Posts Tagged ‘publishing opportunities’

College Go Week Essay Contest

Here is your chance to earn extra credit and be entered in a contest to possibly win $529 towards an Indiana College-Choice 529 Savings Plan and an an Indiana College sweatshirt of your choice.   What do you have to do?

It’s easy.  Take your essay from last Monday (What are you doing to get ready for college?).  Revise and type it.  It needs to fit on one page.  Create a one page poster or collage (on 8 1/2 x 11 paper).  Turn in your typed essay and poster to me.  Every student who does so will earn extra credit.  I will choose the top 10 from my students to submit to the state contest.

Typed essay and poster due by October 19!

No fooling…fun on a Friday

First fun item for Friday is news of another student being published.  You guys ROCK this year!

Chase S wrote a memoir about shooting his first turkey.  It is up on an outdoor/hunting/fishing blog.  Check it out at Bill Howard’s Outdoors.  Not only is it published on this blog, it will also run in two newspapers:  The Wilson Times and The Yancey County News. 

Now, for a history lesson.  You may have missed the first broadcast in 1957, but it’s not too late to learn all about the spaghetti harvest in Switzerland.  Besides, enjoy the cool English accents in this BBC broadcast.

 

What is your favorite April Fool’s joke–whether you pulled it or had it pulled on you?

Congratulations!

Way back when we were writing poetry, some of you got brave and entered the poetry contest sponsored by Creative Communication.  For four students, it paid off!  These guys will all have their poems published in the next anthology. 

Check them out for yourself–

Way to go, guys!  Now it’s your turn.  Get over to Creative Communication and enter a contest for poetry or essays (either memoir or editorial).

Essay contests…enter at your own risk!

I have two essay contests with deadlines fast approaching!  If you have your memoir in good shape (you know who you are), you can choose to write the essays during class for pages of writing.  If you work quickly, you can even turn them in for editing by me.

The first contest is sponsored by our very own Student Council in conjunction with our upcoming Veteran’s Day program.  If you missed the announcements during homeroom, here it is again:

Topic:  I want to say thank you to a Veteran because…

Length:  less than 500 words–all written by you, one of our 7th or 8th graders

Must be typed or written neatly.  Use correct grammar and punctuaction.

Turn in to Mrs. Lubker in room 144 by 3:05 on Friday, October 29.

The winner will read their essay at the Veteran’s Day program and win $50.

If you are still feeling patriotic, you can also enter the Patriot’s Pen contest sponsored by the Veterans of Foreign Wars. 

Theme:  The topic this year is Does patriotism still matter? 

Length:  Less than 300 words

Deadline:  Turn in to Mrs. McGriff by Friday, October 29 so I can get them in the mail.

Check out the flyer on the back bulletin board for more information.

Good News

I’ve gotten lots of good news this week. 

First, Tessa Gratton shared the cover for her new book, Blood Magic, coming soon on April 26.  For those of you keeping track, that’s Shakespeare’s birthday.  How appropriate for a writer who also acts and shares her performances of Shakespeare monthly.  Check out the cover here on her blog.  Isn’t it beautiful?  Now, who wants to buy me a copy in honor of the Bard’s birthday?

The next news is from last year.  Several students entered poetry and essay contests sponsored by Creative Communication.  I received the good news that Amy H. has a poem that will be published in the upcoming Celebration of Young Poets.  Six students had essays selected for publication in an anthology as well.  They are Carl C., Ali K.,  Claire M., Cammi S., Jesse S., and Tori W.  Congratulations!  If you are interested in entering one of your poems in their next contest, head on over to http://www.poeticpower.com.  You, too, could be a winner.

I have one other bit of good news, but I can’t share it until Friday!  Shhh….it’s a secret unti then.

Congratulations, Poets!

Wow!  I just got a postcard from Creative Communication that some of you are winners!  Your poems have been selected to be published in their spring poetry anthology.  Creative Communication has changed the process to an online permission.  If your poem was selected you should get a postcard with directions.  I can also help you submit your permission.  Hurry!  You have until May 20 to submit it.  Here are the winners.  Check out their blogs. You might get  sneak peek at their writing.

Elisabeth G for “Cold Hearted Knights”

Marty C for “My Poetic Power”

Amy H for “Memories to Never Forget”

Keiana J for “Gay Rights”

Justin P for “Never Meant to Be”

Publishing Opportunities

I have your editorials to give back to you.  Overall, I am impressed with the passion you show for the topics you wrote about.  Now it’s time to let the rest of the world hear what you have to say.  Of course, you will post your editorial on you blog.  Before you copy and paste it, change the formatting to single space.  I also learned another trick to help it look better on your blog.  Copy your editorial from Open Office Writer.  Then click the far right button (Show/Hide Kitchen Sink) on the tool bar at the top of the new post box.  This will show a second row of buttons.  Click on the Paste from Word or Paste as Plain Text buttons (in the middle).  Follow the directions on the box that appears.  This should clean up any formatting issues from copying and pasting.

Where else can you shout your ideas to the world?  You might enter a contest.  Creative Communications offers an essay contest as well as poetry contests.  The essay deadline is not until July 15, so you will want to enter your home address for contact information.  There is a word limit of 250 words for the essay.  Of course, you can also enter a poem in the poetry contest. 

As you know, Teen Ink also publishes editorials.  Submit yours and see what happens.  I think that most of yours are as good as, if not better, than the ones you found on there.  Follow the directions on the website. 

If you would like a more local audience, submit your editorial as a letter to the editor at the North Vernon Plain Dealer and Sun.  You can mail your letter to Plain Dealer and Sun, PO Box 988, 528 East O & M Ave., North Vernon, IN 47265.  You will need to include your name and phone number.  You can also try submitting it on their Feedback from on the website.

Leave a comment telling where you submit your writing.