Joan Bowditch Young Writers Award

Rules
FAQs
Application

MUCH ADO ABOUT BOOKS

The Joan Bowditch Young Writers Award

The Official Rules

About the Awards: Much Ado About Books is Jacksonville's premier literacy event, an annual celebration of reading and writing. The Joan Bowditch Young Writers Award, a creative writing competition for middle and high school students, is an exciting recognition and celebration of emerging area writers and their teachers.

Eligibility: The contest is open to all middle or high school aged students in Duval County.

Fees: There are no entry fees, no subsidy payments, and no purchases of any kind required to enter and win the contest.

Categories: Writers are invited to submit an original work (hard copy and disk) in one or more of the following genres: poetry, essay, and short story. A writer may compete in multiple categories but win in only one.

• Poetry: All poems must be 30 lines or less on one page. Up to three entries per writer.
• Essay: Essays must be 5 pages or less with no more than 250 words per page (a limit of 1,250 words). One entry per writer.
• Short Story: Short stories must be 5 pages or less with no more than 250 words per page (a limit of 1,250 words). One entry per writer.

• Contest Begins: October 1, 2007
• Entry Deadline: November 21, 2007
• Notification of Finalists: February, 2008
• Awards Ceremony: April 25, 2008

Prizes: Each of the award winners will receive their awards during a special program featuring author R.L. Stine on Friday, April 25, 2008 at the Jacksonville Main Library. The first place award includes a $100 cash prize, a framed Much Ado About Books poster, and an invitation to attend the keynote luncheon at Much Ado About Books on Saturday, April 26. The sponsoring teacher for the winning authors will receive a framed poster and an invitation to attend the Much Ado About Books keynote luncheon on Saturday, April 26, where they will be recognized during the keynote luncheon

• A completed, signed entry form must accompany each entry.
• The author's name may not appear on the entry.
• The number of entries and the length of each entry must meet the requirements listed above under "Submission Requirements".