Cash & Scholarships for Young Writers & Performers

# $6,400 in Cash Awards and Scholarships Available

Are you a student or parent of a student who loves writing poetry or plays? Don't miss the opportunity to win cash and scholarships and to show off those skills in the Friends of Brentwood Library's fourth annual James Weldon Johnson Young Writers Festival!

To participate in the festival and for a chance at a prize or scholarship, youth in grades 3-12 are asked to submit a poem or dramatic monologue by June 2, 2025, on the theme "Lift Every Voice" or a subject of your choosing. There is no cost to enter or to participate in the Festival. Let your voice be heard and your story be seen!

For more information, visit www.friendsofbrentwoodlibrary.com. 

The multi-day festival (June 11-14, 2025) will feature workshops on creative writing, art illustration, poetry, and performance in the Conference Center at the Main Library. The week wraps up on Saturday, June 14, with awards and presentations by students.

This year, Michael L. Printz and Coretta Scott King award-winning author Greg Neri joins the Festival as a guest of honor, working directly with kids and teens on their writing skills. You may know him from the bestselling Yummy: the Last Days of a Southside Shorty and Ghetto Cowboy, which was made into the movie, Concrete Cowboy, starring Idris Elba.

Author Talk and Book Giveaway

Greg Neri will also present a Junior Lit Chat from 4:30 - 5 p.m. on Friday, June 13, at Brentwood Branch Library. Note: This event is open to the public (participation in the Festival is not required). After the program, a limited number of copies of My Antarctica will be given away to school-age children in attendance, (first-come, first-served). 

Click here to register. Space is limited.

# Important Dates & Information

Submission Deadline

For a chance at a prize or scholarship, youth in grades 3-12 must submit a poem or dramatic monologue by June 2, 2025. Submissions for the contest are to be dropped off at:

Brentwood Branch Library 
3725 N. Pearl St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 

Note: Emailed poetry submissions are subject to the same deadline date and time. For more questions, email jwjlifteveryvoice@gmail.com. 

For more information, please attend:

Student/Parent Orientation
6 p.m. on Monday, June 2
Brentwood Branch Library

Young Writer's Festival

Wednesday - Saturday, June 11-14, 2025  
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Jacksonville Public Library - Main Library (Conference Center) 
303 N. Laura St., Jacksonville, FL 32202

 Click here to register.

Junior Lit Chat with Greg Neri

4:30 to 5 p.m. on Friday, June 13  
Brentwood Branch Library

Click here to register. Space is limited.

# Prizes By Age Group

Poetry Prizes

$600 for Elementary Division (EM) Grades 3-5
1st Place $300, 2nd Place $200, 3rd Place $100

$900 for Middle High (MH) Division Grades 6-8
1st Place $400, 2nd Place $300, 3rd Place $200

$1200 for Senior High (SH) Division Grades 9-12
1st Place $500, 2nd Place $400, 3rd Place $300

Monologue Prizes

$600 for Elementary Division (EM) Grades 3-5
1st Place $300, 2nd Place $200, 3rd Place $100

$900 for Middle High (MH) Division Grades 6-8
1st Place $400, 2nd Place $300, 3rd Place $200

$1200 for Senior High (SH) Division Grades 9-12
1st Place $500, 2nd Place $400, 3rd Place $300

On Site Book Cover Art Contest

$150 for Elementary Division (EM) Grades 3-5 
1st Place $75, 2nd Place $50, 3rd Place $25

$225 for Middle High Division (MH) Grades 6-8 
1st Place $100, 2nd Place $75, 3rd Place $50

$325 for Senior High Division (SH) Grades 9-12 
1st Place $150, 2nd Place $100, 3rd Place $75

Other Prizes

TBA

# Contest Rules

Students Participation Requirements

Students must complete all activities to receive cash and scholarship awards. Student not meeting the attendance and participation in program activities will be automatically disqualified from receiving cash awards and scholarship prizes.

1. Approved application
2. Submit Original Poetry and Dramatic Monologue
3. Keep a written journal of original poetry
4. Attend Career Day
5. Attend Young Authors Awards Ceremony
6. Attend the Three-Day Workshop Series with professional writers and visual and performing artists.
7. Display good behavior

# Poetry Rules

1. The poem must be written by the student and can be on any subject he/she chooses.
2. The poem must be at least 10 lines, but not more than 20 lines. It can be rhymed or free verse but must conform to acceptable standards of poetry.
3. The poem must have a title or the word Untitled in the space where a specific title would be.
4. It must be typewritten, double-spaced on regular 8 1/2" by 11” bond paper, and authenticated for originality by a parent or teacher.
5. Student's full name, parent name, address, phone number, email address, school name, and grade must be placed at the bottom of each page for identification.
6. The student is limited to submitting one poem.

Poetry Judging Criteria

# Dramatic Monologue Rules

1. The dramatic monologue must be written by and later performed by the student on the theme (Lift Every Voice), James Weldon Johnson or the life and contribution of a significant African American of the past or present. The tone may be serious or humorous.
2. In performance, the monologue must be at least three (3) minutes or no more and five (5) minutes.
3. The dramatic monologue must conform to good language usage (no derogatory language or profanity).
4. The dramatic monologue must have a title or the word "Untitled" in the space where a specific title would be.
5. It must be based on facts; it must include more than three (3) lines that are quoted from any other speaker or writer.
6. In written form, it must be typewritten, double-spaced on 8 ½" by 11" bond paper, and authenticated for originality by a teacher, and parent/guardian.
7. Student's full name, parent name, address, phone number, email address, school name, and grade must be placed at the bottom of each page for identification.
8. For monologue submissions, entry will also require a performance video of the work.
9. The student is limited to submitting one dramatic monologue.

Judging Monologue Criteria

# James Weldon Johnson Young Writers Festival

# Mission Statement

To use poetry, visual, and performing arts as a vehicle to impact youth academic engagement and performance, social-emotional development, and to develop writing and analytical skills giving children and youth a greater understanding of themselves and others.

Goals: Educate Youth, Young Authors Awards Ceremony, Family Fun Community Celebratory Activities, Author’s Book Exhibit, and Career Day.

This program is the brainchild of Matriarch Sharon Coon, Founder of The Friends of Brentwood Public Library, Inc.