Fall Writing Frenzy Update

contest, Contests, Diversity, Kidlit, Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy, resources 2 Minutes

Hello Fall Writing Frenzy friends,

Can you believe the winners will be announced tomorrow?!? Neither can we!

But before we announce them, we have one last thing we’d like to share.

Our main goal for the fall writing frenzy is to help writers grow in their craft, and we did so much of that this season already, from adding more diverse pictures to allowing art notes to connecting with so many wonderful new people. Before we announce the winners, I would love for us to learn and grow in one final area: our understanding of “#ownvoices.”

After going through the submissions for the fall writing frenzy, we realized many of us don’t know the complete and intended meaning of ownvoices. And I want to send a special thanks to all of you wonderful creators who took the time to help me understand your personal own voices statements you shared!

So, what is own voices?

I had the same question. I had a general idea, but this contest prompted me to dig deeper, and I found a wonderful post from the creator who coined the hashtag! 

Essentially it boils down to this: Own voices is meant to encourage more creators with diverse/underrepresented/marginalized voices to write from an authentic point of view. 

Corrine, the creator of the phrase, says it best, so please take the time to check out this wonderful post:

#ownvoices

Thank you all for learning and growing with us this fall. It’s been such a joy especially in these times. 

Before we announce the winners tomorrow on Lydia’s blog, we want you all to know that not placing in this competition does not mean your piece wasn’t AMAZING. We’ve done competitions and KNOW how incredibly HARD it is to not see your name on the final list. It’s okay to feel disappointed, but please please PLEASE remember, we enjoyed all of your stories but only had so many donors to match people with. I know it sounds cheesy but you really are all winners for writing, growing, and connecting. We definitely recommend reading (or re-reading for many of you ;)) the winners’ stories to continue to learn and grow but they are not the only amazing pieces we read so don’t think you need to write like they do. However, you can get ideas of how they circled back to the beginning, had a shocking end, used phenomenal characterization, made such an impact with so few words, wrote with lyrical, emotive language, and so much more. Then you can help those lessons guide you in the future. And remember some people did hit all these marks and due to the limited prizes, weren’t selected. So all that is to say, we can’t wait to announce the matches tomorrow, but you are all winners!

Sincerely,

Kaitlyn and Lydia

PS. Come back to my blog tomorrow after reading about the winners to learn about one of my critique partner Jess Hernandez’s debut picture books and get in on a giveaway!

PPS if you aren’t following Lydia and I on our blogs and/or Twitter, we would love it if you would so we can stay in touch until next fall!

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25 thoughts on “Fall Writing Frenzy Update”

  2. I can’t wait for tomorrow! Thank you for discussing the true meaning of Own Voices and pointing us to Corinne’s brilliant explanation.

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  4. There were so many terrific stories this year, many more than the amount of prizes to be awarded. So, everyone who entered should be proud to have taken part. With that said, I saw a few that I thought we exceptional and hope to see those names tomorrow.

    Thanks for the writing challenge and for defining ownvoices in this post.

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  5. Thank you for sharing this wonderful article on Corinne’s post; it really helped clarify the meaning of #ownvoices. And thank you for this fun writing challenge, and the opportunity to grow and learn in this fabulous kid lit community 😀

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  6. Thank you for sharing Corinne’s post. Her explanation of #ownvoices rings with terrific insight. Thank you, Lydia, and team for helping the kid lit community realize their potential as writers.

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  7. Thank you for all of your tremendous support! I’m sure selecting the best of the best was difficult. This was another wonderful opportunity to develop our writing skills! Thanks again to you, Lydia and the generous prize “donors “! Also for the information regarding #ownvoices! 🙂

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  8. I enjoyed Corinne’s article. She made own voices easy to understand. Also thanks to you, Lydia and the prize donors. I had so much fun reading all the stories!

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  9. I don’t think I fully understood Own voices until now. Thank you!!!
    I’ve had a blast participating in the #FallWritingFrenzy! I read so many intriguing, delightful, impactful stories and had countless kind interactions. Can’t wait until next year’s frenzy!!

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  11. You’ve created something so awesom, Kaitlun! Congrats to you and Lydia for making it through to the finish line! And thanks to all who donated critiques! And congrats to the winners! I so wish I could have taken part this year, but I was consumed by Litquake/Kidquake activities, and didn’t have time until after the frenzy was over. But I loved reading some of the entries!

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