Calling All Young Poets and Playwrights: Win Cash & Scholarships!

# $10,000 in Cash Awards and Scholarships Available

Are you a student or parent of a student who loves writing poetry or plays? Don't miss the opportunity to win cash and scholarships and to show off those skills in the Friends of Brentwood Library's third annual James Weldon Johnson Young Writer's Festival!

To participate in the festival and for a chance at a prize or scholarship, youth in grades 3-12 are asked to submit a poem or dramatic monologue by May 28, 2024. Submissions must be dropped off at the Brentwood Branch Library.

The multi-day festival (June 5-8, 2024) will feature workshops on creative writing, art illustration, poetry, and performance in the Conference Center at the Main Library. The week wraps up on Saturday, June 8, with awards and presentations by students.

# Special Guest Author

On Friday, June 7, bestselling novelist and educator, Dr. Jewell Parker Rhodes, joins us at Brentwood Branch Library at 4:30 p.m. for a special Junior Lit Chat Author Talk. Jewell Parker Rhodes is the author of the Louisiana Girls children’s book trilogy, which includes Ninth Ward, Sugar, and Bayou Magic. Her children’s books have received the Parents’ Choice Foundation Award, the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award, and the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award, among others. Towers Falling, her new middle-grade novel, was published in July 2016. 

"I feel tremendously lucky to be where I am today – writing books for kids is truly a dream come true," Rhodes says. "I’ve always attempted in my stories to capture the morals that meant the most to me growing up: the importance of self-respect, the power of black womanhood, the value of the people closest to us." Rhodes has visited hundreds of schools across the country and is a regular speaker at colleges and conferences. The driving force behind all of Jewell’s work is to inspire social justice, equity, and environmental stewardship. 

A limited number of copies of Bayou Magic will be given away to participants, first come, first served.

Register for the Junior Lit Chat!

Note: Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

# Important Dates & Information

Submission Deadline: May 28, 2024

For a chance at a prize or scholarship, youth in grades 3-12 must submit a poem or dramatic monologue by May 28, 2024. Submissions for the contest are to be dropped off at:

Brentwood Branch Library 
3725 N. Pearl St., Jacksonville, FL 32206 

Emailed poetry submissions are subject to the same deadline date and time. For more questions, email sharoncoon22@gmail.com.

For more information, please attend:

Student/Parent Orientation
Tuesday, May 28, from 6:30-7:15 p.m. 
Brentwood Branch Library

Young Writer's Festival (Dates and Location): 

Wednesday - Saturday, June 5-8, 2024  
8:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Jacksonville Public Library - Main Library (Conference Center) 
303 N. Laura St., Jacksonville, FL 32202

# Prizes By Age Group

Young Authors Awards

$650 for Elementary Division (EM) Grades 3-5
1st Place $200, 2nd Place $150, 3rd Place $125, and three $50 Honorable Mentions

$950 for Middle High (MH) Division Grades 6-8
1st Place $300, 2nd Place $250, 3rd Place $200, and three $75 Honorable Mentions

$4800 for Senior High (SH) Division Grades 9-12
1st Place $2000, 2nd Place $1,500, 3rd Place $1,000 and three $100 Honorable Mentions

Book Cover Art Illustration Awards

$300 for Elementary Division (EM) Grades 3-5 
1st Place $100, 2nd Place $75, 3rd Place $50, and three $25 Honorable Mentions

$450 for Middle High Division (MH) Grades 6-8 
1st Place $125, 2nd Place $100, 3rd Place $75, and three $50 Honorable Mentions

$650 for Senior High Division (SH) Grades 9-12 
1st Place $200, 2nd Place $150, 3rd Place $100, and three $75 Honorable Mentions

Students Incentive Writers Award Participation

$2500 for fifty students (at $50 each).

# Contest Rules

Students Participation Requirements

Students must complete all activities to receive cash and scholarship awards.

1. Approved application
2. Submit Original Poetry and Dramatic Monologue
3. Keep a written journal of original poetry
4. Attend Career Day
5. Attend Young Authors Awards Ceremony
6. Attend the Three-Day Workshop Series with professional writers and visual and performing artists.
7. Display good behavior

# Poetry Rules

1. The poem must be written by the student and can be on any subject he/she chooses.
2. The poem must be at least 10 lines, but not more than 25 lines. It can be rhymed or free verse but must conform to acceptable standards of poetry.
3. The poem must have a title or the word Untitled in the space where a specific title would be.
4. It must be typewritten, double-spaced on regular 8 1/2" by 11” bond paper, and authenticated for originality by a parent or teacher.
5. Student must submit three (3) copies of the poem.
6. Student's full name, parent name, address, phone number, email address, school name, and grade must be placed at the bottom of each page for identification.
7. The student is limited to submitting one poem.

Poetry Judging Criteria

# Dramatic Monologue Rules

1. The dramatic monologue must be written by and later performed by the student on the theme or the life and contribution of a significant African American of the past or present. The tone may be serious or humorous.
2. In performance, the monologue must be at least three (3) minutes or no more and five (5) minutes. Any props to be used must be minimal and approved prior to the preliminary performance.
3. The dramatic monologue must conform to good language usage (no derogatory language or profanity).
4. The dramatic monologue must have a title or the word "Untitled" in the space where a specific title would be.
5. It must be based on facts; it must include more than three (3) lines that are quoted from any other speaker or writer.
6. In written form, it must be typewritten, double-spaced on 8 ½" by 11" bond paper, and authenticated for originality by a teacher, and parent/guardian.
7. The student must make three (3) copies of the monologue.
8. Student's full name, parent name, address, phone number, email address, school name, and grade must be placed at the bottom of each page for identification.
9. The student is limited to submitting one dramatic monologue.

Judging Monologue Criteria

# James Weldon Johnson Young Writers Festival

# Mission Statement

To use poetry, visual, and performing arts as a vehicle to impact youth academic engagement and performance, social-emotional development, and to develop writing and analytical skills giving children and youth a greater understanding of themselves and others.

This program is the brainchild of Matriarch Sharon Coon, Founder of The Friends of Brentwood Public Library, Inc.

Goals: Educate Youth, Young Authors Awards Ceremony, Family Fun Community Celebratory Activities, Author’s Book Exhibit, and Career Day.