Results - 3rd Slush Pile Challenge October 2013

This challenge was set by Mara Bergman of Walker Books. 

The winner of this challenge is Loretta Flockhart for the first chapter of her book titled Hungry Ghosts. Congratulations Loretta!

Mara Bergman

THE CHALLENGE was…

The first chapter of a junior, teen or YA novel; no dystopian, fantasy, vampires or zombies.  Please keep the length of a chapter to less than 2000 words.

We sent 15 anonymous entries to Mara Bergman, chosen randomly. We asked Mara to tell us why she chose Loretta's first chapter from Hungry Ghosts as the winning entry.

I've thoroughly enjoyed reading the entries for the SlushPile Challenge. Picking a winner was far more difficult than I had thought it would be, but after reading through the entries I soon found that several stood out above the others. I reread them a number of times before deciding the winning entry. Hungry Ghosts.

Susie, the main character, is an immediately likeable, spunky young girl. 

She comes home from school one day looking for her mother, Grandpa Si and Grandma Si to tell them her good news. When she can't find them she looks in one last place: the room where fragile things are hidden, where, Grandma had once told her, the Hungry Ghosts live. 

The first chapter in this story about a close-knit Chinese family (Susie is half Chinese, half English) is clearly written and full of character and warmth. The element of the Hungry Ghosts adds a wonderful sense of otherness, and of mystery - 

I'm intrigued by them and want to know more, especially what role they will play later on. 

All the characters are well drawn and I found reading Hungry Ghosts hugely enjoyable - the best test of a good story! 


Loretta will be meeting Mara Bergman for a discussion. We will be posting about Loretta's experience of participating in and winning this challenge in her own words soon.

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Chitra has published over 20 books in Singapore, UK, USA and India. She loves writing picture books, folktales and is also working on fiction for 7+ with a lead character brightly named Aurora. Chitra is a member of the Words & Pictures' editorial team, managing The Slush Pile Challenge.

Slush Pile Challenge - October 2013

We are pleased to announce the October 2013 Slush Pile Challenge. 

This time the challenge has been set for all fiction writers by Mara Bergman of Walker Books. 

Photo Copyright Ellen Montelius 

Mara Bergman is a Senior Commissioning Editor at Walker Books. She is also the author of many picture books. She commissions and edits fiction, primarily for teens. Her authors include Martyn Bedford, Veronica Bennett, Jon Blake, Mary Finn, Sonya Hartnett, Edward Hogan, Y.S. Lee, Rob Lloyd Jones, Deborah Noyes, Mal Peet, Robert Rigby, Ann Turnbull and Atinuke (picture books and young fiction).

THE CHALLENGE: 

The first chapter of a junior, teen or YA novel; no dystopian, fantasy, vampires or zombies.  Please keep the length of a chapter to less than 2000 words.

THE REWARD:

Mara Bergman will pick a winner and arrange to have a meeting with the winner by phone or in person for 30 minutes.

Send in your entries by 31st October 2013.

THIS COMPETITION IS NOW CLOSED!

Check the results here.

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Who is eligible?

• You need to be a current SCBWI un-agented member, resident in the UK. 
• If your entry is selected for a given Slush Pile Challenge, you will not be able to enter for any other challenges.

To join SCBWI and take advantage of the many opportunities to raise your profile: market your work, meet fellow writers, artists, the gatekeepers to publication, while being supported in the development and pursuit of your craft, visit scbwi.org.

What do you need to do?

Send in your first chapter (as Word Document) to competitions@britishscbwi.org 
by 31st October 2013.

The word document should only contain the first chapter with its title. Do not include your name, address or email address in the word document.

In the email - please write your full name as it appears in SCBWI membership records, title of the book  and your email address. 

The Process

We will choose 15 entries randomly and send to the editor for review.

The editor will pick a winner and also tell us why.

The winner will be put in touch with the editor, for a 30-minute phone / personal meeting.

Good Luck Everyone!

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Chitra has published over 20 books in Singapore, UK, USA and India. She loves writing picture books, folktales and is also working on fiction for 7+ with a lead character brightly named Aurora. Chitra is a member of the Words & Pictures' editorial team, managing The Slush Pile Challenge.