Youth Writing Festivals 2012

Jeff — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:28:18 +0000

Youth Writing Festival

The Nebraska Writing Project is sponsoring two youth writing festivals this year. The first is on Saturday, March 3rd at Elkhorn High School from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The second is at the University of Nebraska at Kearney on April 28th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Both festivals are open to any student or teacher grades 9-12.

Cost per student is $15 early registration: $20 late registration. Registration includes a t-shirt, notebook, and pencil (subject to availability with late registrations).

To register or for more information, including scheduling updates, go to the Youth Festival Homepage.

Youth Writing Festival Brochure

Winners of the 55-Word Fiction Contest!

Jeff — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 13:50:10 +0000

These are the Winners for 2009 as announced by David Martin:

First Place

The Truth

By Marc Magisana, Omaha, NE

The cards said murder. The old woman’s tarot readings were never wrong. To win the contest, I would need to kill. Who? She pretended not to know. Enraged, I beat the truth out of her. Her murder made me a famous writer. Now I’m framed: “Winner: First Prize Fiction Contest” hangs on my cell wall. (55)

Second Place

In Montana

By Marge Barrett, Minneapolis, MN

By campfire light near Many Glacier, she snaps, crackles, pops. He strives to snuff out the flames, steaming water, sifting sand. Like paint pots in Yellowstone, they bubble, sizzle, while cedars crash and swans soar. Yet as fields seared in the fall, they spring up renewed, sip Beaujolais, curled together in Rising Sun’s fireplace lobby. (55)

Third Place

Toddler Turnabout

By Alberta Lee Orcutt, St. Paul, MN

Chubby fingers clutch the peach to her mouth. Juice trickles down her chin and wrist on its way to her elbow, sugary orange passing through yesterday’s scratch and today’s dirt, finally sticking to the squirming kitten trapped between her knees. Then – the bolt! And Huntress drops the hallowed peach to devotedly stalk her panicked prey. (55)

First Honorable Mention

Spinach Salad

By Shawna Mayer, Springfield, IL

“It’s pure green sunshine,” my mom always declared while planting. The tilled earth was cool, moist, and forgiving against bare feet just released from winter confinement, but by the time the bumpy leaves unfurled, my feet had thick calluses. Come harvest, I ate deliberately, savoring each leaf draped across my tongue, turning my blood red. (55)

Second Honorable Mention

Animated Acting

By Johnnye Gerhardt, Omaha, NE

Chaz congratulated herself on landing the speaking role even though it was only one line. She delivered it with gusto. As she exited the scene, Chaz went cold and rigid. She remembered then that she was a cartoon character doomed to spend eternity in a file until someone deleted her. She wept flat dry tears. (55)

Third Honorable Mention

Rage Against Machines

By Angie Schendt, Omaha, NE

Jennifer honked her horn as a dirty, red, rusted Neon nearly nicked her car in a large traffic snarl. Two other close calls (and finger exchanges) later, she came home to the sound of loud machine guns. She screamed at her son to turn off the video game. “But Mom, I haven’t killed anyone, yet.” (55)

Fourth Honorable Mention

Limitations

By Steve McKenna, Albion, NY

The honest truth is every one of us is a toad. Remarkably, my mother was a toad, but she never knew it. She grew up in the large, green pond next door, never fully grasping the idea that being a toad had its own limitations. I, on the other hand, know that I cannot fly. (55)

2009 Summer Camp

Jeff — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 03:18:34 +0000

You can see the photos here.

Just one of the many writing groups!

Fine Lines » writing

Youth Writing Festivals 2012