The Crocodile Prize is going absolute gangbusters

BY KEITH JACKSON

THE 2012 CROCODILE PRIZE is turning out to be a rip-roaring success.

So much so that chief judge Phil Fitzpatrick, just back from Papua New Guinea, has been overwhelmed by entries in all five creative categories.

As attentive readers will know, I’ve been travelling in South America and communications have not always been easy.

But I do know that nearly two weeks ago 208 entries had been received and, since then, according to Phil, “they are pouring in now and I’m having trouble keeping up”.

The breakdown of entries two week ago showed there were 137 poems, 25 essays, 23 short stories, 14 student entries and nine heritage stories.

The Crocodile Prize - Papua New Guinea’s National Awards for Literature - is an initiative of PNG Attitude and the PNG Post-Courier.

It offers K35,000 in prize money and publishes the best PNG writing in an annual anthology.

There is a K5,000 cash award & Crocodile Trophy for the winner of each category:

Cleland Prize for Heritage Literature
Steamships Prize for Short Stories
PNG Chamber of Mines Prize for Essays & Journalism
Chalkies' Yokomo Prize for Student Writing
Ok Tedi Mining Prize for Women's Literature
The Society of Writers, Editors and Publishers Poetry Prize
British American Tobacco (PNG) Prize for Lifetime Literary Achievement

Entries close on 31 May. Further information, including the entry form, here.

Comments

[Tavurvur]

This is wonderful news! I'm loving the updates on the interest that the Crocodile Prize is gathering!

[Regina Dorum]

Thanks Phil, you doing a great job. Maybe there should be a Prize for you too! Over to you, KJ.
__________

Phil's prize is that we don't feed him to the crocodiles - KJ

[Michael Dom]

I don't envy Phil's task, but I can't say I'm sorry for adding to more to it.

Your victims of your own success you old pukpuks!

Expect another four or five from me.

Cheers!

[Phil Fitzpatrick]

As of this morning we had 251 entries from 62 entrants.

There are 34 short stories, 160 poems, 29 essays, 19 student entries and 9 heritage entries.

If I was a potential entrant and wanted to play the odds I'd be looking at either a short story, an essay or a heritage category entry. If I was a student the odds are even better.