SU Woordfees short story anthology in its third year

Friday, 30 June, 2017
Du Toitskloof Winery
The SU Woordfees short story anthology is entering into its third year with the 2018 publication.

Writers whose stories are selected for inclusion in the anthology will each receive an amount of R4000. The first prize money of R30,000 will be sponsored by Du Toitskloof Wines. And KYKNET will produce one of the published stories as a short film for broadcast. 

“The compilation is well on its way to become an institution,” says Saartjie Botha, SU Woordfees director. “The quality of entries has improved enormously over the competition’s short existence. We are confident that there will be rich pickings for the 2018 publication.”

The convenor of the competition, Suzette Kotze-Myburgh, has been involved with the initiative since 2016. “Every year it gets better. It is a wonderful opportunity for any writer who wants to try his or her hand at short story writing. What is more, it ties in beautifully with the proven commitment the Woordfees has to reading and literacy.”

The 2017 winning entry Michèle Meyer’s Langsaan, will have its first screening at the 2017 Silverskerm-festival in Cape Town.

On Du Toitskloof Wines’ involvement, the chief executive Marius Louw says it seems like the success of the SU Woordfees is contagious: “Our participation as sponsor exceeded all our expectations. About 180 short stories where entered for the competition, something we, as wine people, did not expect. The fact that there are so many stories and so many people to tell them, proves that the Afrikaans word is alive and well. And where there are culture and stories, wine also comes to mind since it also is the result of planning, time and creativity.”

Bly, the 2016 publication is sold out and only a few copies of Wys, the 2017 publication are still available from http://www.africansunmedia.co.za/Sun-e-Shop.aspx.

Writers interested in finding out more about the competition or who would like to enter can visit www.woordfees.co.za or www.dutoitskloof.co.za and follow the links. E-mails with enquiries can be sent to friedaleroux@sun.ac.za. Please note that only written enquiries will be answered. Writers who will be included in the next anthology will be notified in early 2018. The winning short story will be announced at the launch of the 2018 anthology, which will be held during SU Woordfees 2018, from 2-11 March.

The closing date for entries is 30 September 2017 at 16:00.

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Marius Louw, CEO  Du Toitskloof Wines
Marius Louw, CEO Du Toitskloof Wines

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