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Meet “It’s All Write!” 2017 Judge #5: Katherine Arden!
by BugsAndSlugs
The fifth judge for this year's “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest is Katherine Arden, the author of the critically acclaimed debut novel, The Bear and the Nightingale. In this story of 14th century Russia, Arden’s heroine, Vasya, is a willful child who can speak to wood sprites and household spirits. Her ability is tolerated until her father marries a pious woman who detests the pagan beliefs of Vasya's people, and as the villagers turn from their old ways, the spirits that kept them safe begin to fade. Vasya soon finds she may be alone in her ability to save her family, her village, and perhaps the world.
Check out Katherine Arden’s website to learn more about her adventures in Moscow, picking macadamia nuts in Maui and the roundabout way in which she became a published author. And don’t worry, if you love The Bear the and Nightingale, it’s the first installment in a trilogy!
Stay tuned for more information about “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest 2017 Judges!
Blog Post
Meet “It’s All Write!” 2017 Judge #4: Mike Grosso!
by BugsAndSlugs
The fourth judge for this year's “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest is Mike Grosso, a 4th grade teacher, musician, and author of I am Drums. In this debut novel, sixth grader Sam will do anything to play the drums, especially when she finds out her school’s music program will be cut next year. “This is a worthy and entertaining read about how talent develops and what the potential consequences of pursuing it are: drumroll, please, for a fine homage to spirited single-mindedness.” (Kirkus)
Mike Grosso’s advice for young writers: “Read a lot. Write a lot. Pay attention to other people, even the ones you don't like. Try new things. Figure out what you have to say that nobody else has said. Restate what other people have said in your own unique way. Give yourself opportunities to fail. Remember that failing is just a step on the road to success. Eat cookies. Lots of cookies.”
Learn more about Mike Grosso the author/musician on his website and stay tuned for more information about “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest 2017 Judges!
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Meet “It’s All Write!” 2017 Judge #3: Kristin Bartley Lenz!
by BugsAndSlugs
The third judge for this year's “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest is Kristin Bartley Lenz, a writer and social worker from Metro-Detroit whose debut novel, The Art of Holding On and Letting Go was a Junior Library Guild Fall Selection in 2016. Kristin fell in love with the mountains when she moved to Georgia and California. Now she’s back in Detroit where she plots wilderness escapes and manages the Michigan Chapter blog for the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI).
In The Art of Holding on and Letting Go, Cara, a competitive climber who feels most at home in the mountains, is sent to Detroit to live with her grandparents and attend public school when a tragedy separates her from her parents and the nomadic lifestyle she's always known. Cara's story is described as, "A hot pick for outdoorsy teens who like relatable characters, with a bit of romance, mystery, and a road trip."(School Library Journal) and "A compelling, unusual coming-of-age story.” (Kirkus)
Stay tuned for more information about the “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest 2017 Judges!
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Meet “It’s All Write!” 2017 Judge #2: Cori McCarthy!
by BugsAndSlugs
Cori McCarthy, our second Judge for the 2017 “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest is the author of the much-acclaimed YA novels Breaking Sky,You Were Here and The Color of Rain. Cori's fourth novel, Now A Major Motion Picture, will be released in April 2018.
Cori McCarthy currently lives in Michigan and spends most of her time playing guitar, reading poetry, raising her son, and running a teen writing group. Like many of her characters, she is a member of the LGBTQ community. Cori started writing when she was just 13 years old! Check out corimccarthy.com to learn all about this talented author, and stay tuned for more information about the “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest 2017 Judges!
Blog Post
Meet “It’s All Write!” 2017 Judge #1: Cara Chow!
by BugsAndSlugs
The “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest of 2017 is wrapping up, and it’s time to introduce the judges! If you're still working on your story, don't worry - submissions will be accepted until midnight on February 24th! Check out the Flash Fiction and Short Story guidelines for more information.
Cara Chow, author of the young adult novel Bitter Melon, was born in Hong Kong and grew up in the Richmond district of San Francisco. Ms. Chow was a 2001 PEN Emerging Voices Fellow, and Bitter Melon, her debut novel, made the Young Adult Library Services Association's 2012 Best Fiction list. Cara currently lives in the Los Angeles area with her husband and son.
Stay tuned for more information about the “It’s All Write!” Teen Writing Contest 2017 Judges!
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Only a Few Days Left to Enter the "It's All Write!" Contest!
by krayla
If you're a writer in grades 6-12, you still have time to send your work to the "It's All Write!" Teen Writing Contest! Just copy and paste your short story or work of flash fiction in the submission form by midnight on Friday, February 24. Please send any questions to Kayla at allwrite@aadl.org.
Happy writing!
Blog Post
Only Two Days Left to Enter the 2017 "Write On!" Short Story Contest!
by krayla
Calling all writers in grades 3-5! The deadline to send your story to the "Write On!" Short Story Contest is this Friday, February 3. Check out the guidelines and then email your work to youngwrite@aadl.org. Happy writing!
Blog Post
AADL Writing Contests Begin Today!
by krayla
We want to see it in writing! Starting today, AADL's two writing contests are accepting entries and offer the chance to win fabulous prizes! Read on for more information:
KIDS in grades 3-5 can enter the by email or in person at the Downtown branch. View the for more details. Please send questions to youngwrite@aadl.org
TEENS in grades 6-12 can send works of flash fiction and short stories to the through our . View the for more details. Please send questions to allwrite@aadl.org
If you're stuck wondering what the judges are looking for, try structuring your story to include these elements:
*A creative and original plot with a solid resolution
*Well-developed and detailed characters
*A clear story sequence from beginning to end
Happy writing!
Blog Post
Coming Soon: Writing Contests for Kids and Teens!
by krayla
Come one, come all for the amazing, spectacular, once-every-year-without-fail WRITING CONTESTS hosted by the Ann Arbor District Library! Starting on Monday, January 16, kids can enter the 3rd-5th Grade Short Story Contest and teens in grades 6-12 can send works of flash fiction or short stories to the "It's All Write!" Teen Writing Contest. Guidelines and writing resources are currently available for both contests, so get out your pencils, your keyboards, your quills, or your styli, because it's about to get EPIC.
Writing & Publishing
NaNoWriMo: Free Write Session
Sunday November 20, 2016: 2:00pm to
4:00pm
Westgate Branch: West Side Room
Grade 9 - Adult