Words For The Wounded Writing Prize Closes On 11 March

W4WLogoAlt3 Words for the Wounded writing prize closes on 11 March. two grannies Why on earth do three grannies (two shown above) throw themselves out of a plane, strapped to a fit young man, hoping their parachutes open? Well, OK, the fit young man is a bit of a clue. But seriously, why? pic2 janairborne The reasons lie in the past and the present. In the past, both my grandfathers survived the first world war, so just as there were thankful villages who had lost no men, so too there were thankful families. But life isn’t that simple, is it? Gentle Percy, my mother’s father survived but took his own life in 1923. War has long, relentless tentacles which reach out and destroy families, just as surely as bullets do. pic3 poppies Then, about four years ago I met a young  man and his wife. They were both under twenty five. She was pushing him in his wheelchair; his portable ventilator lay on his chest. He’d been shot through the neck in Helmand and is tetraplegic, (paralysed from the neck down). They were both smiling and cheerful but their hopes and dreams were very different now, and everyday life was a mountain in itself.   I decided that, as writers, my two granny friends and I could help not just the wounded, but also aspiring writers. We founded Words for the Wounded and were enormously lucky in our patrons, amongst whom are Julian Fellowes, Louis de Berniers, Katie Fforde, Paddy Ashdown and many others. Julian Fellowes   We decided also that we would earn our donations, not just appeal to the generosity of others; hence the skydive, and hence the Mud Challenge Obstacle Course in August, and hence the LitFest to be held at High Wycombe on 18th April  2015 with Katie Fforde and two Midsomer Murders writers amongst others.   katie-fforde Our main thread, however, is our writing prizes. We have the short category for poetry/fiction/memoir – up to 400 words, with prize money of £400. Entry fee £4.50   This year we are launching The Independent Author Book Award for fiction or memoir, with a 1st prize of a Palamedes PR professional press release. pic 6 palamedes.jpg And a biography and review in Frost Magazine.  Entry fee £12.50 pic7Frost The WforW grannies absorb ALL the costs themselves, so every penny raised goes to the wounded. Our troops put their lives on the line for us, some are killed, many, many,  more sustain life-changing injuries. To help them is the aim of Words for the Wounded. They deserve the best.

For more information: www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk 

Words For The Wounded Writing Prize

walking wounded competitionFrost Magazine has came across a very worthy charity thanks to Jane Cable: Words For The Wounded was launched by Margaret Graham, an author at Random House.

Margaret said; “I launched the charity Words for the Wounded  last year and we raise money via writing competitions and donations to help in the recovery of our wounded service personnel. This year we are supporting the Creative Arts Unit at Tedworth House Recovery Centre. Every penny from the entry fees and donations goes to the wounded. We raise money for the prizes in other ways. My son and son-in-law have been noble and done various Ironman marathons and Triathlons for us but this year my colleague and old school friend, Jan Speedie, and I are giving them a break and doing a tandem sky dive. Yes, I know. My grandchildren say the same, ‘You’re mad.’ But needs must.  My agent despairs of the lengths to which I will go to be strapped to a handsome young man.

Words for the Wounded has a 1st prize of £250, 2nd £100 and 3rd £50, and publication in Writers’ Forum magazine. Entry fee is £4.50. We ask for poetry, non-fiction or fiction up to a maximum of 400 words on the subject of The Journey. It can be physical, emotional or both. The closing date is 11 March.”

Margaret also has a W4W blog which includes writing tips www.wordsforthewounded.blogspot.co.uk. 

Margaret went on to say that “the majority of those injured are under 25. These are life changing injuries and they will need help to recover their self-confidence and independence to get the best from their long lives.”

I am sure you will agree this is a great charity and an equally great competition. Enter now and spread the word.