'Giant step' for aspiring writers

THE BANGKOK METROPOLITAN Administration and organisers of the Southeast Asian Writers Award are taking the initiative to put the Thai capital foremost in mind when the Asean Economic Community comes into being late next year.
They have unveiled plans for the Asean Young Writers Awards with an eye to inspiring a new generation of novelists and poets – and readers – in the region.
Submissions are being accepted this month and next for the new prize, which the organisers call a “giant step for literature in this part of the world”.
The initiative was announced last week at a press conference at the Bangkok Art and Culture Centre. Deputy Bangkok Governor Amorn Kitchawengkul presided at the discussion, which involved former Writers Association of Thailand president Chamaiporn Sangkrachang, 2005 SEA Write winner Wuttichat Choomsanit, aka Binlah Sonkalagiri, and associate professors Surapeepan Chatraporn, deputy dean of arts at Chulalongkorn University, and Dr Aphilak Kasampholkool, dean of arts at Mahidol University.
Amorn said the youth prize would stand as “a lasting tribute to celebrate the 35th anniversary of the SEA Write Awards” and to Bangkok’s role last year as Unesco’s World Book Capital. The awards “should serve well as a key driver in our national literary campaign, as well as in our effort to inspire a new generation of professional writers both in Thailand and across Asean”, he said.
The prize “marks a great beginning in the BMA’s effort to promote reading and writing skills among youth and the public at large”, which the city counts among its sustainable-development objectives. Thanks to “a remarkable synergy between the relevant organisations in the public and private sectors, the project is moving fast to create a network of young writers in the region in time to celebrate the economic integration of the Asean Community”, he said.
“We are targeting young people 15 to 24 years old who are well versed in the writing of short stories,” added Aphilak, vice chairman of the organising committee. “They can submit works in either Thai or English – or both as long as they bear different titles because we will select winners in both the national language and in English, which is Asean’s official language.”
Thirty Thai entries will first be short-listed and the writers will receive a certificate and admission to a two-day workshop with SEA Write winners. The organisers have asked Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn to endorse plaques for the 10 winners from across Southeast Asia, who will receive their prizes at a ceremony in Bangkok along with US$1,000 cash vouchers. The winning Thais will also be treated to a tour of Jakarta and the Asean Secretariat there.
 
On the Web:
www.AseanYoungWriters.com
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