The Chalke Valley History Prize is a terrific opportunity for any aspiring young writers. Now in its second year, we are hoping to attract a large number of entrants and in the process help them develop not only important writing skills but a love and passion for history too. All finalists will be invited to the History Festival on 30th June and will have a chance to meet the judges, including Joanna Lumley, Sebastian Faulks and Charlie Higson, as well as best-selling historical novelist Conn Iggulden. The winners will get a chance to work with a leading London literary agent amongst other prizes. This is a unique chance to win something money cannot buy.
The close for all entries is a newly revised date of Monday 3rd June 2013. All entries should be emailed on a Word document, Times New Roman Font, 1.5 line spacing, to historyprize@cvhf.org.uk
We have a new judging panel that includes one of our most popular and successful authors, Sebastian Faulks, and Joanna Lumley, one of our best-loved actors, and one of our best-known comedians and popular children’s authors, Charlie Higson. We have also changed the categories to encourage new and fresh research, so have given entrants some different areas of history in which to base their stories. They are still wide and varied, however, from the Norman Conquest to the English Civil War, and from the far corners of the globe when Britain had her empire, to the darkness and shadows of Cold War espionage.
- The Norman Conquest to the Wars of the Roses, 1066-1485
- The English Civil War & the Restoration, 1642-1685
- The Napoleonic Wars, 1798-1815
- The British Empire, 1759-1947
- The Cold War, 1945-1991
We’re looking forward to receiving your entries. The standard in the first year was impressively high and among the winners and shortlisted entrants from 2012, one is already published and three others have interest in their work from both literary agents and publishers alike. For those taking part in the Chalke Valley History Prize, it really might be the start of a long and successful writing career. We certainly hope so.
For further entry details, please look here at the Terms & Conditions.