The State of Maryland Literacy Association held its annual High School Young Author’s Contest inviting students to write an original short story or a poem.

The competition was announced in September in order to give students plenty of time to prepare their submissions for the December 2 deadline.

English teacher Mary Troxel coordinated the Young Author’s Contest for students at Linganore High School (LHS). Troxel indicated that she received few submissions this year.

Contests such as the Young Author’s Contest are important opportunities to provide students with a rewarding experience that allows them to really practice their skills, get feedback and assistance from their teachers and potentially open doors to bigger opportunities.

Linganore Alumni and author Mel Beatty took part in a poetry competition in middle school and thinks that students taking any opportunity to be creative and get feedback is a good way to build up experience. She explained that constantly writing and receiving responses is extremely helpful for students who want to pursue a career in writing; however, this practice may look different for everyone.

Beatty explained that “everyone has their own methods … [She believes] fanfiction is probably one of the best kind of playgrounds you can work in as an author … you get sort of real-time critique without having to do some of the really hard lifting.”

Participation in the Young Author’s Contest also demonstrates a strong interest and passion for writing and the English language and literature.

“When you apply to be in the English Honors Society, … we look to see did you participate in the Young Authors Contest. That gives you a shoe-in right there,” said Troxel.

Participation in such writing contests not only allow students to take their skills to another level, but the winner even gets their story published and attends a dinner at which they can talk to others who are passionate about writing.

Beatty expressed how writing creatively and becoming a part of something bigger, such as a group or competition, is a great way to practice writing, hone individual skills and build confidence.

“I would take properties I was interested in and write original stories for them. I just joined a women’s writing group online … I just made a lot of good friends, and [I] got a lot of support from those people. They made me aware that it was a possibility that I could write a whole book,” said Beatty.

Participating in the Young Authors contest also gives students an avenue to express their creativity by writing something completely their own.

“A lot of students complain that they don’t have poems or short stories that they write for class, … so this gives them the opportunity to become their own authors … it gives them ownership of their writing,” said Troxel.

Linganore senior Lauren Hackett was a participant in the Young Author’s Contest. She expressed how this competition allowed her to share a story that is important to her.

“I felt like the poem I wrote about my love story deserved some recognition,” said Hackett.

The Young Author’s competition stopped taking submissions in December second and winners should be announced in February 2023.

The State of Maryland Literacy Association hosts an annual conference for aspiring writers. The coming year’s conference is titled “Cultivate Literacy Through Multiple Lenses” and will be held March 30-April 1, 2023.