EPIC New Voices: Writing Contest for Teens

nv-logowebMany writers start writing early in life. When you read the bios of authors, you often learn that the writer has been writing “since she could hold a crayon” or “as long as I can remember.”

EPIC, the Electronically Published Internet Connection—an organization for authors, publishers, and other professionals in the e-publishing industry—sponsors an annual competition for young writers in junior high and high school.

According to the organization’s Web site,

EPIC established the annual 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.

Students can submit entries to the fifth annual EPIC New Voices writing contest in poetry, essay (nonfiction), and short story (fiction) categories at the junior high or high school level.

As one of the founders of this competition, I am excited about the opportunity for teens to submit their work to this competition. The winners receive valuable prizes and have their work published in an anthology. Most importantly, every entrant receives score sheets and comments from three judges. The judges—who are writers, editors, publishers, teachers, and librarians—are required to include both constructive comments on areas of improvement and positive encouragement.

Imagine how valuable this professional feedback would be to any aspiring writer and realize that it is given freely to student writers. There is no entry fee, and the contest is open to students in public, private, or home schools anywhere in the world. The entries must be in English and be accompanied by a permission form signed by the parents.

Share this information with aspiring teen writers and teachers you know. Some teachers assign writing projects that fit the categories and word counts for the contest, then encourage students whose work is outstanding to submit the assignment to the contest.

Now is the time for teachers to include this in their curriculum. Download a brochure about the EPIC New Voices writing contest to pass on to students and teachers.

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