[an error occurred while processing this directive]

WIN YOUR OWN ADVENTURE CONTEST
 Sponsored by
Dear Young Writers:

The results are in, and the winners of the "MY GREATEST ADVENTURE" writing contest have been chosen! Before I announce the winners, though, let me take a moment to explain how they were chosen.

First, every entry received was read by at least two "first readers", whose job it was to make sure all the contest rules were followed. Many entries were disqualified due to going over the word limit (1,000 words), or not including the information required, like an address or birthdate. Just like in the "real" publishing world, small details count!

Then all the qualified submissions were read again, this time by a screening panel. It was a tough job, but the submissions were reduced to a short list of finalists, as follows:

FINALISTS: 13 - 17 AGE GROUP
-Chrissy Dotson, 17 ("Hawks, Trees, and Possible Dreams")
-Lauren Martinez, 14 ("My Last Mountain")
-Jennifer Anderson, 13 ("Always a First Time")
-Joshua Wassung, 17 ("Face to Face")
-Molly Newgren, 13 ("My Greatest Adventure")

FINALISTS: 8 - 12 AGE GROUP
-Katy Lynn Jeppson, 8 ("Katy, The Sheep Rider")
-Allison M. Coate, 11 ("Leprechaun Hunters")
-Dustin Carr, 9 ("Lost in the Forest")
-Samantha Whitaker, 8 ("Flames")

Congratulations to all our finalists, and to all those who entered the contest!

The next, and final, step was to submit all our finalists' stories to a panel of publishing professionals. Our judges' panel included the author of two NY Times Bestsellers; three award-winning fiction novelists; two national magazine journalists; the editor of a national writer's publication; a book publicist; three non-fiction authors; and a television producer. The entries were judged with a point system, then the points were totaled.

AND THE WINNERS WERE.....

** In the 13 - 17 age group:

LAUREN MARTINEZ, 14, for: "MY LAST MOUNTAIN"

Lauren will be leaving on July 26th to fly from Los Angeles to Geneva, where whe will begin her three-week European Adventure trip! She'll go white-water rafting in France... mountain biking in Italy... backpacking across vast Alpine glaciers and peaks in Switzerland. It'll be three weeks of non-stop adventure with Venture Europe, the premiere teen adventure organization in the world.

** In the 8 - 12 age group:

DUSTIN CARR, 9, for "LOST IN THE FOREST"

Dustin will receive a brand new Dyno VFR bike with a Real Kids, Real Adventures helmet, kneepads, and backpack survival kit. He'll be ready for adventure wherever he goes!

Fifth Floor Directory:   Young Writers' Clubhouse | Meet author Deborah Morris
Meet some kid authors | How to get started | FAQ about writing
Join our Critique Group | Join our email list