Fall Writing Frenzy 2023

Dear Kidlit Community,

After last year’s successful 4th edition, the Fall Writing Frenzy contest is back!

(Unfortunately, as some of you already know, we’ll be without our wonderful co-host, Lydia Lukidis, this year, but we still have a great event in store for you!)

A bit about the Fall Writing Frenzy

The Kidlit Fall Writing Frenzy is a FREE writing contest for all kidlit writers writing board books through young adult novels. As always, the goal is for everyone to create connections and grow as writers! You’ll get the chance to be inspired and possibly write about something you never thought you would all while connecting with other writers in the community (potentially even forming your own new communities) and connecting with prize donors who are well-respected in the literary community. Best of all, if you’re selected as a winner, you’ll be connected directly with a prize donor for a written critique of a kidlit piece of your choosing!

So, how does this all work?

The RULES

Before you dive in, to receive all updates, please subscribe to Kaitlyn’s blog: https://kaitlynleannsanchez.com/blog/ (a popup should come up asking if you want to subscribe.)

Please note: this contest is currently for un-agented writers.

1. Select one of the images below and write about it.

It can be a poem, a story, a mood piece, or whatever comes to mind. Happy, scary, beautiful, grotesque, whatever suits your fancy for any kidlit age, board book through young adult. You can write about the picture in a literal or metaphorical way, or focus on a memory or emotion it elicits. Just let the photo inspire you and have fun! When ready, post it to your blog and/or social media.

Maximum length: 200 words (not including the title).

2. Submit your entry between October 1 and October 3, 2023 11:59 PM EST.

Come back to this website and there will be a special blog post specifically for entries. You will enter your information into a Google form on the blog post. Including the link to your piece where you’ve posted it (on your blog or social media). If you don’t have a blog or social media to post it on, no worries, you can post in the comments of the entry blog post. This is meant to create connections with others in the writing community so you visit (and maybe even subscribe to each other’s blogs and/or social media).

LIMIT one entry per person.

3. Share, share, share!

Please spread the word about the contest with your writing groups, on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, etc When you do, please tag Kaitlyn and any of the prize donors so they can interact too. My handle is @kaitlynleann17 and the prize donor’s handles will be on the prize donor page soon!

Once the event starts, comment on other entries with supportive, encouraging messages. Don’t forget to use our official hashtag: #FallWritingFrenzy.

4. The winners will be selected by Kaitlyn and any guest judges, OR a prize donor.

We’ll choose whatever speaks to us the most, could be sentimental, sweet, powerful, funny, lyrical, scary, inspiring, or something we haven’t thought of. We’re excited to be surprised!

5. We always aim to announce the winners by October 31st but depending on how many wonderful entries there are, it may take longer.

Please be patient with us so we can give each entry the attention it deserves.

6. Please, please, PLEASE support our prize donors

You can do this many ways, like by reading their books, doing library requests for their books, buying their books, reviewing their books, posting about their books on social media and tagging the authors, sharing about the author’s events and services, etc. Keep an eye out for the #FallWritingFrenzy #DonorSupport hashtags, too!

The prize donors do so much to support you in this contest (for FREE), so please help support them, too!

Have any questions? Want to know more?

Click HERE to view the FAQs
Click HERE to view some writing samples
Click HERE to see the winners from 2021
Click HERE and HERE for some #FallWritingFrenzy success stories!

Once you submit your entry, grab one of these beautiful badges to post on your social media and website. Right-click and save to your desktop to post!

Don’t forget to support all the donors by reading, reviewing, buying, doing library purchase requests, and/or sharing about their books and/or their clients’/authors’ books and about their services and events. Most of all, GOOD LUCK and HAVE FUN!!

Sincerely,

Kaitlyn Sanchez