Rules Changed for 2018 Writers Competition

The rules for the 29th annual Writers Competition at the Coeur d’Alene Public Library are changing. Creating entries will be simpler and entry fees have been eliminated.

The library is also partnering with Idaho Public Television to encourage young writers to participate in the PBS Kids Writers Contest.
“If a child creates an entry for the PBS Kids Writers Contest, that entry can also be submitted to our competition,” said David Townsend, library communications coordinator and the Writers Competition organizer. “To make this possible, it’s been necessary to modify our rules somewhat to bring the two activities into alignment.”
Townsend recommended that families who are interested in participating in both contests first create an entry complying with IPTV rules by going to www.idahoptv.org/writerscontest, where they can register online. To submit the entry in the library contest they will then need to fill out a registration form and create a title page for the Coeur d’Alene library competition.
Copies of the new rules and entry forms will be available at the library beginning Jan. 31 and will also be available online at the Writers Competition link at www.cdalibrary.org/events. A newly updated guide to creating an entry can also be found at this site.
Forms can also be requested by email to dtownsend@cdalibrary.org and can be requested by mail.
Entries need to be mailed or delivered to the library no later than Saturday, March 31.
The biggest change in the writers competition is the elimination of entry fees, which previously were $1 for entries in age groups 6-12, and $2 for entries in other age groups.
“For many years this has been the only library program that had a charge,” Townsend said, “and we decided that it was time for that to change.”
For 2018 the competition age groups have been changed to reflect grade levels for school-aged participants. The age groups are now Grades K-2, Grades 3-5, Grades 6-8, Grades 9-12, and Adult – ages 19 and older. Homeschooling families can determine the age group that best suits their children.
Also beginning this year only one entry per participant will be accepted for the competition. Entries can be fiction or nonfiction up to 2,000 words and participants need only submit one clean copy along with their registration form.
“Up until 2016 participants had to send us five copies of their entries,” Townsend said. “Most of our judges are now receiving digital copies of the entries. This has greatly reduced our paper waste and postage costs.”
He said that the rules have also been simplified for how the entries are formatted – how they appear on paper.
“If you have been a little frustrated by the competition rules in the past, obtain a copy of the new rules,” he said. “I think you will be pleasantly surprised.”