Wiley.

Duncan Mclarty - BBC Radio Berkshire Assistant Editor. (More details to follow.)

Deadline

Monday 22nd September 2008 (hand entries to Terry).

Results

Monday 10th November 2008.

Notes

The judges would like the drama to be set in Slough so that if Radio Berkshire wants to feature the winner on its website, there is a local connection.

The writer should not be afraid of being ambitious; radio drama is a big as your imagination.

The judges want the script to be correctly presented. So checkout the BBC Writers Room tips on format. The link is available on our website.

"Radio drama is one of the few areas in which new writers can still break into the biz, it’s far more imaginative and wide ranging than many people realise." - Mike Walker

Rules

  1. Open to members only.
  2. One entry per member.
  3. Write on only one side of A4 paper.
  4. Manuscripts must be typed and lines must be double-spaced.
  5. Title of story and page number to appear on each page.
  6. No author’s name to appear anywhere on the manuscript.

Submission Rules

  1. Your completed manuscript must go in a sealed envelope.
  2. On the front on the envelope put the name of the competition (e.g. Slough Writers Short Story Comp 2008) and the title of your manuscript. (e.g. I was there).
  3. Inside a separate envelope, put your name on a piece of paper/postcard and seal the envelope.
  4. On the front of this envelope put the title of your manuscript and 'Authors Name Enclosed'.
  5. Attach this envelope with a paper clip to the envelope bearing your manuscript and hand both to whoever is collecting the submission.

Failure to comply with any of the rules will result in your work being withdrawn from the competition.

Good Luck!