Romeo Forbes
Children’s Story Writing Competition
We hold this competition at least twice a year, open to Filipinos worldwide. The first and only of its kind, it invites writers to pen a children’s story inspired by a painting or sculpture by CANVAS’ chosen local Filipino artist.
That same artist will then bring the winning story to life through a series of around 20 new artworks. These are finally showcased in a major solo exhibition and used as illustrations for the ultimate offspring of this unique collaboration: a full-color children’s book to be donated to public schools and communities in the Philippines.
Click the poster for the full image of the artwork.
Nat Lamina is a Filipino-Canadian artist, based in Manitoba, Canada. Lamina’s art is known for its classical aesthetic, reminiscent of the Old Masters’ paintings. His work features Western subjects featuring Greek mythology and religious subjects. Born and raised in the Philippines, he started working with paintings about local myths in the country. Given his background, Lamina produces a fusion of traditional Western painting technique and oriental subjects from Southeast Asia.
Do you see a children's story in this artwork by Nat Lamina?
If so, unleash the writer in you by joining the latest Romeo Forbes Children's Story Writing Competition, for a chance to win P45,000.00 and possibly see your story published as a full color children's book!
Rules and Conditions
1. CANVAS' Romeo Forbes Children's Story Writing Competition is open to all Filipinos anywhere on the planet. Minors may join, but will require additional legal documents if their entries are selected as the competition winner.
2. Entries must not have been previously published, and all entrants warrant the originality of their submitted entries.
3. Writers may submit only one (1) entry, in English or Filipino, with a strict and absolute limit of seven hundred (700) words. Hitting above the limit, even by just one word, will be enough to disqualify an entry. Story titles are not included in the word count. Submissions with fewer words are acceptable.
4. Entrants are free to choose the theme for their story, but must use this edition's contest piece, a new artwork by Nat Lamina (shown above), as the inspiration or basis for the entry.
5. JUDGING. A CANVAS review panel will read and review all stories received based on the following criteria:
★ Originality and Storyline (40%)
Is there an exciting introduction or hook?
Is the hero of the story a child or child-like character? Is the hero the one making decisions and moving the story forward?
Is there an engaging conflict that needs to be resolved? Is there a definite connection between the conflict and the resolution?
★ Imagery (30%)
Does the story fit the picture-book genre?
Are there interesting characters and elements?
Do the sequences revolve primarily around actions?
Is the story relevant to the contest piece? (See full image of the contest piece here.)
★ Quality of Writing (30%)
Are the introduction, conflict, and resolution distinct?
Do the scenes transition smoothly from one to the next?
Does the story use modern and youthful language? Do children characters, if any, speak like actual children?
Does the story employ proper grammar and punctuation?
The Review Panel will then send its top three to five stories to the Artist, who will select the winning story.
6. INSTRUCTIONS FOR SUBMITTING STORIES. Fill out this Google submission form.
7. The deadline for submission of entries is 5:00 p.m. (Manila time) on February 23, 2024 (Friday). An automated email, containing a copy of form responses, will be sent for every entry that we receive. If you submitted a story and do not receive an automated email, please assume that your story was not received and kindly redo your submission.
Nevertheless, entries received after the deadline, even if sent earlier, may no longer be considered for the Competition.
CANVAS shall not be responsible for entries which are not received, or which are received after the deadline, due to technical failure or for any reason whatsoever.
8. There shall be only one winner, who shall receive a cash prize of PHP 45,000.00 (less applicable withholding tax) for his/her entry. The winner shall be responsible for all applicable taxes. The winning writer shall also be entitled to five (5) free copies upon publication of the book.
9. The winner shall retain his/her full intellectual property rights over his/her story. However, by entering this contest, the winner agrees to grant and assign to CANVAS a concurrent, royalty-free, and non-exclusive right to exercise the same copyright and all other intellectual property rights granted to the author (and his/her assignees), with respect to the winning story.
Kindly note that it is the intention of CANVAS to enable free and full access to, and sharing of, the winning story to the general public, including making the same freely downloadable on the internet, as well as publishing copies of books based on the winning story for free distribution to children in public schools and disadvantaged communities throughout the Philippines.
The prize money that will be awarded shall constitute full payment of such concurrent, royalty-free, and non-exclusive grant of intellectual property and publication rights to the winning story.
10. CANVAS shall not retain any other rights to entries that are not selected as the winner, except where separate agreements are reached with the concerned writers.
11. The winner of the CANVAS competition will be announced three months after the deadline, if not earlier. The winner will also be notified via email/text on the same announcement date.
12. The decision of CANVAS in selecting the finalists, and the Artist in selecting the winner shall be final, and no correspondence or inquiries into the same—including requests for comments/feedback on received entries—shall be entertained.
13. CANVAS shall exercise full and final editorial and artistic control over the publication of the winning entry and resulting book. While it is the full intention of CANVAS to publish the winning entry as a full-color children's book, CANVAS reserves the right not to publish the same for any reason whatsoever.
14. Notwithstanding the above, CANVAS shall endeavor to work with and ensure the participation and collaboration of both artist and writer in the process. Specifically, CANVAS shall make arrangements for the artist and writer to meet and exchange ideas and shall facilitate meaningful collaboration between both parties to the extent that they are comfortable with. CANVAS will also work with and solicit the inputs of the artist and writer as regards edits, changes, modifications, and refinements that may be involved in publishing the winning story.
15. Employees of CANVAS, and members of their immediate family, as well as the Artist's immediate family, are disqualified from participating in the competition.
The Romeo Forbes Children’s Story Writing Competition fills us with as much apprehension as anticipation, because we know that our success depends on people and circumstances over whom we have very little influence or control.
We have no idea, for instance, of what stories will be submitted. The path that writers’ thoughts follow from the contest piece can and inevitably goes in all sorts of directions. It never ceases to amaze us how one image can inspire stories that range from the whimsical to the romantic to the humorous to the sentimental, and sometimes even to the absurd.
Will we find the story that is not only extremely well written but that also tickles the imagination? Can the artist adjust and step out of his or her comfort zone if the winning story is one that does fit his or her style?
And beyond that, the 18 to 24 month journey from words and artwork to actual publication is peppered with tasks, deadlines and other details for which people outside of CANVAS are responsible.
Our book projects, in other words, demand that CANVAS takes many leaps of faith — in our partners and supporters, in our selected artist, and in the Filipino writing community — and to simply trust that things will work out, as they always have.
