Joan Bowditch Young Writers Award

Rules
FAQs
Application

MUCH ADO ABOUT BOOKS

The Joan Bowditch Young Writers Award

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I enter the contest?

Attach a completed and signed contest entry form to each entry (hard copy and disk) and give it to your teacher or school principal. Home schooled students should mail entries directly to the Library Foundation at the address listed at the bottom of this page. Official entry forms are available at school or on the Jacksonville Public Library web site, www.jaxpubliclibrary.org.

How does the contest work?

Entries will be judged to determine the winners. There are two divisions, middle school and high school. There are three genres which will be judged: essay, poetry, and short story. A select panel of judges composed of college and university educators, local writers, and professionals from related fields will judge the entries. Initially six finalists in each division (middle or high school) will be selected, two from each genre. A select panel of three judges will determine the winning submission in each genre for each category.

What do I write about?

What will the winner for each genre in each category receive?

The awards will be presented on Friday, April 25,2008, at the Jacksonville Main Library on Laura Street during a special program featuring author R.L. Stine. The winning author in each genre in each division will receive $100, a framed Much Ado About Books poster, and an invitation for two to attend the Much Ado About Books keynote luncheon on Saturday, April 26, where they will be recognized during the keynote luncheon. The sponsoring teacher for the winning authors will receive a framed poster and an invitation to attend the Much Ado About Books keynote luncheon on Saturday, April 26, where they will be recognized during the keynote luncheon

What is the deadline to enter the competition?

These are the important dates to keep in mind:
Contest Begins: October 1, 2007: Begin submitting entries on this date.
Entry Deadline: November 21, 2007: All entries must be postmarked or delivered by this date.
Notification of finalists: February 2008: The finalists and their teachers will be notified of their selection status.
Awards Ceremony: April 25, 2008

Please mail all entries to:
Young Writers Award
Victoria Register-Freeman, Terry Algire Coordinators
Jacksonville Public Library Foundation
P.O. Box 40103
Jacksonville, FL 32203
(904) 630-1606