Writing Contest Guidelines
Writing may be submitted in one of the following categories:
Personal experience essay
Poetry
Fiction (realism)
Fiction (fantasy)
Feature writing
Specifications for submissions:
1500 words or less
12 point font (Times New Roman)
Double-spaced
Artwork is accepted, but will not influence the decision
The judges will be looking for the following characteristics:
CREATIVITY AND ORIGINALITY
Does the piece feel like an original creation? Is the idea unusual?
INTERESTING USES OF LANGUAGE
Are we surprised by such things as word choice, the use of metaphor, or the mixing together of unusual sentences and sentence structures?
SOUNDNESS
Is the piece technically correct?
Are the paragraphs, sentences, and stanzas well-structured and understood?
MEANING
How does this writer help us to see the world in a new way? How does the writer make this experience universal to all readers?
*Please note: Writing submissions will not be returned to the author, so we recommend submitting a copy of his/her work.
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Students may submit only one piece of writing. Writing submissions may be mailed separately from the registration materials, but must be received no later than Monday, March 25, 2013, to be considered by the committee.
Please attach the cover form to each entry and send to:
Youth Writing Festival Committee
Calvin College
1795 Knollcrest Circle SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49546
