2024

Established 1903

Cape Town
Eisteddfod

Creative Writing Syllabus

 CHAIRPERSON

Music, Art, Writing

Vanessa Brink

Cell: 082 446 6783

CREATIVE WRITING CONVENOR

Jillian Marais

Cell: 083 384 5813

E-mail: j.marais@mweb.co.za

CREATIVE WRITING COMMITTEE

V. Brink, J. Marais, S. Gordon

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 ENTRY FORMS, RULES AND CLOSING DATES.

FORMS
1. An entrant's age shall be as on15 March of the current year
entered
2. All entries must be made on the CURRENT PRESCRIBED
FORM DATED 2024 or a clear photocopy thereof.
3. Entries can be delivered to 12 Mafeking Road, Bergvliet and
placed in the Eisteddfod Box provided.
4. Entries may be emailed to the Convenor.
5. Entries must be attached to the Proof of payment.

RULES
1. Candidates may enter as many entries as they wish in any
section.
2. A work previously entered may not be submitted again in
another year.
3. All works must be original and certified by a teacher or parent.
4. No AI generated works will be permitted.
5. Some works could be processed with an AI detector, and if
more than 40% of the content is found to have been AI
generated, this could lead to disqualification.
6. If the work is disqualified, no entry fee will be reimbursed.
7. Literature must be clearly written or typed.
8. NO offensive material or profanities may be used.
9. Items may in entered in English, Afrikaans, German, French,
Xhosa
10. Your writing must have a label attached on the front stating
the class, topic, name of entrant and grade at school. All work
MUST be labelled with name of student, grade, class and
NAME OF SCHOOL and affixed to the front of the work. You
may add a photograph of yourself if chosen to exhibit.
11. See example of label below:

NAME: Susie Brown

Age: 11 years
Class: LPO 3 (POEM) School: Willow Primary
Title of work: My Cat

CLOSING DATE OF ENTRY 15 June 2024

PRIZEGIVING DATE/ VENUE to be advised

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 ADJUDICATORS

1. Adjudicators are appointed by the convenor, who shall have the

power to terminate the appointment and appoint another adjudicator
should serious legitimate complaints be received.
2. No adjudicators may adjudicate the work of a close family member
or their own pupils.
3. Adjudicators are obliged to give percentages to all Honours and
Diploma candidates. These percentages may not be disclosed to
entrants but will be known only to the committee for the purpose of
making special awards.
4. PLEASE NOTE: Should any infringement of the rules be detected, it
can be reported to the Convenor or Chairperson.
5. Contravention of the rules could lead to disqualification.

GRADING OF WORK
70 to 74% Merit
75 to 79% High Merit
80 to 84% Honours
85 to 89% High Honours
90 to 100% Diploma
ENTRY FEES
POEMS / ESSAYS / PLAYS NOVELLA / NOVEL
10 years and under R170 All Ages R250
11 - 14 years R180 (No Discount)
15 - 18 years R210
19 years & over R250 SHORT STORIES (Same as Poems)
10% Discount applies to more than 2 entries

PAYMENTS

1. Entry fees are not refundable.

2. All payments must be made by EFT.
3. Cash will be accepted, but NO cash deposits please.
4. Proof of payment must be submitted along with the entries.
BANKING DETAILS

Account Name: CAPE TOWN EISTEDDFOD

Bank/Branch: NEDBANK RONDEBOSCH
Branch Code: 104 809
Account No: 104 805 9553
Reference: CW plus NAME and SCHOOL
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 AWARDS PRESENTED BY THE CAPE TOWN EISTEDDFOD
More than ONE Diploma must be obtained to qualify for a medal award.
EMMA BRINK TALENT MEDAL - to the School with the Most Diplomas
R500 & MEDAL - 12 years & under entrant with Most Diplomas
(more than One)
R500 & MEDAL - 13 - 17 year entrant with Most Diplomas (more than One)
R800 & MEDAL - 19 years & over entrant with Most Diplomas
(more than One)

BEST POEM Gold Medal Silver Medal

10 years & under 1st Place 2nd Place
11 - 14 years 1st Place 2nd Place
15 - 18 years 1st Place 2nd Place
19 years & over 1st Place 2nd Place

BEST ESSAY Gold Medal Silver Medal

10 years & under 1st Place 2nd Place
11 - 14 years 1st Place 2nd Place
15 - 18 years 1st Place 2nd Place
19 years & over 1st Place 2nd Place

BEST SHORT STORY Gold Medal Silver Medal

10 years & under 1st Place 2nd Place
11 - 14 years 1st Place 2nd Place
15 - 18 years 1st Place 2nd Place
19 years & over 1st Place 2nd Place

BEST PLAY Gold Medal Silver Medal

10 years & under 1st Place 2nd Place
11 - 14years 1st Place 2nd Place
15 - 18 years 1st Place 2nd Place
19 years & over 1st Place 2nd Place

BEST NOVELLA Gold Medal Silver Medal

10 years & under 1st Place 2nd Place
11 - 14 years 1st Place 2nd Place
15 - 18 years 1st Place 2nd Place
19 years & over 1st Place 2nd Place

BEST NOVEL Gold Medal Silver Medal

11 - 14 years 1st Place 2nd Place
15 - 18 years 1st Place 2nd Place
19 years & over 1st Place 2nd Place

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Candidates may choose their own subject in all the sections.
SERIOUS POEMS HUMOROUS POEMS
(Content must be deep, meaningful (Content must be funny and at least two
and at least two or more verses) or more verses)
Class Class
LPO 1 10 years & under LHP 1 10 years & under
LPO 2 11 - 14 years LHP 2 11 - 14 years
LPO 3 15 - 18 years LHP 3 15 - 18 years
LPO 4 19 years & over LHP 4 19 years & over
PERSONAL ESSAYS OWN CHOICE ESSAY
(at least 3 - 5 paragraphs) (3 - 5 paragraphs)
(Write about yourself, or (Write about any subject)
something in your life)
Class Class
LPS 11 10 years & under LOE 15 10 years & under
LPS 12 11 - 14 years LOE 16 11 - 14 years
LPS 13 15 - 18 years LOE 17 15 - 18 years
LPS 14 19 years & over LOE 18 19 years & over
EDITORIAL REPORT SCIENCE FICTION STORY
(1 - 2 paragraphs) (NEW CLASS - (Content should be set in an
(Write about a news event) imaginary world - maximum 7500 words)
Class Class
LER 15 10 years & under LFS 15 10 years & under
LER 16 11 - 14 years LFS 16 11 - 14 years
LER 17 15 - 18 years LFS 17 15 - 18 years
LER 18 19 years & over LFS 18 19 years & over
SHORT STORY PLAY - OWN CHOICE (One-ACT)
(Content to be entrant's Own Choice) (Content may have more than one
(maximum 7500 words) scene, and one or more characters)
Class Class
LSS 21 10 years & under LPOC 31 10 years & under
LSS 22 11 - 14 years LPOC 32 11 - 14 years
LSS 23 15 - 18 years LPOC 33 15 - 18 years
LSS 24 19 years & over LPOC 34 19 years & over
PLAY - DEBATE (One-ACT) NOVELLA
(Content to have one scene and at (minimum 10 000 words)
least two characters)
Class Class
LPOC 31 10 years & under LNA 41 10 years & under
LPOC 32 11-14 years LNA 42 11 - 14 years
LPOC 33 15-18 years LNA 43 15 - 18 years
LPOC 34 19 years & over LNA 44 19 years & over
NOVEL (minimum of 20 000 words)
Class
LNO 52 11 - 14 years
LNO 53 15 -18 years
LNO 54 19 years & over
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 TIPS FROM GOOGLE ON WRITING A SCIENCE FICTION STORY

1. Identify the big idea: Science fiction is all about exploring new ideas
and concepts. Start by identifying the central idea that you want to
explore in your story.

2. Know your audience: Science fiction readers are a diverse group, so

it's important to know who you're writing for. Consider what your
readers expect from a science fiction novel and how you can deliver
that.

3. Make the science integral to your novel: Science is at the heart of

science fiction, so make sure that the science in your novel is both
accurate and integral to the story.

4. Don't let science overwhelm the story: While science is important,

it's also important not to let it overshadow the story. Make sure that your
characters and plot are just as compelling as the science.

5. Show us your character's motivations: Science fiction is often about

exploring the human condition in a futuristic or otherworldly setting.
Make sure that your characters are well-developed and that their
motivations are clear.

6. Introduce the problem early on: Science fiction often deals with
complex problems and issues. Introduce the main problem or conflict
early on in your novel to keep readers engaged.

7. Create believable characters: Finally, make sure that your

characters are believable and relatable. Even if your story is set in a
far-off future or on another planet, readers should be able to connect
with your characters on a human level.