Skip to main content

Teen Writing Contest

The Houston Public Library is running its first teen writing contest. Subjects for your short story or poem are limited only by your imagination. Entries will be judged on originality, use of language and technical skill. You can submit to both categories – short story and poetry.

Categories:
 1A – Poetry: Grades 6-8
1B – Short Story:  Grades 6-8
2A – Poetry: Grades 9-12
2B – Short Story: Grades 9-12

All entries will have to adhere to contest rules and deadlines. Entries will be judged on the following:
 Originality
Use of Language
Technical Skill

Prizes for Each Category:
 1st Prize = $25 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
2nd Prize = $15 Barnes & Noble Gift Card
3rd Prize = $10 Barnes & Noble Gift Card

How to Submit Entry:


By Mail: Houston Public Library | Attn: Rebecca Denham - Teen Room | 500 McKinney St., 77002. Use the fillable PDF form.

Online: complete the form below. Don't forget to upload your document file!

Contest Submission Rules:

Participants must be a current student between grades 6-12.
For each submission fill out the entry form (download here) and attach to your submission. A submission consists of 1 entry form attached to 3 copies of your entry. (If you participate in two categories, you should have two Entry Forms.)

One entry per category per participant
Submit 3 copies of your entry typed on white paper with 1 entry form attached. No handwritten entries will be accepted.

Text & Formatting
Title of work should appear at the top of the submission. Your name should only appear on the entry form. Do not put your name on the copies of your short story or poem attached to the entry form.
Color – Black ink only
Font – Times New Roman
Size – 12pt
Spacing - 1.5 line spacing
No pictures are permitted

All entries must adhere to the word count. Poetry must be 800 words or less. Short stories should be a minimum of 1000 words and not exceed 5000 words.
All short stories must be stand-alone. Excerpts of larger works will not be considered.
All entries must be original work; Fanfiction will not be accepted.

All entries must be received by 5 PM on July 30, 2016

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Dealing with Grief

Below are some sites that can help you cope with the grieving process. Death and Grief Teen Grief Support Help for Teens Teens and Grief Support for Grieving Teens Grief Speaks: Death of a Friend
Post a Comment
Read more

2014 Billboard Music Award Winners

The Billboard Music Awards were aired last night. Here is the list of the winners: TOP ARTIST: Justin Timberlake TOP 100 HOT SONG: "Blurred Lines," Robin Thicke (featuring T.I. & Pharrell) TOP BILLBOARD 200 ALBUM: "The 20/20 Experience," Justin Timberlake TOP DUO/GROUP: Imagine Dragons TOP NEW ARTIST: Lorde TOP TOURING ARTIST: Bon Jovi TOP MALE ARTIST: Justin Timberlake TOP FEMALE ARTIST: Katy Perry TOP HOT 100 ARTIST: Imagine Dragons TOP BILLBOARD 200 ARTIST: Justin Timberlake TOP DIGITAL SONGS ARTIST: Katy Perry TOP RADIO SONGS ARTIST: Justin Timberlake TOP SOCIAL ARTIST: Justin Bieber TOP STREAMING ARTIST: Miley Cyrus TOP R&B ARTIST: Justin Timberlake TOP RAP ARTIST: Eminem TOP COUNTRY ARTIST: Luke Bryan TOP ROCK ARTIST: Imagine Dragons TOP LATIN ARTIST: Marc Anthony TOP DANCE/ELECTRONIC ARTIST: Daft Punk TOP CHRISTIAN ARTIST: Chris Tomlin TOP R&B ALBUM: "The 20/20 Experience," Justin Timberlake ...
Post a Comment
Read more

RECENT YA RELEASES SET IN THE 1990S

  Tirzah Price   Sep 6, 2023 The 1990s are alive and well with Gen Z! While it might be simple to say that the ’90s are so popular because of the fashion aesthetics or easy access to ’90s pop culture (thanks, internet!), I think the ’90s are such an interesting time period to explore for today’s teens because they look back on a time (although not so long ago!) where our lives didn’t center around the constant connection of phones, social media, and the internet. While some things have changed, we’re still facing a lot of the same social issues, but in different contexts. YA books set in the 1990s aren’t exactly scarce thanks, likely, to many millennials’ nostalgia, but here are three more recent YA releases set in the 1990s for your TBR! BE THAT WAY  BY HOPE LARSON Set in 1996, this novel follows Christine, who makes a resolution to be the shiny, cool girl that people will actually want to hang out with — like her best friend. But when a falling out and a misstep le...
Post a Comment
Read more