Young Writers Showcase
Interested in submitting your written work? See below for all the details.
A Creative Writing Opportunity for Young Writers
Do you write poetry or prose, fiction or nonfiction? If you submit your work, you might have the opportunity to share it at the Young Writers Showcase, sponsored by the Chippewa Valley Book Festival. Chosen writers from each grade (grades 3–8) will present their work at the Young Writers Showcase on October 25.
Young Writers Showcase Submission Rules:
No more than one submission in each category is accepted per author. Please keep copies of your work, as it will not be returned to you.
Prose works must be no more than 1000 words.
Poems must be no more than 24 lines.
Additional pages with illustrations are welcomed but not required.
Name and grade must appear at the top of every page.
Only original writing is accepted and credit must be given for ideas inspired by other works. Credit may be as simple as a statement at the end of the page.
All submissions must be accompanied by the official entry form (link below), completed and signed by your parent or guardian.
Submission information for entries will be shared shortly. Check back for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions
2018 Young Writers Showcase Participants
How do I submit my entry?
Submit all entries to the Youth Services Department of one of the following four libraries beginning any time this spring until library closing on Saturday, October 5, 2020: Altoona Public Library, Chippewa Falls Public Library, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Menomonie Public Library. Check your selected library for hours. Entries received after October 5 will not be eligible for judging. Each writer may submit no more than two entries. Please attach a completed entry form to each entry. Call Liz Rehrauer, 715-559-1092, with questions.
Who may enter?
The Young Writers Showcase is open to all students in grades 3-8. Students may be enrolled in public or private schools or homeschooled.
Who are the judges?
The English Honor Society students of the English Department at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire judge the submissions.
May I submit more than one entry?
You may submit one entry in each category. However, only one entry can be selected for reading. Be sure to include an entry form for each submission.
How many entries are chosen for the Young Writers Showcase?
Up to twenty-four entries are chosen.
Are there prizes?
Yes. In addition to the privilege of reading their work at the Book Festival Young Writers Showcase, authors of selected works receive gift cards. However you must be present at the showcase to receive a gift card.
When are the selected entries announced?
The writers of the chosen entries will be notified the week of October 14. The names of the students and the titles of their work will be posted at the libraries’ Youth Services Departments and released to the media.
Are chosen writers required to attend the Young Writers Showcase?
No. We hope that the chosen writers will attend the showcase and read their works, but we understand that it is not always possible. However, you must be present at the showcase to receive a gift card.
Congratulations to our 2019 Young Writers Showcase participants!
This group of 4th through 8th graders presented their poetry and prose to a large crowd at the Grand Theatre on Sunday, October 27, 2019.
