9/11 Literacy Foundations

I promised myself I wouldn't watch any 9/11 anniversary coverage on TV this weekend. I grew up in New Jersey, within view (albeit distant) of the World Trade Center. My whole life, when you approached Manhattan, the towers reminded me of a double exclamation point at the bottom of the island.

Many of us who lived and worked in/near NYC still can't get used to the new skyline.

I remember being torn on 9/11 -- unable to turn off the TV and radio, but wanting to protect my four-year-old and 18-month-old from the images of people falling from the buildings. It's still too raw for me.

My self-imposed bubble this weekend wasn't totally selfish. I received a text this Saturday that my sister-in-law was in labor. My brother said, "How cool would it be if the baby was born on 9/10/11?" He didn't have to say the rest and my nephew came into the world at 8:50 Saturday night. I had a reason to be and stay happy.

Still waiting on a name and photos!

Which is why I got caught by surprise. I was eating lunch with my kids (now 14 and 11). I was reading Parade Magazine. I was sobbing. No warning. My kids thought I had lost my mind until I explained that nothing was "wrong." They are too young to remember that day, when everything was wrong. But they're old enough to have compassion for those of us who do.

In honor of the anniversary, I'd like to share two 9/11 foundations that promote literacy. You can find both of these organizations and others in the Parade article, "Legacies of Hope."

The Brooke Jackman Foundation has a New York area focus. Jackman was a 23-year-old biobliophile who died in the Twin Towers. The organization in her name funds literary programs and gives books to at-risk kids. You'll find an article about an anniversary read-a-thon planned by the foundation at the Examiner.

Closer to our area, the Shelley A. Marshall Foundation sponsors reading hours in libraries and writing contests for students in several Virginia schools and George Mason University. Marshall died in the Pentagon.

These foundations focus on an area of passion in the lives of the people who were killed on 9/11. We can't bring people back, but we can continue to work on the things they cared about. It's another kind of "new life." That gives me hope.

Contests and Markets for Young Writers

It's time for me to update my list of contests and markets for young writers.

I keep a hand-out for teachers, parents and students, who ask, "Where can my child send her writing?"

We could debate the usefulness of pushing children to publish, but I don't have a problem with students sending out their own work. In education, this is what's called an authentic audience -- writing that's not for school and grades, but has a purpose in the real world.

Please let me know if you come across any contests or publishing opportunities for those age 18 and under.

Here's a high school writing contest I learned about at the Dodge Poetry Festival:

Here's the link, if you want to read the small print. Rider University is in New Jersey, but the contest seems to be open to all high school students.

Good luck to your children and students!

Amok in Letters to Favorite Authors

Great writing opportunity for Maryland kids! In real life, I'm on the introvert/extrovert fence, but blogging about children's literature has pushed me to reach out to authors and other bloggers. Children's illustrator and author Calef Brown has become an e-pal and I've chatted with graphic novelist Gareth Hinds. Author websites and blogs are becoming a publicity must in kids-lit. If I can stop being shy for a second and get in touch with authors I love, so can your students. Turns out, if Maryland kids write to a favorite author, they might just win a prize for their efforts. Read on! 2008 Letters About Literature Contest Kicks Off The Maryland Center for the Book, a program of the Maryland Humanities Council, is calling for entries for the 2009 Letters About Literature contest, a national reading and writing program that encourages young people in grades 4-12 to write to an author who has transformed their view of the world or themselves. This annual, national contest is one of the signature programs of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Last year, Maryland boasted a national winner when Maggie Tighe, then an 11th grade student attending Governor Thomas Johnson High School, was selected as one of six national winners. Tighe chose Monocacy Middle School Library in Frederick as the library to receive a $10,000 library reading grant provided by Target in honor of her achievement. The contest, which focuses on reader response and reflective writing, has three competition levels: Level 1 for students in grades 4-6; Level 2 for students in grades 7 and 8; and Level 3 for students in grades 9-12. More than 56,000 readers nationwide in grades 4 through 12 participated last year. Student awards are presented on both the national and state level. Judges for the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress will select six national winners (two per competition level) and 12 national runners-up (four per competition level). National winners will receive a Target GiftCard of $500. In addition, they will win for their school or community library a Reading Promotion Grant of $10,000. National winners will be instrumental in deciding how the library funds will be spent. The 12 national runners-up will win for their school or community library a Reading Promotion Grant of $1,000, and likewise be involved in the awarding of the grant. State winners receive recognition and cash prizes at a state-wide award ceremony in the spring. All entries must be received by December 6, 2008. Contest guidelines, and letters from last year’s winners, are available on the MHC website at http://www.mdhc.org/programs/maryland-center-for-the-book/letters-about-literature/. Guidelines can also be obtained by calling Jean Wortman at 410-685-4187. Teachers, librarians, and parents can download contest materials, including lesson plans, assessment checklists, and writing samples, by visiting http://www.lettersaboutliterature.org/. Program updates will be published on this website throughout the year. Good luck!

Amok in Announcements

A quick break from the “poetry postcards” about the Dodge Festival to bring you some announcements.

1. "CityLit Project’s popular “Write Here, Write Now” workshops makes its debut in Howard County with a six-session workshop on freelance writing. Led by instructor Laura Shovan at the Howard County Center for the Arts." When I stopped freelancing for the Baltimore Sun this summer and put some feelers out about teaching adult writing classes, I never expected to that I'd be WHWN’s first instructor in the ‘burbs. I would never say, "I'm stoked!" but I totally am. The class is called “Rookie Reporting: Breaking Into Freelance Writing.” The focus is on breaking into the non-fiction market by targeting local and specialty publications (online and print). Children’s writers looking to earn clips in the magazine market are very welcome! Send me an email if you’d like more info, the official flyer, or to receive the registration form. But do it today – we’re short on time. 6 Thursdays 7-8:30pm October 16 – November 20, 2008 Howard County Center for the Arts Registration Fee: $125 2. Speaking of Joy Harjo (see the last post), she’s coming to Howard County, MD for a reading this Sunday. Visit http://www.hocopolitso.org/events.htm for more information. Harjo is a wonderful poet, a powerful reader. If you do any animal work in your writing, she’s a must see. 3. Another reading in the Baltimore region soon. Poet Valzhyna Mort will be at University of Balitmore Monday, October 6 at 7 PM. The reading is free. 4. Tons of writing opportunities for Baltimore area kids this fall! This one from the Sun: "Students in kindergarten through 12th grade are invited to illustrate the theme, 'What Maryland Means to Me,' in creative writing or art. Creative-writing entries include essay, narrative, short story, poem or song; art entries include drawing, painting, photography, photo-collage, sculpture or computer-generated art. Entries can relate to Maryland's history, people or landmarks, or to personal experiences, the environment, animals, business, commerce, etc." http://www.highlandmd.org/Arts&Letters.html. A few months ago, the Sun posted a note that it was seeking children to write restaurant reviews. I'm looking for the information. If anyone knows where to find details, post a comment please. "There's no greater reward for a young writer than seeing his or her work in print. Baltimore's Child and the City Lit Project have teamed up to encourage student authors by presenting the Maryland Young Writers' Contest. Winners will have their work published in Baltimore's Child and will receive additional prizes to be announced soon. Visit http://www.baltimoreschild.com/ for information. " Publishing work makes kids feel great about writing. Encourage a child or teen to try one of these contests.