Blue Zoo Announces New Writing Contest for Young Writers: Best Poem about Spring

March 31, 2009 - PRLog -- Milwaukee, Wis. — Blue Zoo Young Writers announces a new writing contest for young writers between the ages of 8 and 14.

What: contest for a short poem . . . about springtime
Who: young writers, ages 8-14
Length: no more than 30 lines
Deadline: May 15, 2009

Contest Summary
Each entry should be an original, unpublished short poem . . . about spring!

You might consider an “acrostic” poem. This takes the letters of a phrase, such as “spring” (or perhaps “spring rain” or “spring flowers” or . . . ) and uses each letter (”S-P-R-I-N-G” etc.) in turn as the first letter of each line.

So you write the word vertically:

S . . .
P . . .
R . . .
I . . .
N . . .
G . . .
(etc.)

. . . and you have the first letter for a word to start each line.

The poem doesn’t need to rhyme! And you can pick any other style of poem. Just give us your best poetic thoughts, observations, details, smells, sounds, whatever . . . about spring.

There is no entry fee.

Seven top entries will be chosen as finalists (one from each age group, 8 to 14 years old). These will be posted (with the writer’s and his/her parents’ permission) on a Young Writers Hall of Fame page.

In addition, the best two poems from those seven age-group finalists will be selected for an overall 1st and 2nd prize. The 1st prize winner (Grand Prize) will get a $50 gift certificate, good at the winner’s local bookstore. The 2nd prize winner (Award of Merit) will receive a $25 certificate for a local bookstore.

Length
No more than 30 lines. Just send it in!

Tips
• Think about including smells, touch, sounds, texture, color. . . .
• Is there something about spring that means a lot to you?
• Look for ways to make the poem specific to you and where you live.

What the Judges are Looking For
• Creativity!
• Good details!

For detailed Entry Rules & Submission Details, visit:
http://bluezoowriters.wordpress.com/current-blue-zoo-writ...

Note to Parents & Educators
This contest for young writers is a good way to encourage the young writer in your family or classroom (public, private, or homeschool) to write a short poem. Remember: the point of it all is to enjoy the writing!

About Blue Zoo Young Writers
Blue Zoo (http://bluezoowriters.wordpress.com) is a blog website that offers great ideas and activities to help middle school and young teen writers with all sort of writing projects: poetry, stories, articles for a school paper, book reviews, and lots more.

Ideas range from story starters to samples to quick exercises for a writing journal, all to teach writing techniques used by successful writers. Blue Zoo also suggests places to submit work for publication (print magazines or online sites), and recommends good writing contests.

Blue Zoo is focused on fun and good writing. It has application for homeschooling assignments or in classroom literary arts programs. The focus is on motivating young writers to write well for their own satisfaction.

Please pass on the Blue Zoo link to local teachers, librarians, and parents . . . and online to friends and bloggers interested in writing and encouraging young writers.

Blue Zoo is sponsored by the publishers of The I Love To Write Book: Ideas & Tips for Young Writers, by Mary-Lane Kamberg. Kamberg is director of a summer writing camp in Kansas for young writers.

To read more about the contents, visit Crickhollow Books (http://www.CrickhollowBooks.com).
The I Love To Write Book is available at local bookstores everywhere or from online retailers.

Great Lakes Literary, LLC works with writers, independent presses, and small businesses to create works of lasting quality and meaningful impact. Great Lakes Literary is the publisher of Crickhollow Books and sponsors the blog of tips and advice for young writers, Blue Zoo Young Writers.

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Great Lakes Literary, LLC works with writers, independent presses, and small businesses to create works of lasting quality and meaningful impact. Great Lakes Literary is the publisher of Crickhollow Books and sponsors the blog of tips and advice for young writers, Blue Zoo Young Writers.