Kingston, Jamaica- The Jamaican Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) extends an open invitation to Jamaicans at home and abroad to participate in the Jamaica Creative Writing Competition, with the deadline now extended to Friday, May 10, 2024. This esteemed competition aims to celebrate Jamaica's rich literary heritage while providing a platform for emerging writers to showcase their talent and creativity.
Mr. Lenford Salmon, Executive Director at the JCDC, emphasizes the inclusivity of the competition, stating, "Our primary goal at JCDC is to showcase the talent of every Jamaican, regardless of their location or background. Unlike other JCDC competitions that may require in-person participation, the Creative Writing Competition offers flexibility with online submissions, eliminating geographical barriers.” He encourages all Jamaicans passionate about writing to seize this opportunity to showcase their talent and enrich Jamaica’s vibrant literary landscape.
Simone Simpson, Speech and Literary Arts Development Consultant, at the JCDC, echoes this sentiment, encouraging Jamaicans in the diaspora to showcase their literary masterpiece and embark on a journey of self-discovery and self-development. She emphasizes the importance of participation in the Creative Writing Competition, noting its role in personal growth and skill enhancement, as well as its function as a platform for showcasing their work to an audience that they would not otherwise have access to.
Each year, the award-winning pieces of the competition embark on an all-island tour of Parish Libraries, facilitated by the ongoing collaboration between the JCDC and the Jamaica Library Service (JLS). This partnership offers the public the opportunity to engage directly with the pieces in each parish. Following the tour, the works become part of the National Archive at the National Library of Jamaica (NLJ), where individuals can further interact with them in both hard copy and digital forms, ensuring their preservation for future generations to appreciate.
Past awardees, such as Shantele Austin and Lorna Morgan, attest to the competition's significance in channeling creativity and reconnecting with Jamaican roots and heritage.
Austin, a Jamaican who migrated to Trinidad and Tobago over 20 years ago, expressed her delight at the opportunity to participate in the local competition and reconnect with her homeland. At the 2022 Jamaica Creative Writing Awards Ceremony, where she earned recognition for her poem 'Limbo,' she shared, "I feel privileged, I feel honored because I always tell people even though I've not been back to Jamaica a lot of times, I am the best of both worlds. I am both Trini and Jamaican, and at the same time, that's a blessing.”
Lorna Morgan, a 74-year-old resident of Montego Bay in St. James, who was also awarded a silver medal in 2022 for her poem "Yuh Special," emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities like the Creative Writing Competition. She shared her sentiment, stating, "I've been writing for years and when I saw the opportunity to enter I said, 'Well, let me try.' I'm really grateful for the opportunity to express myself this way. It helps you to showcase your talent, what God has given to you, and it encourages other people to say 'Well, at her age, why shouldn't I get involved?'. Age doesn't matter; it's what's inside."
The Jamaica Creative Writing Competition welcomes submissions in various genres, including but not limited to: Fiction (Short Stories, Novels), Poetry, Drama (Plays, Screenplays), Non-fiction (Essays, Memoirs), and Children's Literature. Participants are encouraged to explore diverse themes, genres, and writing styles, pushing the boundaries of creativity and imagination.
Individuals interested in entering the Jamaica Creative Writing Competition are urged to visit the JCDC website at www.jcdc.gov.jm to read up on the entry guidelines and submit their entries by midnight on Friday, May 10, 2024.
