Caya Academy: Your English Language Partner
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Malaysia Young Author Award (MYAA) is a dynamic three-round English Story Writing Competition. It is designed to nurture and showcase young writers in the English language.
Participants will have the opportunity to express their creativity through compelling written stories, and then bring those narratives to life through captivating visual and verbal presentations.
Winners will have their stories published on our website and will have the opportunity to serve as judges for future MYAA competitions, write for the Young Reader Club, and participate in social responsibility projects with the Catherine Khoo Writing Foundation. The deadline for MYAA 2024 registration is August 18, 2024.
Task
(1) Story Writing: Write a story you'd love to read and submit it.
Registration Deadline
18 August 2024
Submission Deadline
25 August 2024
Advancement
The top 10% stories will proceed to the semi-finals.
Task
(1) Video Trailer: Create a video trailer of the story you wrote.
(2) Write a Blurb: Provide a brief summary of your story.
Submission Deadline
16 October 2024
Advancement
Finalists will be chosen through a combination of online voting and decisions by the organizing committee.
Task
(1) Live Q&A Session: A conversation with our judges about your story.
Date
9 10 November 2024
Mode
Online via Zoom
The competition comprises 3 rounds: Preliminary Round, Semi-Final Round and Final Round.
PRELIMINARY ROUND (August 2024)
• Participants submit their written stories of 800 to 1,500 words (refer to column (5) Story Word Count for the word limit) by 25 August 2024.
• Each story will receive comment from our panel of judges.
• The top 10% stories will be invited to join the semi-finals in October 2024.
SEMI-FINAL ROUND (October 2024)
• Semi-finalists create a short trailer video (30 to 80 seconds) of their submitted stories and write a blurb. The more creative, the better. Submit by 16 October 2024.
• The videos will be posted on our Instagram/Facebook accounts with the story blurb as the caption. The goal is to promote your story and gain attention from the audience.
• The 20 finalists of each category will be chosen through a combination of online voting (most likes) and organizing committee decisions.
FINAL ROUND (November 2024)
• Finalists will take part in a 30-minutes group Q&A session to have a conversation with us about their stories on 9 November 2024 via Zoom. Winners will be chosen based on their performance in the preliminary round and final round.
The number of finalists may vary depending on the total number of participants.
The registration for MYAA 2024 is closed. See you in MYAA 2025!
The registration for MYAA 2024 is closed. See you in MYAA 2025!
Students should enroll according to their year of birth. There are three MYAA categories:
Junior Category
• For ages 12 and below (born 2012 or later)
Intermediate Category
• For ages 13 to 15 (born 2009 to 2011)
Senior Category
• For ages 16 to 18 (born from 2006 to 2008)
Candidates should adhere to the following word count based on their category when writing their stories. The organizer reserves the right to disqualify any stories that do not adhere to the word count limit.
Junior Category
• 800-word (minimum) to 1,100-word (maximum)
Intermediate Category
• 1,000-word (minimum) to 1,300-word (maximum)
Senior Category
• 1,200-word (minimum) to 1,500-word (maximum)
While there’s no specific theme you need to follow, please ensure your stories fit into one of the following genres:
• Aliens & Angels
• Animal Tales
• Asian Tales
• Ghosts & Ghouls
• Heart Warmers
• Magic & Fantasy
• Mystery & Adventure
Certificate of Participation
All candidates in the preliminary round, semi-final round and final round will receive a certificate of participation after the competition.
Final Round Prizes:
Winners from Junior, Intermediate and Senior categories will each receive:
✧ 1st Prize (X1 Winner): RM1,200 cash prize, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website.
✧ 2nd Prize (X1 Winner): RM800 cash prize, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website.
✧ 3rd Prize (X1 Winner): RM500 cash prize, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website.
✧ Merit (X1 Winner): RM300 cash prize, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website.
✧ Consolation (X6 Winners): RM50 each, certificate of achievement, and publication on our website.
In addition to cash prizes and certificates, winners will have their stories published on our website. They will also receive opportunities to serve as judges for future MYAA competitions, contribute to the Young Reader Club, and participate in social responsibility projects with the Catherine Khoo Writing Foundation.
Published Young Authors:
Our judging panel includes published young authors who have not only been recognized for their outstanding writing in previous Asia Young Author Awards but have also served as judges for past MYAAs. Their firsthand experience ensures a thoughtful and insightful assessment of participants' submissions.
Ms. Catherine Khoo:
We are privileged to have Ms. Catherine Khoo, founder of the Unique English Classroom and creator of the Young Author Award from Singapore will also be part of the judging panel. Catherine is an author, editor, lecturer, and moviemaker with more than 30 years of experience in media. She was the Editor-in-Chief of Japan Close-Up Magazine and Asia 21 Magazine. She has published two bestselling books and is the founder of Singapore’s first boutique publisher of imprints for under-18s.
What are the judges looking for in your story?
• Creativity and imagination
• Ability to draw readers attention
• Originality
• Maintenance of interest
• Continuity and climax
By registering for the competition through our online form, WhatsApp, direct contact, or schools, you agree to allow us to use your personal data, including your full name, phone number, and email, to send you communications such as welcome letters, payment reminders, updates, announcements, and materials related to future competitions and classes from Caya Academy Sdn Bhd.
There is no refund of the participation fee.
For additional information about MYAA, feel free to contact us via WhatsApp at 011-65505400.
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