Emirates litfest beckons budding writers

Winner of the 2013 competition Annabel Kantaria and runner up Rachel Hamilton with Luigi Bonomi. — Supplied photo

Do you have a passion for putting pen to paper? Whether a full time job or part time hobby, The First Fiction Competition is calling on all budding writers in the UAE to put their best foot forward and be eligible to become a published author.

Dreamturnsreality Mother of two, Rachel Hamilton, couldn’t believe her luck when her children’s novel,The Case of the Exploding Loo, went from fun bedtime reading for her children, to becoming a published book. With a passion for writing from a young age, she tellsKhaleej Timesthe world is a better place when it’s full of stories and ideas and gives her top tips on making that writing dream a reality. What were your expectations when entering the competition? I had low expectations because it was the first year of the competition and the guidelines described it as an ‘adult writing competition’. I wasn’t sure if that meant books written by adults or for adults, so I was worried I might be cheating by entering a children’s book. I almost fell off my chair at the award ceremony when Luigi said the words ‘And second place goes to a story about a quirky twelve-year-old detective…’ How did your journey into writing begin? Was it a long-term hobby or something more recent? I’ve been making up stories for as long as I can remember, and writing them down since I first learned to form letters. I don’t think I could stop — it would make me sad. The world is a better place when it’s full of stories and ideas. Was your book complete before entering the competition or was it still in the making? I had finished my book, which was lucky, because after the judge, Luigi Bonomi, read the 2,000 words I’d submitted to the competition, he said he’d be interested in seeing the whole story. So after jumping up and down on the sofa with my kids a few times, it only took a minute to polish it up and send it off. Had you tried to market your winning story to publishing houses before? No. I’d only just finished it when I read about the competition. For the 2,000 word submission, which extract from your work did you submit and why? I sent the first 2,000 words because I think the beginning is the most magical part of the story. It’s where everything is still possible and you’re trying to tempt your reader in. Where did the inspirationfor your story come about? The story began as a bedtime story for my kids because I love hearing them giggle. I wanted to use silly ideas and humour to lure them into an exploration of deeper issues like individuality, intelligence and family relationships How did the book deal signing materialise? As if by magic! I sent the manuscript to Luigi and within a month he’d offered to be my agent. He sent my book to the big London publishers and within another month I had a two-book deal with Simon & Schuster. What would be your top tips for budding writers here? Surround yourself with people who support what you do. This could be in a practical way, by making you cups of coffee and/or not shouting when you set off security alarms on family outings because you’re figuring out how your baddie could steal a moon rock. Or it could be by sharing your belief that creating imaginary worlds and characters is a valuable way to spend your time. kelly@khaleejtimes.com

Would-be novelists have the opportunity of taking that first step on the publishing ladder thanks to the competition, which is organised by the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature.

With more than 100 entries flooded in last year from writers of all nationalities living in the UAE, the stories encompassed a variety of genres and experiences, with many of the writers now published novelists themselves.

Sponsored by Montegrappa and judged by top UK Literary Agent Luigi Bonomi, The First Fiction Competition offers a platform to people with a passion for writing and steers them towards making that passion a career reality.

Previous winners have included ‘stay-at-home mums’ who dare not dream of a literary career, but the quality of their ‘doodling’ has since proved good enough, with several competition winners and runners up securing publishing deals.

So what are the mechanics?

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Montegrappa Middle East’s managing director Haytham Nasr said the terms of the competition are easy to meet.

“We ask for a 400-word synopsis and a 2,000 word chapter (s) submission. We’re very much about encouraging UAE residents who have a passion for writing and some may even have a chapter or more written, just lying somewhere, to give it a shot.”

Participants are not required to have a full novel written before entering the competition and the 2,000 word submission can be from any section of the manuscript, he said.

“Essentially, this is a pitch, so the idea is to pick out and submit the most compelling 2,000 words in the manuscript. For most people, in most books, this is likely to be the beginning.”

Following the deadline for entry on January 11, 2015, a multistage process will follow.

“All the entries submitted are read by the judging panel, who then shortlist the entries, and from them go on to select the winner and two runners-up whose names are announced during the festival.”

Nasr said last year’s competition drummed up a “really talented pool of people” and looking at the winners and runners up from the previous two editions, diversity is what makes the competition a success.

“Add to that the tremendous success previous entrants have seen since winning the competition — getting publishing deals, and seeing their work printed — it’s easy to understand why we’re so excited about this competition, and the potential of budding writers here.”

Now in it’s third year, The First Fiction Competition has seen 2013 winner Annabel Kantaria secure a three-book deal with Harlequin on the strength of her competition novel Coming Home; while 2013 runner-up Rachel Hamilton received a two-book deal with Simon & Schuster based on her competition entry The Case of the Exploding Loo — a book for children aged 10-13.

kelly@khaleejtimes.com

Who can enter?

> Adult writers over 21 and of any nationality currently residing in the UAE

> The novel can be of any genre, but must be in English

> Entrants must not have had a novel published before

What’s the prize?

The winner receives:

> A trip to the London Book Fair, including flights with Emirates and accommodation

> Lunch with a top UK literary agent

> A Montegrappa pen

> One copy of the current Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook

Two runners-up will receive:

> A Montegrappa pen

> One copy of the current Writers’ and Artists’ Yearbook

Log on to www.emirateslitfest.com/First-Fiction-2015

• UAE