YAA 2011/12: Building the Next Generation of Writers in Southeast Asia

It is that time of the year again.

The stage is set for the launch of the region’s premier search for the next generation of young authors and digital artists in Southeast Asia, the Young Author Awards 2011/12 and the DigiTales Awards, on 21 May 2011 at the Auditorium of the Woodlands Regional Library, 10am to 1pm.

A regional search for budding authors in fiction writing, under the Young Author Scheme (YAS) and a national search for young journalists and digital storytellers, under the Young Journalist Scheme (YJS) and Young Digital Storyteller Scheme (YoDS) of Janus Education Services, the event is supported by the Media Development Authority (MDA), the National Library Board (NLB), the National Book Development Council of Singapore (NBDCS), and the Singapore Book Publishers Association (SBPA).

Its first launch after it was incepted in 2007, the Young Author Awards and the DigiTales Awards take pride in lauding young talent and providing them with opportunities for both publication and exposure. Winning authors get an opportunity to be published as part of an anthology series, while winning digital artists are featured in the awards’ technology partner NewsMaker, under Eyepower Games.

Featured in this year’s launch are the following: a free workshop on improving composition-writing skills among primary and secondary students; a presentation of available software for language development among preschoolers; a book launch of inspirational author Oh Siew May’s latest book “Scaling Walls”; and a lucky draw with major prizes from our sponsors.

All short-listed finalists will be acknowledged during preliminary ceremonies this coming November 2011. Early this year, two of the books written by past YAA winners were translated into a television movie. One of them is entitled Helpful or Deadly by Ng Hao Qin, which he wrote when he was 11 years old, and was aired on Okto Channel 8, carrying the title Super Duper Smartimizer, a story about a boy who wanted to get smart the easy way by using his Grandfather’s quick-fix invention.

The Young Author Awards and the DigiTales Awards are made possible through the following sponsors: EmitAsia, Official Education Partner; NewsMaker, Official Digital Partner; Canon, Official Imaging Partner; with Nanyang Optical, Popular Bookstore, Pizza Hut, ODM Watches, and Brands Essence of Chicken.

Media interest and attendance for these events are most welcome. For enquiries, please contact



Carlo Pena at DID: 6336 8985 /
E-mail: carlo@januseducation.sg OR



Catherine Khoo at DID: 6336 0832 /
E-mail: catherine@catherinekhoo.sg.



Click here for the actual press articles (PDF).