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WRITING KID

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The zine for future writers today.

Volume 7, Issue 10           -       May 20, 2007

Publisher/Editor: C. Hope Clark

Mailto:      HopeClark1@aol.com -or-
           Hope@FundsforWriters.com

Published biweekly and free for the asking. Spread it around.

FundsforWriters/Writing Kid make no warranty as to the
accuracy of the contests, awards, etc. but we do try to
check them out in advance to the best of our ability.

---

The FundsforWriters Family - Send a blank email to subscribe:

30604-subscribe@zinester.com (larger markets)
94631-subscribe@zinester.com (small markets)
63495-subscribe@zinester.com  (young writer)

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WHO I AM (NOTES FROM THE EDITOR)

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Another guest article. Have you considered writing a
guest article for WritingKid? Are you a student, a parent,
a teacher? All are eligible. Just make sure the topic
touches upon writing. Those under 16 receive the book of
their choice. Those over 16 receive $10-$20. Send any
submissions to hope@fundsforwriters.com and label it
SUBMISSION TO WRITINGKID.

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The Sandwich That Satisfies

By Gwynne Spencer

When I'm working with GED students who have to face the
writing section of the test which requires an essay,
handwritten, in a 40-minute period, I've found the following
tips to be helpful.

The topics chosen by the examiners are usually pretty vapid.
Things like "Envision where your life will be in ten years
and expand on that topic." Even the best writers I know are
stopped dead in their tracks by these essay topics. So the
first most vital skill is brainstorming elements for the
essay.

I call it "circles and sticks" but other people call it
webbing, or creative exploration. You start with the main
topic (e.g. 'ten years from now') in a circle in the middle
of the page, then start letting your brain come up with
associations to build on. (e.g. car, home, family, job, dreams,
health) and webbing outward and outward some more. These
varied "circle and stick" noodles are later developed into
paragraphs.

Then, pen to paper, develop a topic paragraph that restates
the question and launches your essay with bright energetic
imagery. This is like the top of the sandwich.

Next, three supporting paragraphs (think of them as the lettuce,
tomato and meat) developed from the circles-and-sticks
brainstorming.

Then a summary paragraph, telling them everything you already
told them with a verve and finality that takes their breath
away, hopefully. Done.

But the best tips I've given my students aren't in any of
the books that teach you all of the above. So I'll share them
with you now.

Use pen for your finished essay. The folks who read these tests
must love seeing hundreds of essays in faint pencil, written in
a spidery light illegible hand, a favorite form of disguise in
the uncertain writer.

Skip lines. Reading the essay is easier, and I suspect that
the readers feel much more kindly toward essays that LOOK good
and READ well.

Don't erase. If you misspell a word, or decide to change a
phrase, CROSS IT OUT. Then the readers can see what a terrific
self-editor you are. I know this sounds counterintuitive, but
it does show a certain maturity to be able to reveal your
weaknesses. In some cases, it's even endearing.

Make 'em laugh. All good essays have an innate humor in them,
even the angriest. Keep in mind that comedy comes out of
convergence, and tragedy is derived from Divergence. When it
all comes together at the same time in the right place and all
the elements are accounted for (think Midsummer's Night
Dream) it's comedy. When the varied strands of discussion go
flying off in different directions like spitwads into the
darkness (think Hamlet) it's tragedy--no resolution, no
redemption, no possibility of funny.

Proofread your essay. When you're writing fast, it's easy to
use the wrong word. For spelling, read from the bottom to the
top to trick your brain into processing individual words,
making it easier to spot word pirates (their/there/they're,
where/were/we're) and fix them.

Sign your essay as well as putting your name at the beginning.
It makes it like a letter from you to the readers.

With these techniques, scoring above 500 on the essay ought
to be painfree, possible, and fulfilling.

^^^^^
Gwynne Spencer is an editor, author, publisher, GED teacher,
and web page developer. Check out her website and monthly
newsletter, the Cosmic Raccoon at www.gwynnespencer.com,
www.onceuponasign.org, or www.fifthraccoon.com.
Contact her at gwynnespencer@aol.com

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Good luck!!!  And always keep writing.

    Hope

PS
We cover elementary to college teens. Each week we
carry 12 or so opportunities for all ages. Read each
market closely. Some cover a wide range and others
address a very small age group. Always read the directions!

PPS
WritingKid accepts articles on writing from kids!
If you have a piece under 500 words, send it to me at
hope@fundsforwriters.com. Kids 16 and over receive $10-$20.
Kids under 16 receive a book of their choice (send name of
book with article submission). I'll pick up the book from
the bookstore and drop it in the mail to you.

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Our archives for past WritingKid newsletters are at:
http://archives.zinester.com/63495

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1.
WRITER'S DIGEST MONTHLY CONTEST FOR KIDS
http://www.writersdigest.com/contests/your_assignment_kids_display.asp?id=263
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E-mail entries using the online submission form. One entry
per person please. You must be 13 or younger to enter. And
you must include your parent's or legal guardian's e-mail
address so we can verify consent to enter this contest.
Your entry, including title, must be 75 words or fewer.
Your entry must be e-mailed on or before 6/10/2007.
Each winner's first name/last initial, age and entry will
be published online.

The winner will receive a certificate of achievement from
the editors of Writer's Digest magazine, a copy of the
latest issue and a $15 gift certificate to Barnes & Noble
bookstore. The Honorable Mentions will receive certificates
of achievement, a copy of the latest issue, and a $5 gift
certificate to Barnes & Noble bookstore.

THEME
There's Mother's Day. There's Father's Day. There's even
Teacher Appreciation Day. Imagine that Kids' Day has finally
made its way onto a calendar, and kids around the world must
be celebrated. Your task: Write a greeting card for the first
ever Kids' Day. It can be silly, serious, rhyming or non-
rhyming just as long as you don't exceed 75 words.

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2.
CHARACTERS - KIDS SHORT STORY ANNUAL FICTION CONTEST
http://www.cdavisnh.com/contest07.htm
---
$3 ENTRY FEE
CharacterS stories are bold, energetic and fun. We accept
most genres, including mystery, comedy, fantasy/sci-fi,
romance, history, horror, adventure and nature, but we
particularly love mystery and adventure. We are mainly
geared toward older kids, 8-17 and publish very few early
reader pieces. Word count not over 1,500. No poetry or
reprints, please. Snail mail submissions only please. There’s
a $3 entry fee per story, a limit of three stories per author.
Fee is waived for subscription holders. PRIZES will be
awarded in two categories; adult and child (to 16 years of
age). First prize in each category $50. All winners will
receive a one year subscription to CharacterS. Deadline
for entries August 30, 2007.

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3.
KIDVISIONS
http://samsdotpublishing.com/kids/KKguidelines.htm
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KidVisions is an online magazine for younger readers which
features short stories, poems, and art, as well as brief
essays on science and the environment, interviews, quizzes,
contests, [and, quite frankly, anything else that is genre-
oriented and will help encourage the younger generation to
read...and to dream].  We hope that younger writers and
artists, as well as adults, will submit their work. The
genres for KidVisions include fantasy, science fiction,
and a category we are going to define as ‘shadow stories’. 
Shadow stories are mild horror.  If you’ll forgive me for
this, we are looking less for blood and gore, and more for
snot.  Shadow stories should make the younger reader say,
“Ewwww!  Gross!”  Or, to put it another way, we want
campfire stories that will allow you to sleep in the tent
afterwards.  We want spooky, not terrifying. KidVisions
will pay $2 for each accepted original submission, $1
for reprints, and $5 for the door art. 

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4.
MOMENT MAGAZINE PUBLISH-A-KID CONTEST
http://www.momentmag.com/events/pak.html
---
We invite young readers to write book reviews. Winning entries
will be published in the pages of Moment. We’ve selected a list
of books for you to choose from. Pick one or more that you
enjoy or find intriguing and tell us why!

The Pushcart War by Jan Merril
Sam I Am by Ilene Cooper
Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
Milkweed by Jerry Spinelli
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
Hababi by Naomi Shihab Nye
Running on Eggs by Anna Levine
Dave at Night by Gail Carson Levine
The Adventures of Rabbi Harvey by Steve Sheinkin
Prince William, Maximilan, Minsky, and Me by Holly-Jane Rahlens
Journey to America by Sonia Levitin
Incantation by Alice Hoffman

Anyone ages 9-13 is eligible. We encourage children of all faiths
to enter. Please send entries in by email, with the subject
heading “Publish-A-Kid 2006.” Paste each review directly into
the text of your email. On the top of your review, include your
full name, age, home address, home phone number and grade. If
this is a school project please include the teacher’s name and
the phone number of the school, followed by the name of the book
and its author. Each review should be 1 to 2 pages double-spaced,
250-500 words. Each child can send one review for each book on
the list. Each review should be sent in a separate email.
Deadline: December 15, 2007.

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5.
AMERGIN CREATIVE WRITING AWARDS
http://www.droghedawriters.ie/amergin.htm
---
ENTRY FEE
The fee is ?5 per adult story or poem and ?3 in either category
for the junior competitions. The equivalent in sterling/US dollars
will be accepted.

The Amergin Creative Writing Awards, previously known as the
Drogheda Creative Writers Annual Short Story and Poetry Competition,
are now in their 15th year and well-established as one of Ireland’s
leading literary competitions. Categories:
 
Adult Short Story
This can be on any theme with a maximum of 2,000 words.
1st Prize  ?500, 2nd Prize ?250, Highly Commended ?50 (two prizes)

Adult Poetry
Poems can be on any subject, up to 40 lines
1st Prize ?300, 2nd Prize ?150, Highly Commended ?30 (two prizes)

Junior Short Story
Any subject but with a limit of 800 words

Under 10s:
1st Prize  ?100, 2nd Prize ?60, Highly Commended (two) ?15 

10-16 year olds:
1st Prize  ?100, 2nd Prize ?60, Highly Commended (two) ?15

Junior Poetry
Poems in this category are limited to 20 lines

Under 10s:
1st Prize ?75, 2nd Prize ?40, Highly Commended ?10            

10-16 year olds:
1st Prize ?75, 2nd Prize ?40, Highly Commended ?10   

Adult short stories must not exceed 2,000 words. Poems must
not exceed 40 lines.  There is no limit on number of items
per entrant. Junior short stories may be up to 800 words.
Junior poems up to 20 lines. There is no limit on number of
items per entrant. Deadline July 6, 2007.

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6.
NEW ENGLAND POETRY CLUB CONTEST
http://www.nepoetryclub.org/contests.htm
---
NO ENTRY FEE
Deadline June 30, 2007. All contests are open to members
in good standing except Board members. Entries must be original
unpublished poems in English. No poem may be entered in more
than one contest, nor should it have won a previous contest.

Daniel Varoujan Award
For an unpublished poem (not a translation) worthy of Daniel
Varoujan, a poet killed by the Turks in the genocide which
destroyed three-fourths of the Armenian population. Prize $1,000.

John Holmes Award
For a poem by a New England college student. Send poems in
duplicate, with student’s name, name of school, and school
year on one copy. Prize $100.

Ruth Berrien Fox Award
For a poem by a Massachusetts high school student.
Send to 2 Farrar Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. Prize $100.

Longfellow Prize
For a poem by a Massachusetts student in grade 6, 7 or 8. 
Send to 2 Farrar Street, Cambridge, MA 02138. Prize $100.

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7.
GOI PEACE ESSAY CONTEST
http://www.goipeace.or.jp/english/activities/programs/0702_00.htm
---
The theme of this year's International Essay Contest is
"The role of media and information and communication
technologies in building a peaceful world." Young people from
around the world are invited to submit their creative ideas on
this theme. Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years
old in one of the following age categories:
a) Children (ages up to 14)
b) Youth (ages 15 - 25)
 
Essays must be 800 words or less, typed or printed in English,
French, Spanish or German. Deadline June 30, 2007. The following
awards will be given in the Children’s category and Youth category
respectively:

1st Prize (1):  Certificate and prize of 100,000 Yen
(approx. US$840)

2nd Prize (2):  Certificate and prize of 50,000 Yen
(approx. US$420)

3rd Prize (5):  Certificate and gift 

Honorable Mention (25):  Certificate and gift
 
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8.
IRIS CHANG MEMORIAL ESSAY CONTEST
http://irischangmemorialfund.net/Essay_contest_2007/07_ICMEC_policy_0202.html
---
The essays will be in line with Iris Chang’s spirit and
passion in seeking the truth and justice as well as defending
human rights. Topic: The Denial and Its Cost- Reflections on
Nanking Massacre 70 years ago and beyond. Deadline June 30,
2007. Three best essays will be selected from all entries. 
The awards for 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizewinners are $1,000,
$500 and $300, respectively.  In addition, several honorable
mention winners will be awarded with $50 each.

Iris Chang Youth Award - a special award added this year. 
An award of $200 each to the top three essays submitted by
high school students.   Only high school students whose
essays are not selected for the overall top three prizes
are eligible for these awards. 

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9.
BBC BLAST - SCREENWRITING
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/schools/11_16/blastni/compos/script.shtml
---
BBC Blast Northern Ireland is offering budding young
screenwriters, between ages 13 and 19, the chance to work
with screenwriter and film director Terry Loane. We want
to find a short script which will be made by BBC Blast
filmmakers, under the watchful eye of established local
professionals. It will be filmed and edited during the
BBC Blast Festival from June 27-July 1 and will be shown
on the website with the possibility of screening on
television. It can be anything from comedy, drama, thriller,
rom-com, horror - whatever you like. Deadline May 25, 2007.

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10.
THE FRASER INSTITUTE ESSAY CONTEST
http://www.fraserinstitute.ca/studentcentre/englishessay.asp
---
1st Prize: $1,000
2nd Prize: $500
High school category: $250
 
2007 Topic: Eliminating world poverty: what is the best approach?

The contest is open to Canadian and foreign students. A
student is defined as someone who attended school in the
2006/2007 school year or is enrolled to attend in 2007/2008.
Submissions will be considered from secondary and post-
secondary (undergraduate and graduate) students in all
disciplines. Secondary students will be considered in a
separate category, with a cash prize of $250. Outstanding
high school submissions will not be excluded from winning
the $500 and $1,000 post-secondary prizes. Entry must
include a typed essay of 1,000-1,500 words. Deadline June
1, 2007.

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11.
SCHOLASTIC WRITING AND ART AWARDS
http://www.scholastic.com/artandwritingawards/enter.htm
---
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards offer early recognition
of creative teenagers and scholarship opportunities for
graduating high-school seniors. The Awards are national in
scope and administered by the Alliance for Young Artists &
Writers. The process begins across the country as young
artists and writers submit creative works of art and writing
to a network of affiliate programs of the Alliance who share
the Alliance’s vision to inspire the next generation of
artists and writers. Supported by their visual arts and
writing teachers and other community mentors, participants
create and submit their best works in any of the following
writing categories:

Dramatic Script
General Writing Portfolio
Humor
Journalism
Nonfiction Portfolio
Novel
Personal Essay/Memoir
Poetry
Science Fiction/Fantasy
Short Story
Short Short Story

Young artists and writers currently enrolled in grades 7 – 12
can enter as well as those who attend a public, private,
parochial or home-school in the United States, U.S.
Territories or U.S.-sponsored schools abroad. Canadian students
in equivalent grades are also eligible as part of the Region at
Large. On the national level, award recipients are recognized
with medals, certificates, and listing in the national catalog
and on the Alliance web site.  A selection of national award-
winning works are included in the national catalog and the
annual anthology.

NOTE:  New entries start taking place in September 2007.
This is a major competition, and I'm listing this competition
to allow you to work on your pieces throughout the summer.
They have a novel writing competition as well.

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12.
FUN TRIPS LIVE
http://www.funtripslive.com/common/writers_guide.htm
---
Articles are published online.  They may appear on the
FunTripsLive.com webzine or in the accompanying electronic
newsletter. Pay on acceptance. Pays ten cents/ word.
A byline is given - (be prepared to send a short bio and
picture if your article is accepted - we like our audience to
know who the storytellers are). Simultaneous submissions are
okay if they are in non competing markets.

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Contact WritingKid (the Business Stuff)

==========================================================

Receiving WritingKid is your choice.  We hope you stay but the
option is yours at all times. Unsubscribe instructions
are at the end of this letter.

C. Hope Clark
Hope@FundsforWriters.com
HopeClark1@aol.com

140-A Amicks Ferry Road #4
Chapin, SC 29036

http://www.fundsforwriters.com
http://www.theshywriter.com

Copyright 2000-2007, C. Hope Clark

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