Fall Writing Contest for Adults (Sept. 1 – Oct. 31, 2020)
Ringer Library is hosting a fall writing contest for our BCS adult community!
The topic is writer’s choice, so send us a story about whatever interests you!
Your submissions may be between 1500-2000 words and must be an original work of the entrant.
Please email submissions by October 31st to areed@bryantx.gov. We look forward to reading your stories!
We will be using this rubric (view pdf or MS word) to judge the entries
Spooky Writing Contest for Kids and Teens (Sept. 23 – Oct. 16, 2020)
Mounce Library is having a spooky writing contest for kids ages 7 to 18.
Follow the guidelines and submit your story to Mounce Library.
Age categories (7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13-18); there will be one winner per age group
Length: 250 words or less
Topic: choose a spooky topic that is for children. Be mindful of how you write; we can be spooky without being profane or violent. Keep it G rated, please.
Deadline: Friday, October 16, 2020
Format: handwritten, typed, or electronically submitted as a Microsoft Word Document
How to submit: Bring the story in person to Mounce Library 2nd floor Youth Services or email it as a Microsoft Word document to Elaine at eplatt@bryantx.gov.
If submitting in person (on paper), write the entrant’s first and last name, age, and contact information (email preferred) on the back of the last page. If submitting electronically, please include the same information in your email.
Judging will be done the week of Oct. 19-23. Entries will be displayed the week after Halloween. What you submit should be your own work!
Judging criteria: originality, theme related, spookiness, story quality
Important Note: In order for Mounce Library to display your story or make it available for others to read, you need to submit an Original Work Copyright Release. Fil out the form when you drop off the story or fill it out electronically. Please have a parent or guardian sign.
Upcoming Author Visits
Monday, November 23, 2020 at 6 PM – Stephen J. O’Shea, From the Land of Genesis (adult short story collection) and exclusive trailer of Hell or High Seas (documentary); Virtual author visit using Zoom webinar, registration required, contact Kendra at kperkins@bryantx.gov to sign up
Please contact Kendra Perkins at (979) 764-3416 if you are interested in discussing a possible author visit. At this point, we are only doing virtual visits that patrons can access from home (Zoom, etc.).
Recent Author Visits (2019-2020)
Saturday, May 30, 2020 – Martha Wells – best-selling, award-winning science fiction and fantasy author (Network Effect, Murderbot Diaires novel, comes out in May), 2:00 PM, Virtual visit using Zoom, registration required, contact Kendra to sign up, see more at www.bcslibrary.org/virtual-author-visit-martha-wells
October 22, 2019 – TEENS Publish Authors Party to release the 2019 anthology Not Just Ink and Paper – multiple authors, at Ringer Library
Rae Andrus, Nathaniel Cowles, Sayuni Dharmasena, George Ignatius, Incognito, Eliza Joy, Olivia MacArthur, Lauren Mikeska, Julie Morgan, Claire Ntaimo, Faith Ocon, Gloria Tao, E. N. Tong, Elleanna Vines, Sandra Vines, Margot Wright, and W. Morgan Yocky
October 15, 2019 – Ted Boone, author of Langford’s Leap, at Full STEAM Ahead Book Club meeting at the Tipsy Bean
October 5, 2019 – Brazos Valley SCBWI Book Bash – multiple authors from Brazos Valley SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators), at Ringer Library
June 15, 2019 – Martha Wells – best-selling, award-winning science fiction and fantasy author (All Systems Red, the first Murderbot Diaries novella, won Hugo, Nebula, and Locus Awards for Best Novella and an Alex Award for a book written for adults that has special appeal to young adults), at Mounce Library
Rachel Brown – “My Messy Poem of Life” (story not included at author request)
Library Programs for Authors and Aspiring Authors
Intro to NaNoWriMo in BCS, Saturday, October 17, 2020, at 2:30 PM, local NaNoWriMo regional group BCS Wrimos will explain the program in a Zoom webinar, contact Kendra to sign up (registration required)
TEENS Publish, summer creative writing program for teens, led by author Molly Blaisdell, Ringer Library, summer 2020 program was virtual; 2020 author party will be virtual (2020 participants will receive invitations); contact Kendra for details
