City Library & NVDPL teen summer writing contest opens
Published: May 22, 2024
Calling all young authors! We’re looking for teen writers to spin amazing tales on the theme Echoes from the past! Finalists will receive a gift card and have their submissions added to the library’s permanent collection!
This contest is brought to you by the teen advisory groups at North Vancouver City Library and North Vancouver District Public library.
Deadline extended! Submit by Sept. 15.
Submit your piece
Participants will be celebrated at an awards gala at City Library on Oct. 19, and will have the opportunity to read from their stories. All winners will have their stories professionally bound and printed and receive a copy to keep. Copies will also be added to the collections at City Library and North Vancouver District Public Library!
Prizes
- Overall winner: $50 gift card*
- First place, grades 7 – 9: $25 gift card*
- First place, grades 10 – 12: $25 gift card*
- Honourable mention, grades 7 – 9: $15 gift card*
- Honourable mention, grades 10 – 12: $15 gift card*
- Audience choice award: $50 gift card*
*Winners may choose a gift card from KidsBooks, Helicon Books, Phoenix Books, 32 Books, Earnest Ice Cream or Delaney’s Coffee.
Guidelines & info
- Incorporate the theme Echoes from the past in your work. Be creative with the theme. It can involve historical fiction, time travel or science fiction, as just a few examples!
- Maximum length: 5,000 words.
- Submissions must be typed and submitted in .doc, .docx, .pdf, .rtf, or .txt format. Please use standard margins, double spacing, and a 12-point font.
- Do not include your name or other identifying information on the document. This will be included on the submission form only.
- Entries will be read by a panel of local authors, teens on the organizing committee, and library staff.
- Submissions will be judged on incorporation of the theme, character and plot development, structure, creativity and mechanics (spelling, grammar, etc.).
- Five winners will be selected and there will be an audience choice award given at the ceremony on Oct. 19 to one author who attends and reads from their story.
- Only one entry per applicant will be considered.
- The submission should be an original short story written by you in 2024.
- The contest is open to anyone going into grades 7 – 12 who lives or goes to school on the North Shore.
- Submission deadline: Sept. 8.
Art by Carmen SA.