A Favorite Project: Calling Young Writers

One of my favorite volunteer activities is chairing the committee for the EPIC New Voices writing competition.

EPIC, Electronically Published Internet Connection, is sponsoring its second annual writing contest for middle school and high school students.

EPIC established the New Voices Writing Competition to encourage reading and writing among middle school and high school students and to promote e-book literacy in public and private schools.

The contest is open to students attending public, private, or home schools, and each entrant is permitted to submit one entry in each category (Short Story, Poetry, Essay).

Guidelines and entry form are available on the EPIC Web site. Entries will be accepted between August 1 and November 1, 2006. Winners will be announced in February 2007 and will be invited to receive their awards at the E-Fiesta at EPICon (EPIC conference) in Virginia Beach, Virginia in March 2007. There is no cost to enter the contest or to receive a prize. First place winners in each category will receive eBookwise-1150 e-book readers, second place winners receive $50 gift certificates for e-books, and third place winners receive $25 gift certificates for e-books. Honorable mention and Judges’ Award winners receive certificates.

All winning entries will be published in the anthology New Voices 2007, which will be distributed on CD at the conference and by download on the EPIC Web site at no charge. Winning students and their school libraries will receive copies of the anthology on CD and in print.

If you know any middle school or high school students who enjoy writing, please tell me about New Voices. You may get to read their story, poem, or essay in the published anthology!