Reading and writing go hand in hand. The more you read, the better you write, as you ingest different writing styles and learn to find your own writer’s voice.
Conversely, the more you write, the more varied your reading palate becomes, as you open your mind to new genres, and explore new topics, discovered through writing.
With this symbiotic relationship between the two in mind, it should be no surprise that the Newport Beach Public Library, champion eternal of the benefits of reading, is also sponsoring a creative writing contest.
This year’s competition, entitled “Let Your Imagination Run Wild,” is open to all writers who will be attending high school in the fall. Entrants may be students of any school, public or private, in any district, so long as they have a Newport Beach Public Library card.
There are of course, a few rules. The piece must be 1500 words or less, and must be submitted by September 6. There is only one entry allowed per person. And – big shocker – the story must take place in a library, feature a library-themed element, or in some way involve a library.
According to my high school English teacher, writing well is its own reward, and one should write, first and foremost, to achieve personal satisfaction. While I can’t argue with that, personal satisfaction isn’t an accepted method of payment at any store I’m aware of, so the contest also steps up its allure by offering cash prizes to the winners.
The winner will receive $250, and additionally, will have his or her manuscript published on the library website, as well as in their quarterly publication, “The Bookmark.” The runner-up will earn $100.
Cha-ching! Not a bad payday, if you ask me.
If you’re looking for a little inspiration, why not explore these popular titles, spanning every age group, which all take place in a library:
“The Library” by Sarah Stewart, is a picture book, appropriate for young children, that tells the story of Elizabeth Brown. Ever since childhood, Elizabeth has loved books,
and has amassed quite a collection. Her hobby, however, has also posed a troubling problem:
“When volumes climbed the parlor walls, And blocked the big front door, She had to face the awful fact – She could not have one more.” To solve her dilemma, Elizabeth donates her books to the town, and turns her home into a library, allowing everyone to benefit from her passion.
In the newly released “Escape From Mr. Lemoncello’s Library” by Chris Grabenstein, we meet Kyle, a twelve year old boy who desperately wants to win the opportunity to spend the night in the new library, built by his hero, and famed gamemaker, Luigi Lemoncello. Little did he know that once in the library, he and his fellow winners would have to solve a series of clues and secret puzzles to find the hidden escape route.
Described as a cross between “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “A Night at the Museum,” this middle-grade book is sure to delight any young reader with a sense of adventure.
In “Dewey: the Small-Town Library Cat who Touched the World” by Vicki Myron, more mature readers can discover the story of Dewey, the real-life cat who lived in a library.
When he was just a kitten, on a freezing cold night, Dewey was abandoned, and stuffed into the book return of the library in Spencer, Iowa. Discovered the next morning by Myron, the library director, he was dubbed “Dewey Readmore Books” and began his new life as the mascot of a small-town library, going about his work charming and comforting the townspeople.
While these selections are sure to delight, I’m convinced he next great library story is just around the corner, and I for one, can’t wait to check it out (pun intended.)
For a complete listing of contest rules, please visit nbplfoundation.org.
Edie Crabtree is an avid reader and the mother of three active boys. She can be reached at crabmom3@gmail.com.
