Two area libraries are collaborating in the Second Annual Teen Winter Writing Contest, which gives young authors and poets an opportunity to showcase their writing skills and win prizes and publication.
Open to teen writers who reside in the Capital District, this cooperative effort between the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library and the Guilderland Public Library is an extension of the program that was started last year at GPL by Young Adult Librarian Ashleigh Whitfield, who is now on staff at the Clifton Park-Halfmoon Public Library.
Full details on the contest are available online at www.guilpl.org/teenwriting, but here are the basics:
• All participants must be in grades 6 through 12 and reside within the Capital District.
• Judging will be anonymous and based on content, creativity, style, and technique. All decisions are final.
• All entries must be original work. School assignments will be accepted. Previously published material will not be accepted.
• You may submit only one piece of writing per category, but may submit to both categories for your age group. The categories are:
Grades 6 – 8, Poetry
Grades 6 – 8, Fiction or Nonfiction Prose
Grades 9 – 12, Poetry
Grades 9 – 12, Fiction or Nonfiction Prose
The deadline for submission is Monday, Feb. 13. All submissions are to be sent to [email protected].
Prizes will be awarded to a second and first place winner for each category, in each age group. All first place winners will have the unique opportunity to workshop their pieces with Donna Liquori, Bibliofiles columnist for the Times Union.
— Mark Curiale