Ottawa Public Library's young writers contest is back for 2020

(Via Ottawa Public Library)

The Awesome Authors contest is back! The youth writing contest encourages young authors to submit creative writing in the efforts to win prizes. Any writer aged 9 to 18 and residing in Ottawa can submit their creative work. They can submit a piece of original writing in each of three literary forms: a poem, a comic or a short story – in English and/or French. One submission per form and language.

Awesome Authors is one of the Ottawa Public Library’s longest-running and popular programs and this year’s edition is seeing a change in one of its categories. New this year, comic entries can be written by two authors. Submissions are divided into two age categories: 8 to 12, and 13 to 18. Winners will receive cash prizes and, as in previous years, the winning entries will get published in the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association’s (FOPLA) pot-pourri anthology.

OPL is keen to foster creativity and develop writers so is offering a series of writing workshops to support young writers in their craft throughout the month of February. Published local authors will coach, guide and help motivate young writers through these workshops. The same skilled and generous writers will also serve as contest judges.

The deadline for all submissions is February 28, 2020. Entries must be submitted electronically on the contest webpage, or in person at any branch or bookmobile stop. More detailed information about the Awesome Authors contest and rules can be found online at BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca/en/about/awesome-authors.

Contest winners will be announced, and cash prizes awarded at two distinct ceremonies, one for the 9 to 12 age category and one for those aged 13 to 18. Both ceremonies will include fun and engaging activities to celebrate writing and creativity. The award ceremonies will take place on April 25, 2020 at Meridian Theatres @ Centrepointe.

Awesome Authors youth writing contest is sponsored by the Friends of the Ottawa Public Library Association (FOPLA) who also publish pot-pourri, an annual anthology of the winning poems, stories and comics. pot-pourri makes a great Christmas gift! To get your copy, visit the FOPLA website.