This year, the Friends of Ferguson Library will proudly sponsor the 40th Annual Stamford Literary Competition for students in grades 3 though 12 who live in, or go to school in, Stamford. Students may enter in up to two of three categories: fiction, nonfiction or poetry.
Authors must fill out the online entry form completely, then attach their work to it to submit the entry online.
Any copy generated by AI is expressly prohibited.
Winners will receive copies of the anthology in which their work will be published. They will also receive an award certificate from the Friends and a gift certificate which may be used in the Friends of Ferguson Library Book Store. A portion of their work will be shared during the award ceremony on May 4, 2025.
If your students/children have not entered in the past, I hope you will consider encouraging them to enter the competition. Past participants in the competition are welcome to submit new work.
The committee members and the judges look forward to reading the submissions.
Sincerely,
Eileen H. Rosner
Annual Literary Competition Chair
Eligibility
Students in grades 3-12 who live in or attend school in Stamford.
Categories
Fiction
Invented by the author's imagination or made up.
Nonfiction
Memory of actual event or report or opinion. If source materials are used they should be listed at the end of the piece.
Poetry
An expression of feelings and ideas using distinctive style and rhythm.
Entries judged separately for Grade 3, Grade 4, Grade 5, Grade 6, Grades 7 to 8, Grades 9 to 10, Grades 11 to 12.
Submissions
Each student may submit only one entry per category.
Each student may submit entries in two categories only.
Originality
Entries must be original work of one individual author.
Length
Fiction entries limited to 1500 words.
Non-fiction limited to 1500 words.
Poetry limited to two pages.
Entries that exceed the limit will not be submitted to the judges.
Format
Entries must be in English, typed, single-spaced, using a simple 10-point font.
NO color text.
NO illustrations.
Word docs only.
Procedure
Entry form must be attached to the online submission form.
Only Word docs will be accepted.
Please use the name of your entry as the name of your Word doc.
A separate entry form is required for each submission.
Deadline
All entries must be submitted no later than February 7, 2025.
Winners will be notified prior to the award ceremony this spring.
Criteria
There may be four winners in each category: First, second, third place, and one honorable mention.
Any copy generated by AI is expressly prohibited.
Creativity (50%)
Insightful content based on personal experience and/or issues of personal interest. Originality and appropriateness of topic are essential.
Structure (25%)
Organization: Clarity of thought, clear focus, coherent expression, development of theme (opening, development, closing).
Fiction: Present and resolve conflict or problem affecting characters. Must be invented by the author. Anything generated by AI will not be considered.
Nonfiction: Logical development with supporting arguments or examples. Based on a real event, report, or opinion. Source materials must be listed at the end of the piece.
Poetry: Indicate understanding of format and structure, and demonstrate command of the elements of poetry. Express feelings and ideas using distinctive style and rhythm.
Technique (25%)
Accuracy in grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Ability to use punctuation conventionally or for effect. Language appropriate to subject and audience. Proper use of vocabulary; appropriate choice of words. Variety of sentence structure. Presentation should be neat, easy to follow, easy-to-read, with clear, clean margins.