The State Library of North Carolina Accessible Books and Library Services (SLNC-ABLS) will host our annual Writing Contest! We are accepting entries from Sunday, September 1st, 2024 until Tuesday, December 31st, 2024.
Writing Contest Description
Contestants' entries can be the following: short stories, novel excerpts, poems, songs, fiction/nonfiction, auto/biographies, or something entirely different; be creative!
All submissions will be judged by the following criteria: Clarity, Spelling, Grammar, and Creativity.
Each contestants' entry has the potential to be added to our collection. If we select your entry to be added to the collection, we will notify you before it is published. Before a contestant's submission is added to the library's collection, it will be subject to proofreading.
The contest will be divided into four separate age groups: ages 8 and younger, ages 9 to 12, ages 13 to 17, and 18 and older. Your submission will automatically be entered to your age group.
Writing Contest Rules (Updated 2024)
- Contestants must be a patron of Accessible Books and Library Services.
- Your entry must be your own original work.
- Entries must not use artificial intelligence as a part of their creation.
- Please do not use previously published materials.
- Only one entry per contestant will be allowed.
- There is a 5,000-word count limit for all submissions.
- All mail-in entries must be typewritten, at least 14-point font, double-spaced with numbered pages, and include a cover page with a title and the author’s name.
- If your entry is in Braille, an additional translated Word file will be required.
- If your entry is in an audio format, please include a transcript as a Word file.
- If your entry contains images, please include alt text.
If your submission is in a different language, an English translation will be required.
Acceptable Submission Formats
All writing contest submissions should be in one of the following formats: Word File, Audio File, Braille File, Mail-In Type-written.
Prizes
Prizes are provided by the Friends of NC Accessible Books and Library Services.
The following prizes will be available to each age group:
1st Place - Submission will be added to the library’s collection and made available for download. In addition, the contestant will receive a certificate and the first-place prize.
2nd Place - Submission will be added to the library’s collection and made available for download. In addition, the contestant will receive a certificate and the second-place prize.
3rd Place - Submission will be added to the library’s collection and made available for download. In addition, the contestant will receive a certificate and the third-place prize.
Honorable Mentions - Submission will be added to the library’s collection and made available for download. In addition, the contestant will receive a certificate.
All other contestants will receive a certificate for their entry.