Welcome to the 2010 Minds Wide Open Creative Writing Contest for Tazewell County, Virginia!
 

Click here to view the winning entries!

 If this is your first time visiting this page, you may be asking yourself, "What is 'Minds Wide Open'?"  In short, MWO is a statewide celebration of women in the arts.  Communities across the commonwealth of Virginia are participating in a variety of events throughout March-June of 2010 that help showcase and celebrate women who engage in all manner of artistic endeavors.  If you want to learn more about the MWO celebration, click here.

My name is Jennifer Webster.  As an author and featured artist participating in Richlands-area MWO events, I wanted to take the opportunity to engage young people (both boys and girls) in this celebration and encourage them in their own artistic pursuits.  And since I am an author, I wanted to focus on creative writing, specifically.  As such, I partnered with the Richlands Area Citizens for the Arts (CART) and Tazewell County schools in sponsoring this creative writing contest, open to all 3rd-12th graders in the Tazewell County, Virginia public school system.

The rules for the contest are pretty simple:  Using the picture prompt below, students must write a story that includes all the basic parts of a story (i.e., setting, character, and plot) and all the elements of good story structure (i.e., beginning, middle, and end).  Contest entries will be judged by a committee of artists and educators on these criteria and: use of proper grammar and spelling and creativity/uniqueness of the story.  The grand prize winner for each grade level will receive a $25 gift certificate to Barnes and Noble (generously provided by CART) and their story published on this website.  An honorable mention will also be selected from each grade level.  Honorable mentions will receive a writing journal (also provided by CART) and their story published on this website.  Winners will be announced and winning entries posted here on June 1, 2010.

Please note, contest entries cannot be accepted through this website.  The contest is being administered by English/Language Arts teachers at each school. 

This photograph was taken by Kentucky artist and student-English educator, Elizabeth Elam.  Elizabeth has generously donated the use of her work for the Minds Wide Open Creative Writing Contest.