Washington County Youth Creative Writing Contest encourages local youth to write about “Landscapes that Inspire”
By Reuben Wadsworth
This spring, the annual Washington County Youth Creative Writing Contest is back for its second year with the theme “Landscapes That Inspire.” Young writers in Washington County will have the opportunity to write about their favorite places and possibly win prizes and get published for doing it. The deadline for submissions is April 12.
The contest encourages students grade 1–12 within the county to write a poem or a personal essay about scenery that evokes emotions in them, from what they see right outside their door to the towering monoliths of Zion to the monuments of Washington D.C. and beyond. The possibilities for subject matter for their entries are practically endless.
Poems must be between 12 and 30 lines, and personal essays should be 300 words or fewer.
The contest provides students with the opportunity to be recognized for their stellar work outside the classroom. A submission to the contest could also become a confidence booster for many entrants. It’s a chance to learn and grow and get out of their comfort zones.
The contest will feature four age divisions: grades 1–3, 4–6, 7–9, and 10–12. Each student can submit one poem and one personal essay. There will be first-, second-, and third-place winners and two honorable mentions in each category age division.
Winners will receive cash and merchandise prizes donated by contest sponsors, which include local public land management and advocacy organizations including Conserve Southwestern Utah, Snow Canyon State Park, Zion National Park Forever Project, and others. Representatives from these organizations, as well as local teachers, will serve as the contest’s judges.
Winners’ work will be published in a chapbook distributed May 10 at an awards ceremony at Washington City’s Highland Park. The ceremony will be held in the park because it provides sweeping views of all the inspiring scenery the county has to offer.
Students should submit entries online via Google.
For further information about the youth contest, email reuben.wadsworth@washk12.org.
Reuben Wadsworth is an English and creative writing teacher at Hurricane Middle School.
