Teen Writing Contest

STATEWIDE CONTEST FOR 14-19 YEAR-OLD NEW MEXICO WRITERS

The deadline for the Santa Fe Short Story Festival's writing contest for teens is coming up, August 3. I'm excited about the idea of the festival and particularly about this great opportunity for young writers in New Mexico.
I just recently spent time with a wonderfully creative group of teens in Colorado, where I conducted a workshop on creative writing and also a play writing workshops. They came of with surprising ideas and just performed their original play for a group of young children involved in a reading program at their local library. It has been awhile since I worked with teen writers. I had forgotten how inspirational their unbounded energy can be. I'm sure the short stories the Santa Fe Short Story Festival gleans from this contest will also be inspirational.

If you know a young writer be sure they get the following information: Original stories up to 2000 words in length postmarked by August 3, 2007 will be considered for the $500 grand prize, the $250 award for the runner-up, and two honorable mention awards of $125 each. The stories will be judged by an impartial panel of judges with writing credentials. The cash prizes will be awarded at a featured presentation and reading at this year's Santa Fe Short Story Festival, October 4, 5, 6. Professional actors will provide dramatic readings of the four prize-winning stories at the awards ceremony. There is no entry fee for the contest. Please see www.SantaFeShortStory.org to obtain the competition rules, the required story submission form, the complete call for submissions, and answers to frequently asked questions. This is the third year of the festival and the second year of the short story writing contest. The competition is open to ALL 14-19 year-olds in New Mexico, not just those enrolled in high school.

Play Writing with Teens

Like every subject I am interested in I just discovered there is a confusing number of website related to play writing and teens. I thought I was feeling rusty when I facilitated a creative writing workshop for teens this winter. Hadn't worked with that age group for several years. Now I have been asked and agreed to work with a group of teens who will create a stage production for the entertainment of children in their local libraries summer reading program. I am an old teacher. I am a published writer. I have edited a variety of writing projects including plays and truthfully I used to think myself quite the thespian when I would stage, write and direct my younger brothers and cousins through productions based on my favorite comic strips. But, I still felt I needed a little guidance on this project.

Still confined to the house 90% of the time as caregiver to my elderly and ill mother, I naturally looked to the Internet for my research. Again, I am reminded of the Tower of Babel (see my blog post titled Babel, February 7, 2007 ). So, please, old teachers and active writers, which source of guidance would you suggest for assisting teens in structuring a play?
Copyright © 2007 by Martie LaCasse