writing – Legendary Letters

I’ve been tinkering with the idea of hosting a letter writing contest for some time, and I’ve decided to go for it! I’ve sent thousands of letters out over the past 22 years (every single one written by me). I still love what I do, but I can’t help thinking it would be great to have input from other people. What would it be like to have a resident of Ireland write as a leprechaun for St. Patrick’s Day, a WWII veteran write as Uncle Sam for Independence Day, or an Environmentalist write as Mother Nature for Mother’s Day? I can imagine being these things, but I haven’t really lived it the way they have. I also wondered how writers from all generations would have different points of view and memories about the holidays? I really hope we get submissions from Millennials, Gen Xers, Baby Boomers, and the Greatest Generation as well as those still in school.

I’ve posted all the details on the Contest Page and hope you’ll check it out. There are 11 categories of characters and holidays to choose from. Anyone 13 and up may enter, and the deadline is December 15, 2018. Prizes will be awarded on December 20, 2018 just in time for the holidays. Your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to write a letter to a fictional child named Jessie Jones as a magical being.

Thank you so much to the following sites who have added us to their list of contests:

Back in 1990 when I was a senior in high school, my Government teacher read about a writing contest hosted by UC Davis. He decided to make it a class assignment (we had to write an essay about the importance of the media and free press). My mom was always trying to get me to enter writing competitions whenever she came across them in the newspaper or magazines, and although I had loved creative writing since 5th grade, I never felt my writing was good enough to compete. Since writing this essay was mandatory for my class, I went ahead and turned it in. My teacher, Mr. Harker, submitted them all to UC Davis, and I was shocked to learn that I had won 2nd place and a prize of $250!

My family was so proud when we got to go to an award ceremony and news reporter, Bob Schaeffer, presented me with an engraved plaque and the check. At the time I was just pleased that I got to spend the money on material to make my senior prom dress. Later I realized that winning that award is what gave me the confidence to get my BA in Humanities from San Jose State and to open my own writing business in 1996. I’ve been thinking about that contest a lot lately. (I even got my photo and essay published in our local newspaper, The Daily Republic.) I keep telling myself I need to get to the library and find it on their microfiche since I lost my copy quite awhile ago.

I’ve decided that I’d like to host my own writing contest based on that experience, and will write about it in another blog post soon!

Tag: writing

First Ever Legendary Letters Writing Contest

Elf Stacy’s 1990 Writing Contest Win