Children in grades K-3 are invited to join Adams Memorial Library and Latrobe Art Center in "writing your future" in the first local writers contest modeled after the annual PBS KIDS Writers Contest! Write and illustrate your own original story around the theme of "Write My Future" for your chance to win prizes and receive local recognition. The contest will run from February 1st through March 1st, 2022.
All participating children are encouraged to use their imagination to inspire a story where they are the star and write about where they see themselves in the future. Maybe they are an astronaut visiting Mars, or maybe they are the first female President of the United States. It’s their future and they can be anything they want to be.
Following this local contest, participating children will also have the chance to participate in the 2022 PBS KIDS Writers Contest! Upon receiving written approval, all local contest submissions will be mailed and entered into this year’s PBS KIDS Writers Contest for your child’s original work to compete against the works of hundreds of other creative students.
Important Dates & Deadlines
Writing & Storytelling Workshop
Date: Wednesday, February 2nd
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Latrobe Art Center
Description: Learn about the art of storytelling, and receive some help getting started with your original story created around the theme of “Write My Future” by staff members from Adams Memorial Library and Latrobe Art Center.
Illustrating Workshop
Date: Wednesday, February 16th
Time: 6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Latrobe Art Center
Description: Learn about the art of illustrating stories, and receive some help getting started with your illustratons for your original story created around the theme of “Write My Future” by staff members from Adams Memorial Library and Latrobe Art Center.
Local Writers Contest Submission Deadline
All entries to the Adams Memorial Library & Latrobe Art Center Local Writers Contest must be submitted by the end of the day on Tuesday, March 1st to the Adams Memorial Library OR Latrobe Art Center. All submissions must be the original work of the child (no photocopies can be accepted). Submissions can be mailed or delivered in person to either location, but all submissions must be received/in-hand by the deadline listed above.
2022 PBS KIDS Writers Contest Submission Deadline
If your child would like their submission to be entered into the 2022 PBS KIDS Writers Contest in addition to the local contest, staff members from Adams Memorial Library and/or Latrobe Art Center will take of mailing the submission on your behalf. If you do not wish to participate in the local contest and would like to participate in the 2022 PBS KIDS Writers Contest only, entries must be postmarked by March 15, 2022 and mailed to:
Education Department
WQED Multimedia
4802 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
All participating children who would like their entries submitted to BOTH contests must complete the entry forms for BOTH contests. (See below)
Entry Forms
Rules & Regulations
Only one entry per child. Only single author stories (no co-authors) ~ Story must be original work of the child ~ Original art can include drawings, collages, 3-D, and photos taken by the author ~ Story may be fact or fiction, prose or poetry ~ Use only one side of the paper ~ Number each page on the back ~ Text must be printed/written legibly or typed ~ Children who can't write may dictate their story to be printed or typed ~ Invented spelling is accepted ~ Story text may be on pages with illustrations or on separate pages ~ Non-English text must be translated into English text on the same page and the translated English text must adhere to the word count ~ Word count includes "a," "an," & "the," but not words on nonstory pages (e.g. title page) or those that enhance illustrations
Word Count Range:
K-1: minimum of 50 words, maximum of 200 words
2-3: minimum of 100 words, maximum of 350 words
Minimum number of Illustrations: 5
Goals of the Writers Contests
Few things capture a child’s imagination like a good book. The Adams Memorial Library/Latrobe Art Center Writers Contest and PBS KIDS Writers Contest are designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning. The contests encourage children in grades K-3 throughout our local community and beyond to celebrate the power of creating stories and illustrations by submitting their own original works. Our goal is to build their creative voices and develop critical reading and writing skills.
Writing & Illustrating Resources
Additional Links & Resources
https://pbskids.org/scribblesandink
https://wqed.org/cartoonacademy
https://www.pbs.org/parents/crafts-and-experiments/make-a-memory-book
