OLYMPIA — The nationwide Letters About Literature contest opens today, and young people in grades four through 12 are invited to take part.
In this event, youths write letters to their favorite authors, living or dead, and explain how a particular book by the author changed their view of the world or themselves.
The deadlines vary according to entrants’ ages.
Students in contest level three, grades nine through 12, must send their letters by Dec. 4.
Entrants in level one, which is grades four through six, and level two, which is grades seven and eight, must submit theirs by Jan. 11.
While the event is open to all students including home-schooled kids, entrants must be at least 9 years old.
Students can write about works of fiction, nonfiction or poetry, but not about music lyrics.
Entries in Spanish are welcome and will be translated for the Washington state judges.
How to enter
The Washington State Library co-sponsors the contest, so entry forms and guidelines are at www.sos.wa.gov/library under the “Programs & More” heading on the right side of the page.
Completed entry forms should be stapled to the last page of the student’s letter about literature and mailed to Letters About Literature Contest, Competition Level (indicate level one, two or three), c/o C. Gourley, Project Manager, 81 Oliver St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18705.
In 2012, Port Townsend’s Samantha Smith, then an eighth-grader at Blue Heron Middle School, was the level two state champion and one of four national honor award winners in her age group.
Samantha’s letter was to Julie Anne Peters about her book Keeping You a Secret.
Students can send their letters to their chosen authors along with entering them in the contest, said Washington state coordinator Crystal Lentz.
“A good book can make [youngsters] think and look at the world in a different way. Letters About Literature allows students to consider how a favorite book touches them and then put their thoughts into words,” Washington Secretary of State Kim Wyman added in a news release.
“I’m impressed with the number of incredible, heartwarming letters produced over the years,” she said, “and I look forward to reading students’ letters in this year’s contest.”
Washington state’s winners will be announced in April, and a ceremony to honor the Washington champions, runners-up and honorable mentions will be held at the state Capitol in Olympia later in the spring.
The winner of each category at the state level will receive $125 in cash. At the national level, the winners of the three age groups each get $1,000.
For more information about the contest, contact Lentz at 360-704-5275 or crystal.lentz@sos.wa.gov.
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Features Editor Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5062, or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
