Many past winners at writing contests launched by organisations, such as the HCM City Writers' Association, Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House and Kim Đồng Publishing House, have become popular among readers. (Photo courtesy of the publisher)

HCM CITY— The Việt Nam Writers’ Association has launched a writing contest for authors under 35 years old as part of an effort to discover and support young talents. 

The 2021 National Writing Award for Young Writer will offer prizes in the categories of poetry, fiction, literary criticism and translation. 

Vietnamese writers at home and abroad are invited to participate the event. 

The organiser seeks works with themes about the lives of young people and their challenges and dreams in a globalised world. Women and children living in remote areas are also included.

Famous authors, poets and translators will be part of the jury. 

“We hope the annual contest will give writers under 35, particularly those from ethnic minority groups, a chance to develop their careers and bring writers and publishers together to offer new, quality books to readers,” veteran poet Hữu Việt of the association, a member of the contest’s organising board, said.

Many past winners at writing contests launched by organisations, such as the HCM City Writers' Association, Trẻ (Youth) Publishing House and Kim Đồng Publishing House, have become popular among readers.

Female writer Nguyễn Ngọc Tư of Cà Mau Province is an example. Tư was a winner at the National Youth Writing Competition, a contest aimed at writers under 20 years old, in 2000 organised by the HCM City Writers' Association and its partners. 

Her first book, Cánh Đồng Bất Tận (Endless Fields), was a bestseller as soon as it hit HCM City bookshops in 2005. 

The book was also honoured with the Southeast Asian Writers Award in 2008. The award is given annually by the Thai Royal Family to encourage and honour poets and writers in Southeast Asia.

Tư has succeeded in impressing both young and older readers by focusing on rural life, featuring the simple lifestyle of farmers in her native province of Cà Mau in the south.

She has released 30 books in different categories of fiction, short stories and poem. 

Participants in the 2021 National Writing Award for Young Writer must submit their work on paper and send to the contest organiser Việt Nam Writers’ Association-Creating Office at 9 Nguyễn Đình Chiểu Street, Nguyễn Du Ward, Hai Bà Trưng District, Hà Nội. 

Entries should be postmarked by Septemper 30. 

The best works will be published by leading printers, magazines and newspapers. The prize winners will be announced in early 2022.— VNS