Middle school and high school writers, 32nd Annual Young Writers Contest deadline is approaching!

Deadline for submissions is March 30, 2012
March 23, 2012
by Cheryl Jacobs Ehrlich

The 32nd Annual Young Writers Contest is now open for entries. Each year the Friends of the Chappaqua Library sponsors the Young Writers Contest, to find and recognize writing of merit in the community.  All students, grades 6-12, residing in the Chappaqua Central School district or enrolled in Chappaqua schools may enter the contest.  The deadline for entries is Friday, March 30, 2012.

The three categories for submissions are:

Fiction (short story, drama);

Non-fiction (essay, journalism, humor, descriptive prose); and

Poetry

First, second and third prizes are awarded in each category, at both the middle school and high school levels. High school winners are announced at the spring Awards Assembly.

As always, this year’s contest will be judged “blind” by a panel of writing and editing professionals. Judges never know the identities of the writers, and vice versa.

Manuscripts should be submitted on paper, in quadruplicate. In past years, the Friends of the Chappaqua Library absorbed the cost of copying each manuscript to distribute to judges; the Friends of the Library save hundreds of dollars (applied to other programs) when entrants provide the copies.

The Young Writers Contest Entry Form and the official rules can be found on the Friends’ page of the Library’s website, at the bottom, or in the Teen section. It can also be picked up from the Library circulation desk, or from middle school and high school English departments.

As for the small print, all manuscripts must be typed, double-spaced, in 12-point type, and no longer than ten pages. There is no fee to enter. All three categories may be entered, but no more than one submission per category will be accepted, so submit your best work. All work must be original and the writer’s own. A separate application form is required for each submission and please make sure your name does not appear anywhere on the manuscript. Please see entry form for the full rules.

Deadline for entries is Friday, March 30, 2012, at the Library, by the close of the business day, or 2:00 p.m. at the school English departments. For more information, read the rules carefully.

The Friends of the Chappaqua Library look forward to seeing the creative talents of the students in the district, and having the opportunity to recognize their original artistic efforts.

The Friends sponsor a wide variety of library programs which enrich our amazing community resource. The Friends also purchase books, DVDs, E-books, audio materials, even furniture, and of course, sponsor the Young Writers Contest. Be sure to attend the Friends’ upcoming fundraising, a staged reading of a new comedy, on March 3, 2012.

Cheryl Jacobs Ehrlich is on the board of the Friends of the Chappaqua Library and a contributor to NewCastleNOW.org.