I got forwarded this by my brother. I don't really understand how this company can afford to give away this much money every year with so few guidelines on what you actually have to write, but I'm not complaining!
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Are you a Budding Novelist?

MCNA is awarding an £18,000 Writer's Busary to allow a promising
writer to dedicate up to 12 months writing a work of fiction. The
bursary is open to novices as well as the experienced writers. Its
aim is to provide the successful candidate with the assistance to
allow time for writing, with a view to completing the novel within 12
months.

You can write about any subject as long as it is substantially a work
of imagination and fiction. You will also be able to retain full
copyright over your work.

For further details and to apply visit
www.medicalcasenotes.co.uk/bursary or send a SAE to Michelle
Sheppard, The Bursary Administrator, Medical Case Notes Assessment
Ltd, 47-48 Hawley Square, Margate, Kent CT9 1NY

Closing date: 30/11/2006

I'm always slightly nervous of anything that charges an admistration fee. I worry that it's a scam

Niniel, I can help you with that. Just send me £9.99 for a copy of my FREE book - "How to avoid being scammed".

I'll get it in the post straight away.

Jon

If it is a scam, they've gone about it in a very thorough-going way. Have you seen the list of judges? Hard to believe they're all lending themselves to a scam. An email to one or two of them via their university might clear things up.

Mind you, a year's a shortish time to write a novel, but I suppose £18,000 helping out with the rent would help to cut down the number of shifts you had to do at the Pig and Whistle.

Emma

They do say in the FAQ's that if you don't finish the novel in the 12 months, they don't ask for the money back, or do bad things to you. It looks kosher, and the judges certainly are respectable- I rather like their rationale that they want to balance what they do with a nod to the creative arts.

I think in the days of arts council funding and so on we forget that there are individuals out there with money who want to spend it on their enthusiasms. £18,000 isn't so much for a firm like that, and generates huge amounts of good will and good publicity. I've often thought that one of the fun things about running your own successful business would be the possibility of helping with causes or arts you approve of.

Emma

Also, they're charging £12 to enter, so, assuming they get a few thousand entries (and with such an amazing prize and such vague entry criteria that doesn't seem unlikely), I would have thought that the fees would easily cover the prize money and admin costs. I don't at all mean to imply that it's a scam - after all, someone is going to win a huge amount of money - but the company running the competition might not actually be as generous as they appear at first glance!

By my calculation they'd only need to receive 1,500 entries to make the money. This certainly looks like a great opportunity, and so far no exclusion for children's writers so I think I might have a go.

But maybe we could have a crack at setting up our own competition - if all it takes is attracting a couple of thousand entries to recover all costs... All we would need is to attract judges. Do they get paid, I wonder, that might take large chunks out of any monies received.

S

maybe I will give it a go, probably better trying this than spending the £12 on fags and booze (all of a very low quality!)

I doubt very much if it is a scam. The organisation looks like a kosher medical/legal practice: check out the website. Think I'll have a punt.
Tony

If you need a grant, it's worth investigating your local Arts Council. They don't give mega-bucks like the chaps above, but they helped me with childcare fees when I was writing my first novel.

I was at a workshop in Wolverhampton yesterday where it was stressed several times that money was avaliable for West Midland writers, and everyone on the panel it turned out had received some finacial assistance.

<Added>

http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/

It’s no scam. MCNA are a highly reputable and professional organisation. They have set up this bursary as a contribution to Arts, specifically to creative writing – presumably as an antidote to their strictly scientific work. Check their website:

http://www.medicalcasenotes.co.uk/bursary

They sent a bundle of leaflets to our writing group and I would be seriously tempted to apply if it wasn’t for this clause in their terms and conditions:

The successful applicant must commit to dedicating up to 12 months on a full-time basis to his/her novel.

There’s no way I would give up my job for £18k. however, I've sent an email asking them to define ‘full-time’ and I’ll let you know if I get an answer.

Dee

Like Dee, I rather like my job at the "Pig and Whistle" (it sounds great, Emma!) - if you find anything useful out, Dee, do let us know!

)

A
xxx

Well, I’ve had a reply already – always a good sign, I think.

I explained that I work full-time, and it wouldn’t be practical to give up my job, but a bursary would allow me to work part-time for the year. This is what they said:

We appreciate that some candidates would be reluctant to completely renege their work commitments, and, whilst the bursary is designed to liberate a candidate from their day-to-day practicalities, we don't consider part-time work as being detrimental. So long as you can open up your schedule reasonably and realistically dedicate a fair amount of time to the bursary then, by all means, do apply.

Dee

Thanks, Dee - that's really helpful!

A
xxx