Youth writing contest seeking submissions

Eastern Oregon Youth Writing Contest seeking submissions

Contact: Nancy Knowles
Director of The Oregon Writing Project at Eastern Oregon University
541-962-3795 | nknowles@eou.edu

January 14, 2014
LA GRANDE, Ore. (EOU) – Young writers are invited to enter works of poetry, short fiction, or creative non-fiction in the 2014 Eastern Oregon Youth Writing Contest.

The event is open to students from Baker, Gilliam, Grant, Harney, Malheur, Morrow, Umatilla, Union, Wallowa and Wheeler counties.

Submissions must be postmarked by Saturday, Feb. 1. Previously published work and works in translation will not be accepted.

Within each writing genre, a $10 cash-prize winner and an honorable mention will be selected from each of the following categories: elementary (grades three through five); middle (grades six through eight); and high school (grades nine through 12).

All prizes include complimentary registration for the Students Writers’ Workshop Saturday, Mar. 8 at Eastern Oregon University. Prizewinners are encouraged to attend and read from their writing to kickoff the workshop’s open mic.

George Venn is the finalist judge for the contest. A professor emeritus at EOU, Venn is a noted poet, writer, literary historian, editor and linguist.

The event is in its third year and made possible through a partnership with Fishtrap, the Oregon Writing Project, ArtsEast and the Oregon Community Foundation.

Contestants should send in one envelope a page containing their name, address, phone, e-mail, grade level, school, teacher, title and genre of each work (short fiction, creative non-fiction, or poetry.)

Writers should also include six copies of up to three works without their name, typed in 12-point font and printed on single-sided pages. Title and genre should be included on each copy.

Students or teachers and schools should keep copies of work, as manuscripts will not be returned. Submission indicates permission to publish in venues selected by the Oregon Writing Project. All rights, otherwise, revert to the writer.

Send submissions to:

Nancy Knowles
Director, Oregon Writing Project at EOU
College of Arts & Sciences, Loso Hall 154
Eastern Oregon University
One University Blvd.
La Grande, OR 97850

For more information visit www.eou.edu/owp or contact Knowles at 541-962-3795 or nknowles@eou.edu.

The Oregon Writing Project, affiliated with the National Writing Project, provides professional development for teachers in eastern and central Oregon through summer institutes, inservice and continuity programs, and shares its mission to improve the teaching of writing and improve learning in the nation’s schools. In 16 studies conducted in seven states, the writing of students taught by NWP teachers scored consistently higher than that of other students.