Youth Writing Contest
The 2025 Ruth Blank Venner and Mary Jane Blank McCormick Youth Writing Contest is now open!
Kids in grades K-12 can participate by writing and submitting their original story. The 2025 topic is: Imagine you’ve found a treasure! Write a story about what you found. Where did you find it and what did you do with it?
Grand prizes awarded in four categories:
Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12.
- First place: $200 Visa gift card
- Second place: $100 Visa gift card
- Third place: $50 Visa gift card
- Branch finalists: $25 Visa gift card (one per location)
Entries are due by (Sa) April 5, 2025, and may be dropped off at any Library location or submitted online.
Guidelines
To enter, your story must:
- Be your original work, which comes solely from your imagination, without the use of AI.
- Include three parts: a beginning, middle, and end
- Be 500 words maximum
- Be hand-written or typed (12+ point font) and stapled to the entry form or entered online
- Be text only – no pictures
- Be on 8 ½” x 11” paper
