Young Vermont Writers to Compete for Award Given at Bookstock

On March 2, Bookstock launched the Bookstock Writer’s Awards, a competition for young writers living in Vermont and the New Hampshire towns in the Upper Valley. The writing challenge is a partnership of Bookstock, the Young Writers Project of Vermont, and The Writer’s Center of White River Junction, Vermont.

Hundreds of high school and middle school students are expected to vie for cash prizes, which will be presented at Bookstock on July 31.  Some of the winning young writers will read their pieces at the festival.

Youth 18 years or younger who reside in Vermont or in the Upper Valley area of New Hampshire are eligible to compete. Entries should be submitted by May 1 on the Young Writers Project website, which has detailed information about the contest.


Students are being asked to write a story, poem or essay about a vivid memory or experience involving a building, real or imagined. The piece also can use a building as a character or a setting that is a key part of the plot, mood or theme. Students can also combine real and imaginary by filling gaps in a real memory with fictional details to round out the story. There is a 750 word length limit. Selections will be based on quality; judges will take into account age and geographic location of the writer.

David Macaulay, of Norwich VT, the noted author-illustrator and keynote speaker of Bookstock 2010, created the theme. The Young Writers Project will select finalists.  The Writer’s Center of White River Junction will select the winners.