Young Authors Showcase

This literary showcase is a special opportunity for high school students from around the world to express, through the written word, their impressions and interpretation of Sister Cities International's mission: promoting peace through mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation — one individual, on community at a time.

2010 Theme: Your world…

Important Information

Submission Guidelines
Entry Form

For Students
For Teachers

Submission Categories:

• Personal Essay
• Poetry

Writing Criteria & Specifications

• Participants are encouraged to creatively express the theme in an innovative manner. Judges will also weigh composition, scholarship and originality. Entries must not be plagiarized, stolen, or copied from any other source and must not defame or invade the rights of any person, living or dead. Entries not adhering to these guidelines will not be considered.
• Personal Essays are not to exceed 750 words and Poetry is not to exceed 40 lines.
• All entries must be typed in English.
• If you have written an entry in another language, you may submit an English translation.
• On a separate cover sheet for each entry, list the following: contest category (essay, short story, poetry), title of work, contestant's name, home address, home phone number and e-mail address if available.

Entry Requirements

• Entry fee for participants is $5.
• Any entries not accompanied by the entry fee or received after April 30, 2010 will not be judged.
• Entries must be submitted as a hardcopy to the Washington DC office.

Awards

• One U.S. and one international winner will be selected from each category
• Winners will each receive complimentary registration to the Annual Youth Leadership Conference and $1,000.
• Winning pieces will be published on the Sister Cities International web site and in the Sister Cities International eNews.

Reservation of Rights

• Sister Cities International reserves the right to modify or clarify any of the showcase rules during the term of the showcase without any advance notice.
• If selected as a winner, Sister Cities International has the right to publish/include your entry within its newsletter, marketing or on the web site.