Write Global is seeking essays from local teens. We’re looking for perspectives about how you are a part of the global community. Some of the experiences you could write about include: if you speak multiple languages; if you have an international heritage; if you’ve traveled to or lived in another country; if you have a family member or friend from another country; if you enjoy movies, books, sports, or artists in other countries, or even if you enjoy a particular international cuisine.
We’ll feature these essays in a variety of public digital collections, and on The City Library Teens blog, and through a printed zine. You can share your unique international experiences and be a part of this special city-wide collection. Contributions may be featured on the Library's social media. Awards will be given for outstanding contributions.
This contest is held by The City Library, in partnership with the International & Area Studies Program and the Confucius Institute at the University of Utah.
See below for guidance on what to submit and how to be part of this special teens-only project.
The submission period goes from October 1–31, 2022. Winning entries will be selected by a panel of librarians, community members, and staff from the University of Utah.
.
Rules and Submission Details
Only writing submitted October 1–31, 2022 will be eligible. Winners will be notified no later than November 19, 2022.
Eligibility:
- Submissions are open to all teens living in Salt Lake County who will be entering 9th, 10th,11th, 12th grade or their first year of college in Fall 2022.
- Children of contest organizers or judges are not eligible.
- Only one entry per person.
- You must be the sole author of your submission (no co-authored essays).
- Teens may consult with parents, teachers, and/or peers on their work. The Community Writing Center is available to all participants!
- Essays must be submitted digitally through this form, no later than October 31, 2022.
- Any failure to adhere to these contest rules may result in disqualification.
- No purchase or donation is necessary.
Entry Guidelines and File Formats
- Essays must be submitted digitally through this form.
- Photographs of writing and digitally typed files will be accepted in the following file types:
Images (JPG, PNG, GIF)
Writing (PDF, ePUB)
- In addition to the required text version, entrants are also invited to submit audio or video recordings of themselves reading their work. An audio or video recording is not required, but will be accepted in the
following file types:
Audio (mp3) Video (mp4, mov).
Writing Prompts
Consider responding to one of the writing prompts below to craft your submission.
You DO NOT need to address all these questions in your writing.
- If you speak multiple languages, write about the language(s) that you speak. How did you learn them? What has been your experience as a bilingual person?
- Did you move to Salt Lake from another country? Write about how you stay connected to your country of origin, and what it’s like to live in Utah now.
- If you were born in the U.S., write about a time you traveled or lived outside of the United States. What did you learn from that experience?
- If you have family or friends from other countries, what have they taught you about their countries of origin? Write about how that knowledge has impacted you.
- Do you enjoy movies, foods, books, sports or art from other countries? Share about how those interests have increased your understanding about cultures outside of the U.S. For example, if you love K
pop consider how that may have sparked an interest in Korean culture, history, or language.
Formatting
- Typed text and handwriting must be legible.
- Typed text should be in 12pt font.
- Submission should not exceed 500 words.
- Submissions will be accepted in the following Languages: Spanish, English, Chinese.
- Submissions in a language other than English will be reviewed by judges that also read and speak that language, and will not be translated.
- Submissions must include a title of the essay, the full name of the author, and the grade they are entering in Fall 2022.
- All elements should be original. Copyrighted names and images are not allowed.
- All submissions must be original, new creations.
Word Count
- Essays should be two pages or less.
- The word count limit is 500 words. You can check your word count by copy/pasting your essay into wordcounter.net.
- The word count includes “a,” “an,” and “the” but not the words in the title or author identifying information.
Judging
Submissions will be reviewed by a panel of judges that includes librarians, community members, and staff from the University of Utah. Winning submissions must be original, and should address one or more of the contest prompts. Winning essays will include evocative language that gives the reader new understanding through the author's experience.
Prizes
- All winners will be announced as part of International Education Week November 15-19.
- There are two categories: 9th-10th Graders, and 11th, 12th Grades and First Year College Students.
- Three 1st Place winners will be selected from the 9th-10th Grade category (one from each language group: English, Spanish, and Chinese)
- Three 1st Place winners will be selected from the 11th Grade, 12th Grade and First Year College Students category (one from each language group: English, Spanish, and Chinese)
- Each 1st Place winner will each receive a $100 prize.
- In the event that there are no submissions in a language group, 2nd Place winners will be chosen in the remaining groups.
- Each 2nd Place winner will receive a $50 prize.
- Winning essays will also be published on The City Library’s BiblioBoard site, in a City Library zine, and may also appear in other City Library and University of Utah publications.
Writer Support
The Salt Lake Community College Community Writing Center
Writing Coaching - SLCC - http://www.slcc.edu/cwc/writing-coaching.aspx
Make an appointment for free one-on-one writing help!
Monday-Thursday, 10:30am–7:30pm.
Friday, 12:30–3:30pm.
Saturday, 11am–3pm.
The City Library
Help Now - slcpl.org/helpnow
Use your library card to get free online editing help. Simply upload your essay to receive helpful feedback from writing experts.
The University of Utah
University of Utah Students can access the University of Utah Writing Center: https://writingcenter.utah.edu/
Connect with our sponsors:
The City Library: http://www.slcpl.org/teens
Confucius Institute: https://confucius-institute.utah.edu
International and Area Studies Program: https://international-studies.utah.edu
City Library Teen Blog: http://www.citylibraryteens.org
May 2, 2023
MP3, MP4, WAV, JPEG, JPG, GIF, PNG, TIFF, TIF, EPUB2, EPUB3, PDF, JPG/JPEG, MPG, MOV, AVI, 3GP, FLV, DIVX, WEBM, OGG
Grade 9-12 or 1st year of college in Fall 2022