“The most important thing is to read as much as you can, like I did. It will give you an understanding of what makes good writing and it will enlarge your vocabulary.” 

– J.K.Rowling (author of Harry Potter)

PRODUCTION RULES

In preparation for writing, students should draw from their own personal knowledge and research information from a variety of sources including historical and  reference material, interviews, personal experiences, newspapers, academic journals, auto-biographies, films and television movies, or internet sources.

These researches are solely opportunities for learning. Plagiarism is not accepted and a disqualification act (for example: copying published information, submitting someone else’s
text as your own).

DESCRIPTION AND GUIDELINES

The contest is open to all Miami-Dade Elementary, Middle and High School students
in grades 3 – 12. There is a one-time fee of $10.

The considered grade is the one you were in when you registered, 2021-2022 academic year.
Writers may submit:
Elementary (grades 3 – 5):
One typed or hand-written story between 1,000 and 2,000 words
Middle (grades 6 – 8):
One typed story between 2,000 and 4,000 words
High School (grades 9 – 12):
One typed story between 4,000 and 6,000 words

• There is no restriction on style.
• Each story must be the work of one student and not the collective work of two or more students.
• By submitting the manuscript, the applicant certifies that the story is original, authored solely by her/him and has never been published.
• The story cannot be plagiarized or infringe upon the rights of any third parties.
• The story must be written in English.
• The story must have a title.
• The author must provide a cover such as a drawing, a picture or else.
• This is optional, but the author can add illustrations to the story.
• A 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner for each level is selected as well as a
  Grand Prize per level, if deserved.
• Cash prizes are given to the Grand Prize, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in each level.
• Creative writing workshops and certificates are given to all categories of winners.
• The Grand Prizes have each their manuscript published as a book and a podcast.
• The Grand Prize and 1st Places have a video clip made on an excerpt of their story,
• The Grand Prize, 1st, 2nd and 3rd Places who participated in the workshops have their full edited story compiled in an e-book.
• The stories are judged by professionals from the literary, educational and the art world on the following:
  o Creativity and originality
  o Composition and overall structure
  o Sentence construction and fluency

THEMES

Themes are exclusively FREE CHOICE.

APPLICATION ONLINE ONLY: deadline is May 31, 2023

SUBMISSION ONLINE ONLY: deadline is the First Day of Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

You can submit your manuscript ONLY:

– By email in Word or pdf format at mystory@laplumecontest.com