Tech Thursday: FIGMENT, Online Younger Writer's Forum

"Figment is a community where you can share your writing, connect with other readers, and discover new stories and authors. Whatever you're into, from sonnets to mysteries, from sci-fi stories to cell phone novels, you can find it all here." (from website home page, http://figment.com/)

Figment allows you to read other young writers' works OR submit your own writing (must have an account) to share with others. Assign your own metadata tags for easy finding. Note that you must sign in to comment (no anonymous comments allowed!).

Signing up is free, and you can connect your Figment account with your Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblrs account for streamlined sharing.


 
Get inspired with figment news.

 Enter contests and win prizes!

Read through the newest, the most-hearted, or recently updated items, or search for content using keyword tags.

The Daily Fig is a source for original, editorial content from Figment, interviews with authors, writing advice from professionals, videos, charts, quizzes, polls...

Book reviews/suggestion from the pros.

Create a Group or browse existing groups -- groups are your place to meet up with other Figs and talk about the things you love. Ninja's? Sketching? Tolkien? Chat with others who share your interests.

 Discuss writing and books with others at the Figment forumts.

Invite your friends to join the Figment community.




Questions? Visit their FAQ page and see if it's there: http://figment.com/faqs
Question not answered on FAQ page? You can contact people directly (how awesome is that?): http://figment.com/contact

VOYA's Teen Poetry Contest

A poetry contest for teens age 12-18, but the catch is that entries MUST be sponsored by a teacher or librarian. Teens, you can't just enter yourself. However, if you come up to one of us, I'm sure we'd be happy to send in the poem for you.

Submission Guidelines:

• Contest submissions may be poems of up to thirty lines on any topic.


• They must be typed in a Word document.


• Include the following information on the same page of each poem entered: poet’s name, age, town, and state; sponsor’s name, title, organization/school/library, address, phone, and e-mail.


• Name the document file with the poet’s last name. Ex: Smith.doc


• Attach the document to an e-mail with “VOYA Teen Poetry Contest” and the poet’s last name in the subject line.


• Only one poem per teen, please.


• Contest Deadline: December 31, 2011.

Each winner will receive a $20 cash prize and a copy of the April 2012 issue of VOYA in which their poem will be printed.

From VOYA, where you'll find more info.

Being an American Essay Contest

for ages 13-19. Teachers must submit entries.

From the Bill of Rights Institute:

How does the Constitution establish and maintain a culture of liberty?

In an essay of no more than 1000 words, analyze and discuss:

• How one of the Founding principles established in the Constitution helps preserve liberty
  
• Why at least one Founder, as evidenced in a primary source document, believed your chosen principle was a safeguard to liberty
  
• Why your principle continues to be important today
  
• How you personally help preserve a culture that ensures the unalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness in America

All contest entries are due by 11:59 (PST) on December 15, 2011.

Cash prizes for Students in each of the five regions of the
2011-2012 Being an American Essay Contest
First place - $1,000
Second place - $500
Third place - $250

Cash prizes for Teacher Sponsors in each of the five regions of the
2011-2012 Being an American Essay Contest

Teachers who sponsor a student with a winning essay will receive $100 for each
student that places in his/her region.

via SLJ

Writing Workshops

For the next three Tuesday's Lynnwood Library has actual authors of teen fiction magically appearing at 4pm to help you hone your creative writing skills (and really, all your writing skills). This is a free series funded by the Friends of the Lynnwood Library, and a grant from Fred Meyer. Not only will the authors be there to answer all of your questions about writing and publishing, but I'll be giving away free books of the author's latest title to 2-3 teen attendees at each workshop.

Tuesday, August 2nd
Caridad Ferrer
4pm
Author Caridad Ferrer ("Adios to My Old Life," "When the Stars Go Blue") will use music, art, food, and other sensory stimulants to spark new creativity and precision in this writing workshop. Two attendees will win a copy of "When the Stars Go Blue."

Tuesday, August 9th
Sarah Jamila Stevenson
4pm
Author Sarah Jamila Stevenson ("The Latte Rebellion") will lead this writer's workshop on finding "voice" in your writing. She'll explain the idea of voice, illustrated with examples of distinctive writing voices from classic and contemporary YA novels. You will also talk about the difference between the author's writing voice and the characters' voices. As a group, you'll discuss what voice does for the reader's experience, and what role it plays in the writing process. Finally, the group will do a few writing exercises designed to help you find your own writing voice, and to help you experiment with character voices. Three attendees will win copies of "The Latte Rebellion."

Tuesday, August 16th
Lish McBride
4pm
Author Lish McBride ("Hold Me Closer, Necromancer") will guide teens in discovering the importance of characters and what makes them, be they good or evil, seem real. She'll share with you a few character tricks that helped her become a Morris Award finalist. Three lucky attendees will win copies of "Hold Me Closer, Necromancer."

Hope to see you there!

For directions to Lynnwood Library, click here.

Neat Looking Website for Teen Reader/Writers

Do you love books and creative writing? Have you heard about Figment?

According to the New York Times, this new website is "an experiment in online literature, a free platform for young people to read and write fiction, both on their computers and on their cellphones. Users are invited to write novels, short stories and poems, collaborate with other writers and give and receive feedback on the work posted on the site".

Looks cool to me. What do you think?

Living Evergreen Essay Contest

Have some opinions about the environment and sustainability?

More specifically, if you can write 700-1,000 words on one of the following topics:

1. What steps can you take in your everyday life to enhance and maintain the environment and
   improve sustainability?


2. What current technology and green-living practices do you and your family use today that helps
   improve the environment and what impacts do you think this makes on the environment?


3. What future technical advancements can you imagine for solving current environmental and
   sustainability challenges?

You should enter the Living Evergreen Essay Contest.

Winners will be awarded up to $200 in savings bonds (this is a good thing), among other things.

Turn around is short, though, all entries must be received by August 16, 2010.

For full rules and information.

The contest is open to all students in Washington State who are entering grades 7-12.

Good luck!

Calling Teen Writers!

How do writers make a real scene of a simple situation? Layering of course! Young adult authors Heather Davis (Never Cry Werewolf, The Clearing) and Liz Gallagher (The Opposite of Invisible) will lead you through the process of layering in setting, character emotions, thoughts and other details that make a scene come alive.

Actual. Published. Authors of Awesomeness will be at Lynnwood Library at 4pm.

Writing a book? Think you might want to someday? Aiming to be the next famous author?Just want to rock at the next creative writing assignment? Bored with summer already and need something to do this afternoon?

Not to be missed. Seriously.

And while we're at it, there are two more writing workshops this summer, so put July 27 & August 17th on your calendar, 'cause Kevin Emerson (songwriting workshop!) and Holly Cupala (Keeping Secrets: Creating Characters Who Turn the Page) will be here!

Hunger Mountain Prize for Young Writers

Ripped from the headlines an email somebody sent me:

"A Prize for Young Writers
Poetry, Fiction & Creative Nonfiction
Judge: M.T. Anderson
Prize: Publication in Hunger Mountain online
$250 to first place winner in each genre, $100 to runners-up

We are looking for talented high school students to enter poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction in the Hunger Mountain Prize for Young Writers. We accept any form of poetry. Fiction can be experimental or traditional.
Creative nonfiction can be personal essay or mini memoir.

The Judge for the competition is National Book Award Winner and New York Times Bestselling author M.T. Anderson, author of The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation; Burger Wuss; and Feed.

Submissions should be under 8,000 words, double spaced, in Times New Roman font and not stapled. Poets are welcome to enter up to three poems per entry. Manuscripts must be accompanied by an index card with the writer’s name, address, email address, telephone number, as well as the title and genre of the work. The writer’s name should not be on the manuscript itself. Please enclose a $10 entry fee. Postmark submissions by April 30, 2010. We will do our best to notify prize winners in June.

Please send work to the following address:
Hunger Mountain Prize for Young Writers
Hunger Mountain
Vermont College of Fine Arts
36 College St.
Montpelier, VT 05602

For complete guidelines and to learn about past prize winners please visit Hunger Mountain."

2010 Kate Herzog Scholarships

"Willamette Writers' goal is to provide and encourage a creative environment and support system for current and aspiring writers."

The Kate Herzog Scholarship for high school senior and college freshmen and sophomores offers four scholarships ranging from $100-$250.

Submissions must be less than 1,000 words long but can be essays, memoirs, fiction, or poetry. For more information about applying refer to their website and email.

Dates to Remember:
Application Deadline March 25th, 2010
Finalists Will Be Announced June 15, 2010
Scholarships Will Be Awarded August 7th, 2010

2010 Prodigies for Peace Writing Contest

2010 Prodigies for Peace Writing Contest
Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12

Write an essay on the following question:

This year’s theme is “Stewards of the Common Good.” Applying the principles of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his commitment to the common good of all people, how do you believe that you can become a Steward of the Common Good in your community?

Background and Instructions:
Consider how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy affected the civil rights and other important issues of Americans. Take into account the principles Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. suggested in his “I Have A Dream” speech and how they may have impacted our country for the common good of all Americans. How do you believe you can apply Dr. Rev. King’s message to become a steward of the common good in your community?

Entries may be returned to any Sno-Isle community library, or to the Everett Mayor’s Office, (2930 Wetmore Avenue, 10th Floor, Everett 98201), attention Kate Reardon. Entries may be typed or handwritten and should include: Name, Phone Number, School, Teacher, and Grade. This information should be on the upper right hand corner of the first page of the entry.

Word Limit:
Grades 6-8: 250-750 words
Grades 9-12: 500-1,000 words

Contest Deadline: No later than 5 p.m. on Friday, December 18, 2009

Awards for Students:

• 1st Place Winners for each grade category receive series I Bonds – $500 for the high school category, $250 for the middle school category and $100 for the elementary school category.


• 1st, 2nd & 3rd place winners will be recognized at the MLK Community Breakfast Celebration in January 2010 and will receive awards.


• Award Winners will be posted in The Everett Herald and displayed locally.

More information.

Help write a book!

Ever read the first line of a book and found it made you either want to keep reading or immediately put it down? Now is your chance help write a book that consists entirely of first lines!

Book: The Sequel will be filled with the first lines of (hypothetical) sequels to any book that's ever been published. So, if you want to be a part of this utter coolness, pick up a book and think of how the sequel would begin...

To enter, go to http://www.bookthesequel.com/home.php#. Entries must be submitted before the end of May to be included in the book.

Here's an example that's posted on the website, "'It turned out not to be the worst of times at all; they got so much worse later.' —From A Tale of Three Cities by Charles Dickens

Have fun!

Confess Your Biggest Screw Up!

Shamelessly ripped off from KL Going's site:

Win a $100 gift certificate to your local independent bookstore, Borders, or Barnes & Noble, plus a complete set of autographed KL Going YA books (Fat Kid Rules the World; Saint Iggy; King of the Screwups).

Three runners-up will receive an autographed copy of King of the Screwups.

Contest runs: April 1st - June 30th 2009.

Read submitted entries (they are kind of awesome!).

More info/enter

Read the first three chapters of King of the Screwups.

Rising Star Creative Writing Competition

From The Nature of Words:


"The competition, now in its fourth year, is awarded at the annual literary festival, scheduled for November 4-8, 2009 in Bend, Oregon. Prizes will be awarded in fiction, literary nonfiction and poetry in two age categories, 15-18 and 19-25. Winning writers will receive a cash prize, inclusion of their winning entry in an anthology, recognition in an awards ceremony at the November festival, and a scholarship to one of The Nature of Words workshops in their winning genre."

• The competition is open to writers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.


• Competition genres include poetry, fiction, literary nonfiction and literary non-fiction-nature essay.


• The nature essay should offer a reflection on the natural world as it affects and informs the personal world. The writing should demonstrate close observation of nature, as well as the ability of the writer to extrapolate from that observation nature’s ability to instruct mankind.


• All entrants must be a member of one of the eligible age categories: ages
  15-18 or ages 19-25.


• Entries must be received in The Nature of Words email (risingstar@thenatureofwords.org) no later than 12 midnight on the submission date of June 10, 2009.

Full details available here.

Fund Your Dream

Lisa McMann, author of Wake and the upcoming sequel Fade, along with her publisher, Simon & Schuster, is offering an essay contest worth $1,000 dollars to the winner. All you have to do is answer one question:

What is the Greatest Obstacle You’ve Overcome?

Find out more and submit your entry.

Contest ends on 3/6/09 at 11:59 p.m. EST.

via Justina Chen Headley

Writing Help

I just stumbled across a list of the 40 of the Best Websites for Young Writers. They have a ton of great resources listed, including links to the Young Writer's Society, Eighteen Questions, Writing Contests, and a whole armful of grammar sites that can help you decide which "lay" to use.

However, don't forget that your friendly neighborhood library offers tutoring help through Brain Fuse (click the box in the upper right corner!). They can give "feedback on your writing from an expert tutor in our writing lab or... email you helpful comments regarding your homework question." Yep, you can send them your papers for critique - or chat live with a tutor. Pretty awesome.

Like Love?

Harlequin, the long-lived, publisher of adult romances is starting a line for teen girls - and they want your help. On their site:

"The Harlequin™ Teen Panel is an online reader panel for teens between the ages of 13and 17.

Members of the Harlequin Teen Panel will participate in fun quizzes and discussions about things like: books, movies, music and websites. In other words, everything that you’re interested in.

This is the place to be if you love to read!
Sign up today to share your opinion about the books you’ve read and the books you’d like to read—as well as other things that help you choose your books."

More importantly, according to my sources:

"Teens will be asked to fill out fun quizzes; they’ll participate in discussions and will also receive FREE books (approximate retail value of $10-$15 per book?) and have a chance to enter into sweepstakes (with [parental] permission)."

Check it out, and remember, as always, if you find a book you love so much you think others should read it, ask the library to buy it - we probably will.

Dragon's Horde 2008

What's that? I hear you asking.

"Dragon's Horde is a contest for teen writers with the goal of discovering and publishing fresh talent in the areas of short story writing, poetry, artwork, photography, and illustrated stories such as manga. The prize is publication in a forthcoming anthology called, Dragon's Horde 2: A treasury of teen art and writing as well as copies of the book for the winners in each category."

Full info here.

Deadline is December 31st.

Good Luck!

Win $500 by writing a letter?

Yep. Five hundred bucks to Target, which is sorta like cash money. I could spend $500 at Target, easy.

What you have to do:

"[W]rite a personal letter to an author, living or dead, from any genre-- fiction or nonfiction, contemporary or classic, explaining how that author's work changed the student's way of thinking about the world or themselves. There are three competition levels: Level I for children in grades 4 through 6; Level II for grades 7 and 8, and Level III, grades 9 - 12."

Full instructions here and even more info, including examples of past winners, here.

The catch? You've only got until December 6th. That's Saturday.

Dear Mr. President...

If you had an opportunity to write a letter to the next President of the United States, what would you say?

So far over 5,000 teens across the United States have shared their concerns and ideas as part of the Writing Our Future: Letters to the Next President project. The project is sponsored by Google Docs and the National Writing Project, and is a way that classes learn about civic engagement and improve their writing skills at the same time.

The site can be searched by region, if you want to know what other teens that live near you are thinking about, or you can search by a particular topic that interests you.

I'm really looking forward to reading these letters.

And remember to vote on Tuesday if you can. If you're not old enough to vote, then encourage everyone you know who is registered to cast their ballots!

~ Anne