2012 Young Writers Contest

Dear Young Writers:

Thank you so much for taking the time to enter our annual contest for young writers. It’ s truly a highlight for those of us who write professionally to read your work. There is such creativity in the poems, essays and stories you are writing and this creativity reminds us all to think outside the box, to try new things, to experiment. Your work isn’t only remarkable for its creativity though; it’s important in that you have views and ideas, perspectives and opinions, that many of us wouldn’t get a chance to see if not for your willingness to put it into words. All of which is a long way of saying that even if you weren’t one of the “winners” chosen by our judges, we hope you will continue to write. It matters, and we wish, more than anything, that we could publish more of it, expose others to what kids and young adults are thinking. There is often such wisdom and humor and beauty in your work!

We had almost double the number of entries in our fiction and poetry categories this year and as in the past, those who entered the contest came from all over--mostly Delaware, yes, but also Missouri and Michigan, Iowa, Texas, Florida, California, Virginia and Maryland..
- Maribeth Fischer, Executive Director, RBWG

Reception

Reception and Reading for winnders, Sunday, September 9, 5:30-7:30, Dogfish Head Brewings and Eats, Rehoboth. RSVP’s are appreciated!

Our Judges

Our thanks to our judges. Click here to read more about them.

Young Writers Contest Winners

Winners, ages 10-13

Winners, Ages 14-17

Ages 10-13

Poetry, judgd by Anne Agnes Colwell

First: “What I Want”
Hannah Lowe of Lewes, Delaware
Age 13, Grade 8, Sussex Academy of Arts and Sciences

Second: “The Summer Morn”
by Katherine Weber of Glen Allen, Virginia
Age 13, Grade 9, Glen Allen High School

Third: “Blue”
by Lauren Van Stone of Vienna, Virginia
Age 10, Grade 5, Wolftrap Elementary School

Fiction, judged by Cheryl Somers Aubin

First: “One Thousand Words"
Katherine Weber of Glen Allen, Virginia
Age 13, Grade 9, Glen Allen High School

Second: “Friends”
Clare Hancock of Lewes, Delaware
Age 13, Grade 9, Saint Timothy’s School (Maryland)

Third: “The Value of Selflessness”
Lauren Thornberg of Lewes, Delaware
Age 12, Grade 8, Southern Delaware School of the Arts

Nonfiction, judged by Cheryl Sacra-Paden

First: “The Ride of a Lifetime”
Savannah Mills of Frankford, Delaware
Age 12, Grade 7^th, Sussex Academy of Arts and Science

Second: “The Guitarist I Am”
Alexandra Downs of Lewes, Delaware
Age 11, Grade 7, Sussex Academy of Arts and Science

Third: “Family First”
Connor Thompson of Lewes, Delaware
Age 13, Grade 8, Beacon Middle School

Ages 14-17

Poetry, judged by James Keegan

First: “Don’t Look in My Eyes”
Kelly Hartwick of Middletown, Delaware
Age 14, Grade 9, Wilmington Friends School

Second: “Paying the Debt”
Abigail Mae Davis of Lewes, Delaware
Age 15, Grade 10, Sussex Technical High School

Third: “Vanishing in Orange”
Julie Parsons of Millsboro, Delaware
Age 15, Grade 10, Delmarva Christian High School

Fiction, judged by Lauren Fasnaght

First: “Fireflies”
Myra Stull of Saint Louis, Missouri
Age 17, Grade 12, Homeschooled

Second: “As the Sun Set on My Summer” by Ashley Banks of Dagsboro, Delaware
Age 16, Grade 11, Indian River High School

Third: “Playing the Silence,
Abigail Mae Davis of Lewes, Delaware
Age 15, Grade 10, Sussex Technical High School

Nonfiction, judged by Ethan Joella

First: “The Impact Zone”
Samatha Shawver of Ellicott City, Maryland
Age 16, Grade 11, Roland Park School

Second: “Learning to Fly”
Abigail Mae Davis of Lewes, Delaware
Age 15, Grade 10 Sussex Technical High School

Third: no third place