Integrity Media launches new creative writing and lyric competition

Here’s your chance to submit your own short story or song lyrics.

Integrity Media is all about extending the reach and influence of their authors and their stories. Their specific objectives are twofold: first, to help authors rediscover, rebuild and relaunch themselves, and secondly but equally, to guide others to bring integrity back to our society.

“Poor mental health is a challenge that affects one-in-four people,” explains Integrity Media founder Grant Budge. “Much of the population struggles with poor mental health for a variety of reasons, due to the actions of themselves, others, or the culmination of multiple events that cause them to feel a lack of self-esteem.”

“Creative writing can allow individuals of all ages that have been negatively affected by their life experiences to explore and rediscover themselves through the freedom of the pen.”

“Enabling young adults who have been negatively affected by their life experiences to rediscover, rebuild and relaunch.”

Grant discovered that writing his own story helped him to put life events into perspective, accept them for what they were, and discover a path to move forward. The result was the creation of “Mental As Anything”, an autobiographical account of his life and struggles with poor mental health, which will be available for purchase from the Integrity Media Ltd website on World Book day, 3rd March 2022.

With this in mind, Integrity Media has launched two short story competitions: one for 16-to-18-year-olds, and the other 19-to-24-year-olds.

Applicants will have access to some online tutorials, teaching them how to plan and develop a short story. The shortlisted submissions will then be compiled together into a collection, which will be published by Integrity Media Ltd. The authors of one or more submissions will also be given the chance to develop their short story into a full-length novel, and will be guided through the publication process by the team.

To submit a short story simply email your entry with a completed application form to [email protected] by December 31, 2021.

Acknowledging that not everyone will find writing a shorty story easy. Integrity Media have also launched a competition for aspiring rap artists to write new lyrics for the verses of “Hands Held High” by Linkin Park, based on the challenges facing those suffering from poor mental health. The best submission will then have the chance to be involved in the recording of the song at a studio.

To enter the lyrics competition, simply send a copy of you lyrics with the completed application form by December 31, 2021 to [email protected]. If you’d like to be considered to record your lyrics, should they be selected, then post a video on YouTube with the prefix “RebuildRelaunch” and include a link to this video with your application.

“Integrity Media, first and foremost, is all about developing a sustainable platform for everyday individuals who struggle to be heard, to become part of a community and engage in a process that can help them rediscover, rebuild and relaunch themselves,” concludes Grant. “Through publishing these stories, we aim to create a wider understanding and awareness of the actions, causes and consequences of poor societal mental health, with a hope that we can help start to shift the needle in a more positive direction.”

For more information about Integrity Media, please visit their website or their Facebook page.