Entries Open for SA’s Benchmark Writing Honour.

The M-Net Literary Awards, the benchmark honour for South Africa’s most talented writers, celebrate their 19th year of recognizing powerful South African literature in 2010. Entries for the awards are now open, with the judges already excited by the prospect of delving into the best novels the country has to offer.

The popular film category, won in its first incarnation last year by Deon Meyer’s 13 uur, returns in 2010. This category seeks truly South African novels which lend themselves to development into screenplays, with the winner’s novel being filmed for the silver screen by M-Net.

Authors and publishers have just over 6 weeks to enter novels for consideration, with entries closing on Monday 30 November 2009. The Call to Entry and entry forms will be sent to all members of the South African Publishers Association, but entry forms are also available online at www.mnetcorporate.co.za and by contacting Annalie Ackermann on (011) 686 6220 or annalie.ackermann@mnet.co.za.

The judges will be looking out for literary merit, strong storylines and an authentic, original South African focus. The judges, experts in both the literary and film fields, will once again be supported in their tough task by advisors Mothobi Mutloatse (author and publisher) and Hettie Scholtz (Publishing Consultant).

Novels in all of South Africa’s indigenous languages, published between January and December 2009 are eligible for the 2010 Awards, and must exceed 10 000 words in length. Novels set to be published in December are eligible for entry, with notice from the publishers.

For the purposes of the M-Net Literary Awards, all entries are divided into 6 language categories:
- Nguni (isiZulu, isiXhosa, isiNdebele, siSwati)
- SeSotho (Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, Tswana),
- Tshivenda, Xitsonga, Afrikaans and English.

The winner in each category takes home a R30 000 cash prize, with an additional R30 000 prize for the Film Category. Permission is required from the authors for the publisher to submit their novels for consideration in the Film Category, as well as written confirmation that the film rights for the novel are available at the time of entry and the assurance that M-Net will have first right of refusal for filming the novel for television. Where authors are represented by agents, entries will only be considered if accompanied by written consent by the agent.

Patron of the M-Net Literary Awards, and award-winning author in his own right Mandla Langa, sees the Awards as vital in developing South Africa’s literary talents. “While South Africa strides towards defining itself as a country whose creativity is being unleashed daily, it will be up to endeavours such as the M-Net Literary Awards to concretize the aspirations of our diverse society and help nurture and inspire the writers of tomorrow”, says Langa.

For more information about the M-Net Literary Awards, please visit www.mnetcorporate.co.za

Issued on behalf of the M-Net Literary Awards by:
Trevor Crighton
trevor@pageone.co.za
083 652 7713

Rules: M-Net Literary Awards 2010:
1. Only novels published between January 2009 and December 2009 come into consideration for the awards. Novels shorter than 10 000 words do not qualify for the awards.
2. A novel previously submitted for the M-Net Literary Awards in another language or which has been published elsewhere in any other language will not be eligible for entry. This condition thus precludes adaptations and translations.
3. The closing date for entries is 30 November 2009. Any novels published in December 2009 should be couriered separately.
4. Publishers or individuals may enter novels for the M-Net Literary Awards, provided that the consent of the author, his/her heir or authorised representative/agent has been obtained in writing.
5. Participating authors must be South African citizens. Dual citizenship is, however, allowed.
6. Books wrongly submitted (e.g. different genres) will be disqualified and not returned.
7. TEN copies of each novel entered must be forwarded, preferably by courier, along with the official Entry Form, to the following address:
The Administrator, M-Net Literary Awards
Attention: Annalie Ackermann, 137 Bram Fischer Drive, Randburg
Tel: 011 686 6220
e-mail: annalie.ackermann@mnet.co.za
8. The decision of the administrators, advisers and judges of the M-Net Literary Awards is final. No correspondence will be entered into.