*ThornyEnglishRose and *batousaijin present…

Tots and Teens: The Children’s Literature Contest

Just what are the merits of children’s literature? Or are there any? Is it somehow more palatable and less merit-worthy than adult literature? Or is that just the opinion of adults who have forgotten what it’s like to be a child? Well, you tell us. Your task is simple. Write us a piece of children’s literature in any or all of the following three categories:

Poetry

Traditionally, children’s poetry tends to have very exact rhyme and rhythm. It will usually tell a clear story, very often with a big dose of humour and without a great deal of metaphor or hidden meaning. Maybe you would like to emulate those kinds of poems, or maybe you think you know an equally valid but different way. Whichever it is, we’d love to see it.

Fiction: 12 and Under

This is a very broad category. You could be writing for any reading age from three to… well, twelve. But whichever age you have in mind when you write, remember not to patronise your reader. Children are intelligent beings, given the chance. Assume they are at least as smart as you, and you’ll do fine.

Teen Fiction

For those of you who think you would rather not write for children, try writing for young adults. If you believe that there are in fact some limitations in children’s literature, and they happen to cover just the thing you want to write about, that same taboo probably doesn’t apply to teen fiction. Read Junk or Doing It, both by the wonderful Melvin Burgess, if you don’t believe me.



With all of that said, please do not feel restricted as to what you should and should not include in any of these categories. ‘Categories’ are just something to make contests easier for the organisers. Remember that Michelle Magorian’s Goodnight Mister Tom was written with under-twelves in mind, and gives graphic depictions of child abuse and finishes on a theme of sexual awakening. I suggest that there is no such thing as age-specific fiction. You may end up writing something that appeals to teenagers and children under twelve, or to anyone from six to ninety-six. But you will begin planning with an age range in mind. You will usually find J.K. Rowling’s books on the ‘Fiction 9-12’ shelves, but people of all ages will walk over there and pick those books up. Just think of the two categories for prose as being like those shelves in a bookshop.

First- and second-place winners in each of the three categories will be judged by *ThornyEnglishRose and *batousaijin. Prizes are listed below, but first let’s get the other stuff out of the way. Now I don’t like restrictions much, but we must have a few of these things…

The Rules

You may enter once into each category.
Your first entry must be a new deviation. You may then enter an existing deviation into either or both of the remaining categories; deviations which have previously won a contest on dA are ineligible.
Remember to proof-read. I am a grammar, spelling and punctuation Nazi.
Not wanting to restrict you with a word limit, there is none, but be sure to bear in mind your audience. Should you want to enter content from a novel, please submit one chapter, with a synopsis in your comments.
Please mention the Children’s Literature Contest in your comments, with a link back to the journal entry or news article.
All entries must be submitted into the children’s gallery for poetry or prose, as appropriate.
As long as the piece is aimed primarily at children or teenagers, there is no limit on form, style or genre, excluding fan fiction, which is ineligible.
Prize donors may enter.
Once you have submitted your entry, send a link and specify the category in a note to *ThornyEnglishRose, with ‘Children’s Lit. Contest Entry’ (or something close) as the subject, on or before the deadline of April 30th 2008.

That’s enough rules. Now for the fun part…

The Prizes

Poetry

First place
Three-month subscription from *batousaijin
Six-month journal feature from *ThornyEnglishRose
Three-month journal feature from *batousaijin
One-month journal feature from *Beccald
One-month journal feature from =RLDStock
Journal feature from *kLiT-sHy
Journal feature from =WineWriter
Journal feature from ~Riloffey
Journal feature from ^StJoan
One devwear t-shirt
An illustration of your winning poem from ~AllTheSame

Second Place
One-month subscription from ^GeneratingHype
Six-month journal feature from *ThornyEnglishRose
Three-month journal feature from *batousaijin
One-month journal feature from *Beccald
One-month journal feature from =RLDStock
Journal feature from *kLiT-sHy
Journal feature from =WineWriter
Journal feature from ~Riloffey
Journal feature from ^StJoan

Fiction: 12 and Under

First Place
Three-month subscription from *batousaijin
Six-month journal feature from *ThornyEnglishRose
Three-month journal feature from *batousaijin
One-month journal feature from *Beccald
One-month journal feature from =RLDStock
Journal feature from *kLiT-sHy
Journal feature from =WineWriter
Journal feature from ~Riloffey
Journal feature from ^StJoan
One devwear t-shirt
A feature with *WordCount
An illustration of your winning story from *Umbrav

Second Place
One-month subscription from ^GeneratingHype
Six-month journal feature from *ThornyEnglishRose
Three-month journal feature from *batousaijin
One-month journal feature from *Beccald
One-month journal feature from =RLDStock
Journal feature from *kLiT-sHy
Journal feature from =WineWriter
Journal feature from ~Riloffey
Journal feature from ^StJoan

Teen Fiction

First Place
Three-month subscription from *batousaijin
Six-month journal feature from *ThornyEnglishRose
Three-month journal feature from *batousaijin
One-month journal feature from *Beccald
One-month journal feature from =RLDStock
Journal feature from *kLiT-sHy
Journal feature from =WineWriter
Journal feature from ~Riloffey
Journal feature from ^StJoan
One devwear t-shirt
A feature with *WordCount
A poem or short story to your specification from *ThornyEnglishRose

Second Place
One-month subscription from ^GeneratingHype
Six-month journal feature from *ThornyEnglishRose
Three-month journal feature from *batousaijin
One-month journal feature from *Beccald
One-month journal feature from =RLDStock
Journal feature from *kLiT-sHy
Journal feature from =WineWriter
Journal feature from ~Riloffey
Journal feature from ^StJoan

All entries will be posted in the contest journal, [link] so you can check out the competition.

If you want to enter but haven’t read a children’s story in a while, it might be an idea to pick up a book and start reading. Perhaps the current Children’s Laureate Jacqueline Wilson, or the man who was recently dubbed ‘the world’s number one storyteller’ Roald Dahl, or the phenomenally popular J.K. Rowling. Then, when you’re ready, take and reject whatever you like from those writers and try it your own way.