Vermont Middle School Students Win Writing Competition

Sept. 1, 2011 - PRLog -- Inspired by author Robert Hunton’s visit, three middle school students from Colchester, Vermont captured awards in the Coyote’s Howl for Young Writers Project first round competition.  Entries received in the categories of Fiction Short Story, Essay, News Story w/ Headline, Poetry, Personal Letter, and Novel Synopsis were evaluated in areas ranging from grammar, punctuation, and word usage to outstanding ‘hook’ and story arc.

Entries addressed one of 7 challenging themes effecting today’s youth: 1. Feeling safe at home, respect for classmates, friends, differences, tolerance, thinking green and/or globally 2. Bullying, ‘zero tolerance’ policies at school 3. Immigration, illegal, gaining legal status 4. Border and homeland security 5. Illegal drug use/trafficking, smuggling activities, violence 6. Preserving, respecting traditional cultures 7. Preserving, respecting animals and the natural environment, climate change.

Three students from Colchester, VT Middle School submitted winning entries in two categories: Fiction Short Story and News Story w/ Headline. Each will receive special recognition from Open Books Press’ Robert L. Hunton, author of The Borderlands Trilogy. Included in the awards packages are copies of Gift of the Desert Dog personally autographed by the author, professional critiques of the submissions, and congratulatory letters on official Open Books Press Coyote’s Howl letterhead.

The second Coyote’s Howl competition period began August 15 and concludes February 29, 2012. Students ages 9 – 14 are eligible to enter online at http://www.howl.openbookspress.com.

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Open Books Press publishes adult nonfiction, and fiction for all ages in trade paperback and eBook formats. OBP is a traditional imprint of Pen & Publish, Inc., an education and nonprofit specialist dedicated to a win-win-win collaborative model.