|
|
Kids Experience Publishing Thrill Through Free Contest
Kids stay on the "write" track with Kids Can Publish University, a new organization that promotes literacy and a love for writing and illustrating through free monthly contests that reward winners with published bylines.
"Children like to write more than many adults realize," says Linda Radke, owner of Five Star Publications who co-founded Kids Can Publish University with Lynda Exley, an award-winning editor and writer. "It's just a matter of giving them incentives to motivate them to stay interested in writing and develop a desire for continuous improvement. Because nothing is more exciting for a child than to see his or her "winning" byline in print, we developed a monthly Kids Can Publish contest for first- through ninth-graders."
Children can enter writing or drawing assignments they've already done for their classrooms or create something new for the contest, and they can enter as often as they wish. Entries are broken down into age categories and genre, including editorials, nonfiction articles, fictional stories, poems, cartoons, photos, etc. Each month, Kids Can Publish selects pieces in each age divisions to publish online. Only the very best entries are posted, making it an honor to be chosen. Winners also receive a Kids Can Publish: Write on! wristband. In addition, KPCU offers grant-writing information to teachers, school workshops and a bookstore.
"The teachers in my building are always looking for places to showcase their student's work. Your contest highlights the importance of creativity in writing and art," says Libby Kahn, library media specialist at Nesaquake Middle School in St. James N.Y. "In this age of technology, it will be very exciting to be published online."
Radke and Exley aren't stopping there, however. They recently began offering school workshops to jazz children up about writing and drawing, are in the process of obtaining celebrity endorsements and eventually would like to have an annual contest whereby winners actually get a book published.
"We are actively seeking sponsors for better prizes, as well as book sponsors for a yearly contest we would like to offer children, whereby the winner gets his or her book physically published," adds Radke, a publisher for more than 21 years. "Because I have published books by several authors who wrote their books at ages 13 and younger, I know there are kids out there with talent enough to write wonderful books, and I would like to help them get their manuscripts out into the world."
To enter the monthly Kids Can Publish Contest, children must send their entries in with an official submission form that requires a parent's permission to submit. The submission form and entry instructions can be downloaded from www.KidsCanPublish.com. Kids Can Publish University.
Five Star Publications can be reached at info@FiveStarPublications.com, www.FiveStarPublications.com or 480-940-8182.
|
 |
P: 480-940-8182