Letters About Literature Writing Contest

Has a book changed the way you view yourself or the world?  Are you interested in earning cash prizes for a few paragraphs of writing?  If so, this national reading and writing contest could be for you!!

LETTERS ABOUT LITERATURE 2012-2013

Participation Guidelines

Students are encouraged to write to the author of a book expressing how that book changed their view of themselves or the world. There are three competition levels for 2013 (note: students in grades 11 and 12 are not eligible to compete at the state or national level this year):

• Level 1: Grades 4-6
• Level 2: Grades 7-8
• Level 3: Grades 9-10

Sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, Maryland state finalists and winners will be honored in the spring with cash prizes for first and second place winners at each level. The first place winner for each level advances to the national competition. 

Entry Information

Librarians or teachers should mail their students' letters, along with a contest entry form for each student, to the national office postmarked by Friday, January 11, 2013. Students may also submit individual entries using the same form. See complete guidelines on our website. Student entries for Level 1 should be no less than 100 words and no more than 400 words. Entries for Level 2 should be no less than 300 words and no more than 600 words. Entries for Level 3 should be no less than 500 words and no more than 800 words.