Presents
Charlotte Literary Festival “Kickoff To Writing” Contest
As part of the 2008 Charlotte Literary Festival, RealEyes Bookstore is holding a writing contest. The goal of the contest, like that of the Festival, is to promote literacy. We hope this contest will engage students by enticing them to read and encouraging them to write. We expect the experience of participating in the following activities to have a lasting and ripple affect on the children, and their relationship to books. Our goal is to show them that they too can create great literature.
After conducting extensive research, it was discovered that an alarming number of males that actually invested in reading were inspired by comic books. In today’s society, males are interested in video games and action movies. A comic book offers similar elements, but you have to read it! Comic books are one of the tools found in popular culture that can successfully engage children in literacy. Comic books reinforce vocabulary and assist in learning to use language n a creative way. Comic books promote awareness of stereotypes including race, class, ethnicity and gender.
The Charlotte Literary Festival is presenting the “Kickoff to Writing” contest designed to encourage students within the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools (CMS) system to read. Each student will have to read a comic book and then create their own. They will have to create a super hero that uses words to save the world! A panel of reputable authors will judge each book based on a point system. We feel this will encourage the kids to continue reading and using their imagination, which will improve their reading levels overall. As the Charlotte Literary Festival strongly endorses education, we also encourage the collective push for the continued growth of civic and social awareness in the immediate community. Participants will be identified by teachers. The students will then read and then create their own comic book!
Directions for the Contest
1. Students should write and create a comic book based on this scenario:
“Re-create the super hero based on the comic book you read. How can the hero save the people and the town using words? The hero loves to read and knows there is power in words, books, and in writing. The hero can either say or write something that changes everything. What does the hero write? Is it a word, a letter, directions, an article—what is it? And how does it save people. Main question: How does the hero save the people and the town using words?”
3. The comic book must be at least 300 words or more. The comic book must be at least 4 pages long. Students will not be judged on illustrations, but on the written message. Students are encouraged to illustrate their comic books, even if that means simply drawing stick figures, adding a colorful display, or having a friend draw the scenes. (The illustrations may help students think through the story.)
4. Contest deadline: Friday, April 9, 2008
Winners will be announced: Wednesday, April 30, 2008
5. The judging will be done by local authors, a local comic book store, and festival committee members.
6. The comic book prizes will be awarded as such:
- Elementary
- First-place winner- Comic book will be published and a copy will be sent to the winner. He/she will receive two passes to Paramount Carowinds. He/she will be invited to attend the Charlotte Literary Festival. They will be an award ceremony with access to games and activities, a surprise celebrity guest appearance.
- Second place winner- He/she will receive two passes to Paramount Carowinds. He/she will be invited to attend the Charlotte Literary Festival. They will be an award ceremony with access to games and activities, a surprise celebrity guest appearance.
- 50 Winners-These kids will be invited to attend the Charlotte Literary Festival. They will be an award ceremony with access to games and activities, a surprise celebrity guest appearance.
- Middle School
- First-place winner- Comic book will be published and a copy will be sent to the winner. He/she will receive a $200 gift card for back to school supplies. He/she will be invited to attend the Charlotte Literary Festival. They will be an award ceremony with access to games and activities, a surprise celebrity guest appearance.
- Second place winner- He/she will receive a $100 gift card for back to school supplies. He/she will be invited to attend the Charlotte Literary Festival. They will be an award ceremony with access to games and activities, a surprise celebrity guest appearance.
- 50 Winners-These kids will be invited to attend the Charlotte Literary Festival. They will be an award ceremony with access to games and activities, a surprise celebrity guest appearance.
- High School
- First-place winner- Comic book will be published and a copy will be sent to the winner. He/she will receive a Scholarship for college. They will be an award ceremony with access to games and activities, a surprise celebrity guest appearance.
- Second place winner- He/she will receive a $200 gift card for back to school supplies. He/she will be invited to attend the Charlotte Literary Festival. They will be an award ceremony with access to games and activities, a surprise celebrity guest appearance.
- 50 Winners-These kids will be invited to attend the Charlotte Literary Festival. T They will be an award ceremony with access to games and activities, a surprise celebrity guest appearance.
Helpful Hints:
- Comic books should have graphics that apply to the storyline. We encourage parents to assist students with graphics.
- Comic books can be fiction or nonfiction. Non-fictional superhero’s can include a parent, uncle, etc.
- Students can bind their comic book based on their own preference including glue and staples.
- Having a strong plot is basic requirement of any narrative.
- For more information about creating your own comic book various websites on how to create comic books.
Submissions:
You can drop off or mail your comic book to:
Attn: Charlotte Literary Festival “Kick-off to Writing Contest”
RealEyes Bookstore
3306A N. Davidson Street
Charlotte, NC 28205
(The Charlotte Literary Festival staff will pick up 10 or more comic books. Call (704) 377-8989 for more details.)
We hope that our mission to get kids to read more, and use their imagination will spark a flame inside them that will never go out. We look forward to seeing just how creative the kids can be. Thank you for being apart of the 2008 Charlotte Literary Festival!
-Darren Vincent, Festival Director
