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Creative Writing Anthology 2021
Local writers and poets are invited to submit their original works for inclusion into a brand-new anthology of poems and short stories.
The creative writing competition, run by Rhondda Cynon Taf Council’s Library Service, is open to all ages and residents of the County Borough. There is no restriction on the subject matter, although all short stories should be no longer than 2,000 words.
All entries should be submitted in an electronic format, if possible, as all poems and short stories will be reproduced as they are submitted. Entries can be in either English or Welsh, or in both languages. The closing date for entries is Monday, May 31.
The Council’s planned Creative Writing Anthology last year was postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, but all entries received last year will be eligible for inclusion in the 2021 edition.
Councillor Rhys Lewis, Cabinet Member for Stronger Communities, Well-Being and Cultural Services, with responsibility for Libraries, said: “I am delighted that the Creative Writing Anthology is able to return this year as it is a wonderful platform for our writers and poets to show off their talents to a wider audience.
“We have a wealth of talent in our County Borough and have produced many successful writers over the years, one the most high profile of course being the late Elaine Morgan OBE.
“Despite the difficult circumstances, I am pleased to see that the Council is able to provide opportunities for grassroots writers to get their works published and I look forward to seeing the entries being submitted for the 2021 anthology.”
Elaine Morgan OBE, of Caegarw, Mountain Ash, was the author of several books on evolutionary anthropology, especially the aquatic ape hypothesis. Her books include The Descent of Woman (1972), The Aquatic Ape (1982), and The Naked Darwinist (2008).
Elaine Morgan OBE, who was granted the Freedom of Rhondda Cynon Taf in 2013, died three months later at the age of 92.
Would you like to be a part of the Council’s Creative Writing Anthology 2021? Email your entries to Richard.Reed@rctcbc.gov.uk Postal entries can also be sent to Richard Reed, Treorchy Library, Station Road, Treorchy, CF42 6UD.
The closing date for all entries is Monday, May 31, 2021. For details on all RCT Libraries services, please visit www.rctcbc.gov.uk/libraries
Evie's Stay At Home Message
A Rhondda Cynon Taf student has won the Welsh Government’s Stay At Home poster competition, beating hundreds of other entries across Wales in the fight to keep everyone safe and promoting the key COVID-19 safety message.
Evie Barnett, aged 9, of Aberdare, entered the competition after being set the home schooling task by her class teacher Sharon Haughty at Aberdare Church In Wales Primary School.
Councillor Joy Rosser, Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Cabinet Member for Education and Inclusion Services, said: “Congratulations to Evie on flying the flag for our County Borough and our schools by winning such a prestigious competition.
“Evie’s award-winning poster will now be seen by millions of people across the country, indeed the world, as Wales continues with its vital Stay At Home Message at this time.”
Both Evie’s parents, key workers Rachael and Richard Barnett, contracted COVID-19 during the global pandemic and have made a full recovery. Rachael is a nursery owner and Richard is a supermarket home delivery driver. They are so proud at what Evie has achieved, having been announced as the poster competition winner by Wales’ First Minister Mark Drakeford.
Evie’s mother Rachael, said: “Evie loves being creative and really threw herself into this task as the Stay At Home message means so much to our family.
“Evie is a member of the Glamorgan Dance Academy so has been busy with her classes via Zoom. She also sees her teacher and class friends the same way but really misses seeing everyone in person, especially her older sister Sam and her niece Alice.
“But Evie realises that the Stay At Home message is so important to everyone if we are to stay safe and beat the virus in order to get some sort of normality back into all of our lives.”
Wales First Minister Mark Drakeford, announcing the winners, said: “Thank you very much to everyone who has taken part in our Stay At Home poster competition. We had a huge number of entries and we had the difficult job of choosing the winners.
“The English winner is Evie, with a beautifully clear poster showing all the elements so carefully put onto the page and leaving no doubt at all for anybody who sees it, what the message is.
“So Evie, thank you very much indeed for taking part. Thanks also, not just to the winners but everyone else who has taken part, helping us all on the journey we are all on together in Wales to keep everybody safe.”
Clare Werrett, head of Aberdare Town Church In Wales Primary School, said: “Everyone at our school and associated with our school is delighted and proud that Evie has won this Welsh Government poster competition. She has highlighted the very important message of staying home and staying safe.”
Wales currently remains at Alert Level 4 and further information on the guidance can be found at https://gov.wales/coronavirus
Members of the public are advised to self-isolate if they or anyone in their household has symptoms of COVID-19 and to book a test.
Evie Barnett, of Aberdare Town Church In Wales Primary School, won the English poster competition. Abigail, of Ysgol Garnedd Bangor, won the Welsh poster competition.
Keep watching this page for details of forthcoming events.