Become a Teesside time lord

Time travel is currently in vogue on British TV screens, with the recent dinosaur drama Primeval, the conclusion of the 1970s time warp cop series Life on Mars and of course the ratings-busting return of Doctor Who. And now the University of Teesside is offering an opportunity for fans to pen their own time travelling short stories, set here in the Tees Valley.

To celebrate the launch of their new Masters (MA) degree in Creative Writing, the University’s School of Arts & Media has joined Waterstones Booksellers to hold its first, free-to-enter, short story competition. The University is issuing an invitation to aspiring authors to create their own time travelling story, set in the past or future, entitled the Teesside Time Traveller.

Imaginative entries on this theme should be between one and four thousand words in short story form, typed and sent by post only (not e-mail) to the Creative Writing Programme Leader, Teesside Time Traveller Competition, School of Arts & Media, University of Teesside, Middlesbrough, Tees Valley, TS1 3BA.

The closing date for all entries is Tuesday 31 July 2007 with no age limit. Entries will be judged by award-winning local writers and the three most original stories will receive the following prizes:

• 1st Prize: £300
• 2nd Prize: £200
• 3rd Prize: £100

In addition, each of these winners will receive free books from Waterstones.

The top three time travellers will be announced on 31 August, followed by an Awards celebration in September.

Chris Thurgar-Dawson, the MA in Creative Writing’s Course tutor, (pictured) said: “We’re looking forward to reading the entries in the summer. I’m sure there are many talented and imaginative authors out there in the North-East, eager to become Teesside time travellers.”

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