- FileColin Channer, who will be the guest speaker at Wednesday's function, is the author of 'Waiting In Vain' which was a best seller in 1998.
Georgia Hemmings, Staff Reporter
THE AWARDS awards ceremony for the Jamaica Cultural Development Commission-organised literary arts competition is scheduled for Wednesday, September 25, at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in New Kingston, beginning 5:30 p.m.
A new name for the competition will be announced to reflect changing trends within the contest, while a 'Festival of the Written Word' will be inaugurated on Saturday, September 28, to highlight award-winning entries.
Andrew Brodber, JCDC's Speech, Drama and Literary Arts co-ordinator, told The Sunday Gleaner that a new name - the Jamaica Creative Writing Competition - will replace the former National Literary Arts Competition.
This was prompted, in part, by the need to make the competition more reflective of the variety of literary works being submitted.
"Each year the entries show a greater variety of themes and a sharper awareness of the tensions inherent in the creative process," Mr. Brodber explained. "But it seemed that a lot of entrants did not feel that 'literary arts' spoke clearly to their efforts in the way that 'creative writing' now does".
Against this background, the competition will embrace a wider range of 'original compositions' for the literary market, including novels, plays (full-length, one-act, radio, television and film), essays, short stories and poetry.
It is also hoped that the name change will help to remove the stigma of 'elitism' which has dogged the competition, although overtly expressed.
According to Mr. Brodber "Nothwithstanding the fact that the competition is open to all Jamaicans with a passion for writing, there is this common misconception that writing literature is limited to certain persons and only the professionals can enter. Hopefully, the name change will motivate others to enter, especially young writers seeking a yardstick against which their talents can be measured."
Additionally, after 40 years of organising the competition, the JCDC believes that the competition can be positioned on the international marketplace.
"So by the use of the word Jamaica in the title, we have 'branded' the product, and hope to make a statement in the international marketplace, "Mr. Brodber told The Sunday Gleaner.
Over the years, the competition has played a significant role in fostering creative writing in Jamaica. This year, over 500 entries were received in various literary forms. As in previous years, poetry received the largest number of entries (445), followed by short story writing category, essays, plays, and novels.
Gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as certificates of merits, were awarded in three categories - junior (age 12 years and under), intermediate (age 13 - 17), and adults (18 years and over).
Entries were judged on the basis of originality, craftsmanship, use of language and mechanics, content and organisation as well as impression and presentation, Mr. Brodber told The Sunday Gleaner.
He disclosed that these prize-winning entries will be highlighted at the inaugural 'Festival of the Written Word' being organised by the JCDC on September 28 at 7:00 p.m. at the Louise Bennett Garden Theatre, on Hope Road in Kingston.
"This evening of special readings is designed to celebrate all manifestations of the written word, at least in the Caribbean context," Mr, Brodber explained, "and will include readings from awardees as well as other performers. It promises to be a wonderful evening and is free for the Jamaican public to attend and enjoy."
It is hoped that the 'Festival of the Written Word' will become an annual event.
Mr. Brodber also disclosed that Jamaican novelist, Colin Channer, will be the guest speaker at the official awards ceremony.
Mr. Channer is the author of the novel Waiting In Vain (Ballantine/One World) which was selected as a Critic's Choice, one of the best books of 1998 by the Washington Post Book World and named as 'A Book Of The Summer of 1998' by Time Out New York.
He is also the author of the novella I'm Still Waiting and the novel Satisfy My Soul.
Mr. Channer was born in Jamaica in 1963. He was raised in Kingston and attended Ardenne and Meadowbrook high schools before moving to New York, where he studied electronic journalism and Spanish.
