The annual Crocodile Prize Awards writing competition is gaining momentum with over 800 entries so far from all around Papua New Guinea.
The competition was established in 2010 aimed to encourage creative and critical writing in PNG and to provide Papua New Guineans with access to home-grown literature.
Contestants must enter original written work and illustrations in categories including poetry, books, essay and journalism, heritage and children’s’ writing.
Winners will be awarded prize money and along with the best entries, their work will be published in the annual Crocodile Prize Anthology.
PNG writer and chairman of the Crocodile Prize 2016 committee Baka Bina said the competition is growing to rural areas as well to as far as Tari and Menyamya in Morobe Province.
Bina said poetry is the most common entry and a high number of entrants followed by less than a 100 essays and four books.
“Poetry is popular in PNG as it is a short writing that anyone can do and we’ve got Papua New Guineans who are very good in writing poetry.
“There’s a huge volume of writing that has been produced and some need a little improvement which we’d like to get schools involved as well to help improve the standard of writing in PNG,” Bina said.
He encouraged writers both young and old to be part of the competition to showcase their skills.
PNG writers Associations are also being established throughout the provinces including Port Moresby, Chimbu, Enga, Goroka and Lae.
Entry is free and only PNG citizens are eligible. Entries must be emailed to crocprize@gmail.com
Entries opened in January 27 and closes on a date yet to be announced. The winners will be announced in November 2016.