Writes of Spring Writing Contest: Call for Submissions

The Lafayette Public Library is now accepting submissions for the 2019 Writes of Spring writing contest, an annual competition aimed at fostering creative writing among Acadiana’s youth. All entries are due by Friday, March 29, 2019.

The contest is open to students in grades K-12 who reside in Lafayette or in the surrounding parishes: Acadia, Iberia, St. Landry, St. Martin and Vermilion. Students may submit their own original unpublished work (in English or in French) in only one of the following genres: short fiction, nonfiction, drama or poetry. One entry per student will be accepted. Submissions should be double-spaced with 12-point font.

This year, all students are encouraged to enter the writing contest using the online entry/submission form at LafayettePublicLibrary.org. Paper (non-digital) submissions will be accepted from students in grades K - 6 only, and can be dropped off at any Lafayette Public Library branch. All other eligible students (7 - 12 grade) are required to submit their entry electronically using the online form, which is a Google Docs form and requires the use of a Gmail account.

First-, second- and third-place winners will be notified in late April before the award ceremonies in May. The K-8th grade Awards Ceremony will be held in the morning of Saturday, May 11 and the High School Awards Ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, May 1. Author Jeff Zentner will give an author talk following the High School Ceremony and a short reception at 7:15 p.m.

For details about the writing contest and links to the entry forms, visit LafayettePublicLibrary.org.

Genre Submission Guidelines (see entry form for complete guidelines)
Poetry - 1-3 poems, 100 lines total
Fiction - K-6 graders: max. 750 words; 7-12 graders: max. 1500 words
Nonfiction - K-6 graders: max. 750 words; 7-12 graders: max. 1500 words
Drama/Screenplay - high school students only: max 1500 words

Louisiana Book News is written by award-winning author Chere Dastugue Coen, who writes Louisiana romances and mysteries under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Her first book in each series is FREE to download as an ebook, including "Emilie," book one of The Cajun Series, "Ticket to Paradise," book one of The Cajun Embassy series and "A Ghost of a Chance," the first Viola Valentine mystery.

Writes of Springs winners announced

The Lafayette Public Library recognized winners of the Writes of Spring writing contest last week: high school winners on May 5 at the Main Library and elementary through middle school winners on May 7 at the South Regional Library. The high school ceremony also featured a talk by young adult author Alys Arden. Winners received a certificate and a printed anthology of the winning pieces. The Writes of Spring is an annual writing contest that encourages students in grades K-12 from Acadiana to submit original works of fiction, nonfiction and poetry in English and French. For more information, call the Lafayette Public Library at 261-5787. A full list of winners is available at LafayettePublicLibrary.org.

Photo: Some of the high school winners of the Writes of Spring contest, with YA author Alys Arden. Front Row, left to right: Taylor Babineaux, Jules Ann Abadie, Alexandra Malcombe, Gabrielle Hoffpauir, Mary Broussard; Second row: Claire Koke, Payton Pippin, Grace Parker, Tessa Schorr, Emily Bryson, Emma Young, Lilly Perron, Author Alys Arden; Back row: Brynne Tynes, Brianna Frey, Nicholas Buford, Joseph Benton, Madison Price, Caden Foreman, Andrew Ferguson.

Cheré Dastugue Coen is the author of several Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. She is also the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana” and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.

Writes of Spring looking for student submissions

Writes of Spring is open to students in grades K-12 who reside in Lafayette Parish or in the surrounding parishes of St. Landry, Acadia, St. Martin, Vermilion and Iberia. Students may submit their own original unpublished work (in English or in French) in only one of the following genres: Poetry, Fiction or Non-fiction. High school students may also submit their own original unpublished work in the Drama/Screenplay genre.

Submissions should be double-spaced, 12-point font, with numbered pages and title of work on each page. Entry form and submitted work need to be entered by 9 p.m. Thursday, March 24. If you are having problems uploading your work or using the online form, please emailamy.wander@lafayettepubliclibrary.org

First, second and third place winners will be notified in late April before the award ceremonies in May.

For a submission form, visit this link.

PLEASE NOTE:

Please make sure to remove your name, your teacher’s name and your school name from your submitted work.

One entry per person will be accepted. A poetry entry may include 1-3 poems, all submitted with one form.

Students in grades K-6 grade may enter using a paper entry form and a paper submitted work. These need to be turned in by the deadline above to any branch of the Lafayette Public Library System.
This contest is a collaboration of the Acadiana Writers Project, the UL Lafayette Creative Writing Department and the Lafayette Public Library.

Cheré Dastugue Coen is the author of “Forest Hill, Louisiana: A Bloom Town History,” “Haunted Lafayette, Louisiana” and “Exploring Cajun Country: A Historic Guide to Acadiana” and co-author of “Magic’s in the Bag: Creating Spellbinding Gris Gris Bags and Sachets.” She also writes Louisiana romances under the pen name of Cherie Claire. Write her at cherecoen@gmail.com.