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There are four categories to enter and the story can be about whatever they want to write about: funny, serious, scary or an adventure. 


Categories:
* 10 yrs old and younger – up to 300 words (with an illustration or picture, if you want!)
* 11-13 yrs old – up to 500 words
* 14-16 yrs old– up to 750 words
* 17 yrs old+ – up to 1000 words

There are some great prizes to be won for the Winners and Runners up!

Prizes:
• Each Category winner will have their story published in and issue of the RTÉ Guide
• The Winners will also receive a Kindle E- Reader and a hamper of books worth €50.
• And as an added bonus, the Winner of the under-10 category will be recorded by a TRTÉ presenter for broadcast!
• The two Runners Up in each category will receive their own hamper of books worth €50.
• The Winners and Runners up, along with their parents, will be invited to attend an awards ceremony in RTÉ, getting to meet some of the RTÉjr and TRTÉ presenters and take a tour of some of our sets!

How to Enter:
Entries can be submitted via email or post.
Email entries should be emailed to info (at) penguin (dot) ie  with ‘RTÉ Guide / Puffin Children’s Short Story Competition’ in the subject line. 

Postal entries should be accompanied with a separate sheet with your name, age, address email address and/or telephone number and posted to RTÉ Guide / Penguin Ireland Children’s Short Story Competition, PO Box 1480, RTÉ, Donnybrook Dublin 4.

Closing date for all entries is 5.00pm on Friday, June 7, 2013

Competition rules:
• The competition is open to entrants in the four categories detailed below:
o 10 yrs old and younger – up to 300 words
o * 11-13 yrs old – up to 500 words
o * 14-16 yrs old– up to 750 words
o * 17 yrs old+ – up to 1000 words
• All competition entries must be received in the required format by RTÉ or Penguin/Puffin Ireland before 5pm on Friday 7 June 2013
• The competition is not open to staff of RTÉ and Penguin/Puffin Ireland, their immediate family members or any other persons connected with the promotion.
• Only one entry per person, will be included in the competition.
• Entrants must be aged within the entered age category as at date of entry.
• Entrants under the age of 18 must get their parent/guardian or teacher’s consent before entering.
• Postal entries must be signed by entrant’s parent/guardian or teacher and include contact details
• Email entries must include parent/guardian or teacher’s name and contact details.
• One parent/guardian must be available to chaperone the winner / runner up to the awards ceremony and tour of RTÉ.
• The RTÉ Guide and Penguin/Puffin Ireland cannot accept responsibility for late or lost entries and will not return entries.
• Winners will be selected by a judging panel, nominated by RTÉ and Penguin/Puffin Ireland whose decision is final. No correspondence will be entered into.
• Winners will be contacted directly by telephone or email within 28 days of closing date.
• The winner in each category will receive the Amazon Kindle with Wi-Fi and a hamper of Penguin/Puffin Ireland books worth €50.
• The 2 Runners up in each category will receive a hamper of Penguin/Puffin Ireland books worth €50.
• The winner and runners up from each category will be invited to attend an awards ceremony and tour in RTÉ.
• All prize elements are non-transferrable. No cash or other alternative will be offered.
• Entrants must be willing to have their story published in the RTÉ Guide and recorded for broadcast by RTÉ.
• RTÉ standard Terms and Conditions also apply, for details see www.rte.ie/about/competitions
• By taking part in this competition, all participants will be deemed to have accepted and be bound by these terms and conditions.

Competition Closes 7th June 2013 at 5pm.

Best of luck with the competition and we look forward to reading your entries!

RTÉ Guide & Puffin Ireland’