BP Markowitz Holds Teen Writing Contest On Bullying

Ready, set… “write” on!

Borough President Marty Markowitz is reaching out to all of Brooklyn’s high schoolers (high school students attending school in Brooklyn or who live in Brooklyn) to participate in his Sixth Annual “Brooklyn Lit Match” Teen Writing Contest, a student competition held in conjunction with the Brooklyn Book Festival, September 18.

Students are invited to submit stories, poems, essays, spoken word and raps, not exceeding 2,000 words. Entries are due by June 27, and winning submissions will be published in a book. The first place winner will receive a laptop computer.

This year’s contest’s theme is “Brooklyn ReACT,” and students are asked to submit their work on the following:

From schoolyards and social networking sites to the larger political world, there is a spectrum of people who threaten, oppress and bully. Why do some people torment others? What makes bullies stop or not? What can others do? Tell us a story about bullying. You can invent a story with fictional characters and a made-up setting, or you can tell it straight from your own life. Who are the characters and where do they come from? What do they do and how do others respond?

Ten finalists, including the first place winner, will be chosen by a committee comprised of publishers, editors and literary agents, and will be asked to read or perform their work at the festival. The finalists’ work will also be professionally edited and published in an anthology to be released by Akashic Books.

Entries may be either typed or handwritten. Don’t forget to include a cover sheet with your name, address, school, principal, age and telephone number.

Entries should be sent to Brooklyn Book Festival Lit Match, Brooklyn Borough Hall, 209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201 or e-mailed to ekoch@brooklynbp.nyc.gov.  Any questions regarding the writing competition can be directed to Liz Koch at (718) 802-3852.

To learn more, go to www.brooklynbookfestival.org.