News Alert! Write Across Victoria

Write Across Victoria
is a creative writing competition for Victorian students in years 7, 8 and 9.

Choose your favourite story starter and finish the story for your chance to win some fantastic prizes and have your story published online and in Express Media's Voiceworks magazine.

Story starters

#1 Andy Griffiths

'Are you joking?' I said.

'No,' said Mandy.

Behind us I could hear the lions roaring.

They were restless. I could tell it was close to feeding time.

'But a stunt like that could get me killed!'

'Yeah, I know,' she said. 'But I thought you said you loved me.'

#2 Glenda Millard

Samba was sixteen, scared of storms, gentle as a lamb and could melt your heart with a look. We buried the stranger to protect her. We found him outside our door on Friday the thirteenth. Samba straddled him, teeth bared, hackles raised with blood all over her beautiful white coat.

#3 Simmone Howell

Dad had gambler's hands and itchy feet. The day I turned twelve he said, "Big Boy, take care of your mother." He pressed a key into my palm and disappeared himself. The key was to Dulcie, our mint green VW kombi van. Dad said she was magic. I was about to find out why.

Prizes
Over $3000 in cash and prizes to be won! And the chance to have your story published in Voiceworks magazine and online at The Age, Melbourne Writers Festival and Express Media.

The overall winner will receive:

$500 cash
Books to the value of $500
Books to the value of $500 for your school
A subscription to Voiceworks magazine

The finalists, one guy and one girl from each year level (Year 7, Year 8 and Year 9), will each win:

$150 cash
Books to the value of $100
A subscription to Voiceworks magazine

***Submit your story by completing the online ENTRY FORM before entries close at 7 pm Monday 6 September 2010.

History Waves #4 ~ Unbelievable! Change can be changeless!

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Pelican in the process of a proud pose at Hastings, Westernport Bay, Mornington Peninsula
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History Waves #4 ~ Unbelievable! Change can be changeless!~

Pelicans have sported big beaks for at least 30 million years, the discovery of an ancient pelican fossil reveals.
Researchers uncovered the remains of the earliest known pelican, including a preserved beak, in southwest France.
What has surprised them most about this ancient pelican is that it is almost identical to modern species...
Few other flying animals appear to have survived unchanged for so long. The only other good examples, says Dr Louchart, are bats, which have a body shape that appears to have survived unaltered for around 50 million years.~ Archaeology Daily News June 11, 2010

Read the full article by following the link.
Write a creative newspaper article (which sounds possible) as to why the pelican has never really evolved into new forms.~

Creative Sport #3 ~ Design a Track

Pic by G.W. aka P.A. ~ My photo of a bike rider enhanced in Picnik with a neon effect.
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Creative Sport #3 ~ Design a Track
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Imagine that you have been given the opportunity to design a bike track for competition
1. Design the outline of the track keeping in mind the terrain and desirable season
2. Include place, length of track, obstacles, public observation area etc
3. Include any other unusual features
4. Photograph your design and post it on your blog
5. (a) Design a competition programme as a leaflet - photograph it or actually create it in a programme like Microsoft publisher and post it on your blog.
(b) Include a logo.
You may like to try the Picnik programme for different effects - including a Clip Art effect!
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Weave a Picture from the Picture #5 ~ Eyes Upon Eyes

Collage by G.W. aka P.A. ~ Multiple exposure of my beautiful Shadow's face
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Weave a Picture from the Picture #5 ~ Eyes Upon Eyes~

Dive into any writing style - maybe mix and match - and explore the power and possibility of EYES!~

Opinion Piece #9 ~ Typical Teenager?

elitesuperhaxor — February 19, 2008 — a funny Aussie outback song about a typical teenager
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Opinion Piece #9 ~ Typical Teenager?~

Create a song of your own which reflects the typical teenager.
Are there a few identities?~