Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz invites Brooklynites ages 14-19 to submit stories, poems, essays, spoken word and raps for the third annual “Lit Match” teen writing contest, part of the Young Readers and Writers Program of the Brooklyn Book Festival.
The winning submissions will be published in a book, and the first place winner will receive a laptop computer. The theme of this year’s contest is “Brooklyn Snap.” Students are asked to write on the following:
A snapshot captures a moment and can also tell the story of everything that was happening in that moment. Imagine that 100 years from now, a future historian finds one of your photographs. What would they see?
Make up a photo, or use a real one, and tell what it reveals about life in Brooklyn in 2008. Bring the picture to life in a story, poem, rap or essay and tell the story — truth or fiction — behind the photograph.
A committee of publishers, editors and literary agents will select 10 finalists, who will be invited to read their submissions at the Brooklyn Book Festival on September 14.
All finalists will have their work professionally edited and published in an anthology to be released by Brooklyn independent publisher Akashic Books.
Entries are due by June 13; can be typed or handwritten, and should not exceed 2,500 words.
Contestants should include a cover sheet with their name, address, school, age and telephone number, and must be a resident of Brooklyn at the time of submission.
Entries may be sent to Brooklyn Book Festival Lit Match, Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201.
There is no fee to enter. Any questions regarding the contest can be directed to Liz Koch, 718-802-3852.
The Brooklyn Book Festival includes several outdoor stages and indoor locations with author readings and panel discussions throughout the day as well as a literary marketplace.
The festival’s Young Readers and Writers Pavilion will have author readings and book signings for teen readers from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
For more about the Brooklyn Book Festival and the Lit Match contest, visit www.visitbrooklyn.org.
