The Center for the Arts is pleased to announce the winners of the second annual Teen Writers Project Competition. This competition was open to local students between the ages of 12-18 in the categories of non-fiction, fiction and poetry.
The winners in the fiction category are:
1. Marley Bell, senior at Sunapee High School – “The More You Win, The More You Lose”
2. Bret Salvitti, senior at Sunapee High School – “The Sanstowe Project”
3. McHale Cahill, senior at Sunapee High School – “Where the Track Split”
All of the winners above are students at Sunapee High School, and thank Thomas Coverdale for his guidance.
Runner Up: Luna Landers, New London, freshman at Kearsarge Regional High School – “My Biggest Lie” (with thanks to Jeff Maguire, KRMS Writing Club)
The winner in the non-fiction category is:
Katarina Nowicki, Wilmot, senior at Kearsarge Regional High School – “If Batman Can Do It Then So Can I” (with thanks to Lisa Cicoria)
The winners in poetry are:
1. Lilah Bartholomew, Warner, freshman at Kearsarge Regional High School – “A Rant” (with thanks to Jeff Maguire)
2. Carly Solomon, Wilmot, sophomore at Proctor Academy – “A Lie”
3. Maddox Cahill, senior at Sunapee High School – “Narrow Eyes Constrict the Heart” (with thanks to Thomas Coverdale)
The entries were judged by local author and award-winning writer, Megan Baxter, who teaches creative writing at Colby Sawyer College.
“This year’s winners reflect a deep sense of experimentation and creativity with the written word. From fast-paced genre stories to inspiring creative nonfiction and beautifully introspective poems, the work here is truly extraordinary,” writes Baxter. “Overall, I think the submissions offered a window into the life of young people living and creating during these challenging times, supported by a powerful network of family, friends, and educators. I am proud to report that we received more submissions this year which deepened the playing field. Ultimately, the winning pieces demonstrated creativity, an original voice, and an understanding of the craft of writing. I want to congratulate everyone who submitted work to the Second Annual Teen Writing Competition because every entry was a joy to read. I hope that all the writers will continue reading, writing, and learning, and look forward to seeing their work grow with time.”
Every teen who submitted their work was eligible to attend a Zoom writing workshop, led by Megan Baxter. The winning authors and their submissions will be posted on the CFA website.