2008 Young Author's Contest (K-12)

I was asked to post the rules for the 2008 Young Author's Contest at the Memorial Library of Nazareth & Vicinity.

For those not familiar with this contest, it is a wonderful activity for children grades K-12, grouped into four categories. Students write and illustrate their own story and the winning entries are published. The student receives a copy and the other copy is added to the library collection. Once added, your child can look up his/her own name in the card catalog and friends and family can check their book out.

My daughter wrote one based on getting a Christmas tree and she was more than surprised when we visited the library during the holidays and her book was out with other holiday books.

My younger daughter, now in K, has her story written and is looking forward to illustrating it.

A few personal hints for helping a child create a story:

1. Have them pick a character they really like (could be themself, a stuffed animal, or pet)
2. Ask them to think of a problem for their character.
3. Ask them how the character could solve the problem.
4. Talk through from the beginning of the problem to how it gets solved in a few basic steps.
5. Voila - a story!

With that here are the rules:

MEMORIAL LIBRARY OF NAZARETH AND VICINITY

PRESENTS

THE FIFTH ANNUAL WRITE AND ILLUSTRATE YOUR OWN BOOK CONTEST

Contest runs from February 1^st through March 15^th, 2008.

1. The contest is open to children in grades K through 12 who reside in the Library service area (Borough of Nazareth, Bushkill Township, Lower Nazareth Township, and Upper Nazareth Township).
2. Categories are K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12^th grades.

3. Entries must be original. The ideas, words and pictures must be your own, not copied from anywhere else.

4. Please leave at least 1 ½” margin on the sides of your entry.

5. Do not fasten your pages together (no glue or staples, paper clips are recommended).

6. Entries should be at least 12 pages of story.

7. Text can be handwritten or typed. In the K-2 category only, an adult may assist with the words but please do not change words or improve the text.

8. Please use non-smear markers, crayons or any permanent medium for illustrations. No photographs are allowed.

9. Paper should not exceed 8 ½ x 11 inches and should be durable and unlined. Cover page should be made of regular paper with at least a ½” margin all the way around. COVER PAGE MUST BE THE SAME SIZE AS THE INSIDE OF THE BOOK! PLEASE SUBMIT 2 COPIES OF THE FINISHED BOOK.

10. A title page is required.

11. Entries will be accepted in the Children’s Department of the library starting March 1^st.

12. Entries should be submitted in a large, flat envelope or securely paperclipped and should not be folded. Make sure your name and phone number is on your entries.

13. Winners will be chosen in each of the four categories.

14. Winners will be announced during National Library Week in April, 2008.