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One Page Writing Contest Winners
Recently CALS hosted a one-page teen writing contest with the prompt of “Adventure begins at your library,” (pulled from this year’s Summer @ CALS theme). While there were many wonderful entries, these three were the best of the best! Congratulations to the winner, Siyona – who is only 11! – as well as Kyra and Angela. You can read their one-page entries below as well as find out a little bit more about what inspires these young writers. Who knows, maybe one day you can read one of their books right here at CALS.
FIRST PLACE:
Siyona Gangidi (11) , “Library of Lost Souls“
Outside of the prompt, “Adventure begins at your library,” what inspired your story?
I’ve been enjoying books that are historical fiction and my favorite historical fiction books are about WW2. When I researched WW2 I learned that a lot of libraries were destroyed in Europe and the USA. I decided that my story would start in the USA, and end up in France. I thought that the idea of a character being transported through time and space to a bombing would be a really cool idea. I also love romantic books so I had to add a little bit of romance in there.
Where did the inspiration for your characters come from?
In my story I didn’t exactly describe their looks, but I did describe their personality. My inspiration for Andre was no one. I didn’t really have a person in mind when writing about Andre. I just thought of a brave, selfless, and good person. My inspiration for Sofia was your average almost-teenage girl. She loves her phone and falls for boys quite easily. She knew Andre for 5 minutes before falling head over heels for him.
Your story was limited to one page. If you had a second page, where would you have taken the story?
I think the part of my story I entered would become the prologue. The second page would actually start the story where it’s her first day of school and in her history class, she learns about the bombing she was in. Her reborn curiosity about that time leads her to go retrieve the book and set out to find more information about WW2 and Andre.
2ND PLACE:
Kyra Brinsfield (14) , “Revenge“
Outside of the prompt, “Adventure begins at your library,” what inspired your story?
A week or two before writing my one page story, I had read a short story about a feud between two families. I think that stuck with me and gave me inspiration for this.
Where did the inspiration for your characters come from?
I honestly don’t know nor do I have any idea on where I could’ve gotten inspiration.
Your story was limited to one page. If you had a second page, where would you have taken the story?
If I had a second page, I probably would have changed the perspective to Astra, her feelings about what she did as well as more of her family’s history with the Enubis. Maybe include her planning for her next kill and how she was groomed to be an assassin
3RD PLACE:
Angela Koturbash (12), “Adventure in the Amazon“
Outside of the prompt, “Adventure begins at your library,” what inspired your story?
I was inspired by the book series The Land of Stories by Chris Colfer. In the book, the main characters fall into a book like Maria did, but, unlike Maria, did not expect it, and had some trouble getting back out again!
Where did the inspiration for your characters come from?
I wanted my main character to be brave, smart, and a little bit funny. In some ways, I modeled her after myself! I also wanted her to be friendly with the librarians, which is how she got invited to the Amazon in the first place! This was inspired by my mom, who spends time chatting with all the librarians and has made some great friendships with them.
Your story was limited to one page. If you had a second page, where would you have taken the story?
If my story could have been two pages long, I definitely would have added more to her time in the Amazon. I initially planned a full-staged attack from the tiger, in which Maria horrifyingly forgets how to get back, and remembers in the nick of time. I was also going to stage a bit of a conversation between her and Cleo, but I decided I liked the modified ending anyway.
