http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-10431-SF-Parenting–Education-Examiner~y2009m7d8-Author-sponsored-writing-contests-for-kids
Does the body have to be of a person’s? Can it be of an animal?
It has to be a person – a settler, Irish or Chinese worker or a Native American.
When we switch bodies do we think in their point of view or our’s? Are we just switching body, not thoughts?
The story has to reflect your personal feelings about the completion of this monumental transportation system that promises to change the face of the nation, and, how it already changed or probably will change your life – for better or worse.
So, this story HAS to take place on May 10, 1869?
It doesn’t have to take place that day but it has to be based on the event of that day – the completion of the railroad that crosses the continent.
Leslie A. Pfeifer, CMP
2009–2010 topic: Describe how you felt on May 10, 1869, when the golden spike was driven at Promontory Summit, Utah, to celebrate the completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad. Pretend you are either a settler planning to use the train to travel to your new home in the West, an Irish or Chinese worker who helped build the line, or a Native American whose way of life was greatly affected by the railroad.
PARTICIPANTS: All grade 5, 6, 7, and 8 students in a public, private, or parochial school, or those who are home
schoolers, are eligible.
DO NOT SUBMIT A STUDENT PHOTOGRAPH WITH ENTRY.
LENGTH: Grade 5: 300 – 600 words
Grades 6, 7, and 8: 600 – 1,000 words
FORM: To be handwritten in black ink, typed, or prepared on a computer or word processor, using black type in a non-script font no smaller than 12 point or larger than 14 point. (A limited vision student may use Braille, a
tape recorder, or very large type. A written transcript must be included, as well as a teacher’s or physician’s
letter attesting to the student’s special need.)
Must be the student’s original work.
Must have a title page listing the following:
Title: “The Transcontinental Railroad”
(A subtitle is permitted if written below the topic.)
Contestant’s full name and address. (Street, RR, PO Box, City, State, Zip Code) Note: If the school’s regulations prohibit providing the student contact information, then school contact information may be
substituted. Contestant’s telephone number (with area code) and e-mail address, if available
Name of contestant’s school with grade level indicated
Name of sponsoring DAR chapter
Number of words in essay
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Essay must have a bibliography listing all references utilized. Internet resources, if used, should be cited
in similar format to that used for printed resources. Add the electronic address used to access the
document as supplementary information.
Any essay with information copied directly from sources without using quotes will be disqualified.
JUDGING AND
AWARDS:
Judging will be based on historical accuracy, adherence to topic, organization of material, interest,
originality, spelling, grammar, punctuation, and neatness. Pictures, maps, drawings, graphics, and other
such additions will not be considered in judging and should not be included.
From Fatima: Will there only be one winner?
Answer: There is one winner per grade.
Will there be any honorable mentions?
Answer: Yes. There will be honorable mentions.
How many entries can we submit per person?
Answer: One entry per person.
This year the Daughters of the American Revolution are sponsoring their annual writing contest with the theme of “The Completion of the First Transcontinental Railroad”. Writers are to pretend they are a settler planning to use the train to travel to their new home in the West, an Irish or Chinese worker who helped build the railroad or a Native American whose way of life was greatly affected.
According to Leslie A. Pfeifer, of Moraga, the contest is open to all 5, 6, 7 and 8th grade students in public, private or parochial schools or home schooled. They give a Bronze American History medal to the winner and honor them at their February meeting. Their story goes to the state level for judging. All writers receive Certificates of Participation.
What’s exciting is that this is another opportunity for students to be awarded for writing! By participating or winning in a contest, students can use these stories to build on their portfolios, writing resumes, AND get experience! PLUS, you’ll have the story itself to publish or use in some other way to build on for a future project. Go for it!
Check back here later for more information. Deadline will be December 1, 2009. I’ll have copies of the guidelines with me at the free Clayton Library writing workshop Susie Wilson and I are leading on July 29. (3-5 pm)
Author Linda Joy Singleton, is sponsoring a writing contest. Here is what she says:
“THE BODY SWAP WRITING CONTEST” for young writers!
Young writers have been asking for a writing contest — and here it is!
Official Rules (feel free to share this on your favorite blogs & with friends)
In DEAD GIRL WALKING, DEAD GIRL DANCING and DEAD GIRL IN LOVE, 17 year old Amber swaps bodies with Ms. Popularity, Ms. College-Girl and her very own best friend.
Question: If you could temporarily trade bodies with anyone, who would you choose? Why? And what do you think the experience would be like?
Answer this question in 300 words or less, then submit your entry to: [email protected] , stating that this is your original writing and that you have permission from your parents/guardian to enter and share your work on Linda Joy Singleton’s blogs.
Include you age, full name, and contact information (email/address).
Contest ends on July 31st. First place & honorable mention winners will be announced in August Linda Joy Singleton’s blog. (see below)
1st place: $100 plus autographed book!
Five honorable mentions will win either a free DEAD GIRL, THE SEER or STRANGE ENCOUNTERS book of their choice, autographed by Linda Joy Singleton. And the winning entries will be posted on LJS’s blog(s).
A panel of published authors will select the winning entries.
Entrants must be between ages 9 to 19. One entry per person.
Please share this announcement with librarians, teachers, parents and any young writers you know.
www.LindaJoySingleton.com
http://lindajoysingleton.blogspot.com/
I received an e-mail from an author who found me online through an interview I did. She mentioned that she is a judge for a writing contest. I visited the site of the contest, and pasted some of the guidelines below, as well as the link.
Welcome to the 2009 Fiction Competition sponsored by Girls Horse Club. Since 2001 we’ve published blogs, stories, poetry, artwork, and photography created by and for horse girls around the world.
This year we’re raising the bar with a competition judged by popular horse fiction authors and award-winning media experts. Prizes will be awarded to first, second, and third place winners in two age groups—11 and younger, and 12 – 17. Please read the entry requirements, meet our judges, and learn how to enter below.
Let the competition begin!
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
At least one of the main characters must be a horse, and that character must play a key role in the storyline.
The story can be an adventure, a mystery, a fantasy or even science fiction — the entry must be narrative fiction, but all genres are welcome.
Entries are limited to 6000 words or less. Shorter stories are also welcome.
The competition is open to anyone age 17 or younger.
Entries will be judged in two age categories: 11 and younger, 12 through 17.
Stories previously published at GHC are eligible for entry as long as they meet the requirements.
Entries must be original, written by the submitting author.
Entries will not be edited prior to judging. To assure the judges are not distracted by incorrect spelling, grammar, etc., the author is responsible for polishing her story prior to entry.
Only one entry per author.
All entries remain the property of the author. By entering, the author grants Plan B Enterprises, Inc., the parent company of Girls Horse Club, the right to publish the story at GirlsHorseClub.com and in related promotional materials.
COMPETITION INFORMATION
Only the winning entries will be published.
Prizes will be awarded to first, second and third place stories in each age group (6 total prize packages).
A mailing address is not required for entry, but is required to award prizes. Please check with a parent before entering to make sure it’s OK to provide a mailing address if you win a prize. Winners who are not able to provide a mailing address may choose to donate their prize package to a horse-related non-profit organization.
TIMELINE
ENTRY FORM OPENS: Saturday June 27, 2009 ENTRY DEADLINE: Sunday August 23, 2009 at noon Pacific Time WINNERS ANNOUNCED: Saturday September 12, 2009
Please use the email link at the bottom of any page to contact us for sponsorship rates or to arrange a prize donation.
Always read those writer guidelines!
The contest mentioned in two posts below requires a membership of $12.95 a year, unfortunately. But if that is twelve contests a year, it is pretty reasonable. (Adult contests often have fees too to be able to cover costs and pay their judges.) This is a business and not a non-profit like our California Writers Club.
http://www.kidpub.com/contest
Check here each month to see the new contest. Although it’s too late for this month’s contest deadline (June 10) we should check back for July’s contest. Amazon gift cards are given as prizes!
Another contest submitted by Fatima:
There is a contest that accepts art on the theme of “free2create.” The deadline is on Saturday, August 1.
http://ccclib.org/checkitout/free2create.html
Thanks Fatima! You are great at finding these! Liz
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