19th Annual Doris Dickenson Young Writers Contest Award Ceremony

FORMATION:
The Young Writers Contest was established to celebrate young writers and artists and to honor Doris Dickenson, a longtime Guerneville resident. Doris devoted her life to teaching, raising her four children, and volunteering with community organizations. She was a member of the River Friends of the Library, the Russian River Senior Center, and the Stewards of the Coast and Redwoods. She also had a keen interest in genealogy and co-authored several biographies and DVDs about the Armstrong family with Carmen Finley.

PURPOSE:
To foster the next generation of thinkers and creators, our goal is to inspire youth to think critically and express their creativity by writing about relevant, timely topics.

ELIGIBILITY:
To enter the contest, students must be in grades 5-9 and live in Sonoma County. We strongly encourage all local students to enter.

DATES/TIMES:
Submission due date: Friday, October 16, 2026
Awards ceremony: Saturday, November 14, 2026, 1-2:30 PM

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

• Only one submission per student will be considered.
• Entries must be the student's original work.
• Submissions should be 2-6 pages (approximately 500 to 1,500 words) and double-spaced.
• Please use MLA General Format standards where applicable.
• Works must be written in English.

CREATIVE WRITING FORMATS

• Topic Essay: A short piece of writing on a specific theme or subject.
• Narrative Essay: A nonfiction story told from the narrator's perspective.
• Persuasive Essay: Aims to persuade the reader to adopt the writer's point of view on a topic.
• Narrative Poetry: Tells a story and includes elements of storytelling, such as plot and setting, as well as elements of poetry, such as meter and rhyme.
• Chapbook Poetry: A small collection of poems on a theme or topic.
• Short Story (any genre – fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance): A brief, fictional prose narrative that is complete in a few scenes.
• Flash Fiction (any genre – fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, romance): Shorter than a short story but achieves the same effect.
• Flash Nonfiction: A short piece of writing about a true subject.
• Monologue: A speech delivered by a single person to express their thoughts aloud. It can be serious, humorous, or both.

THIS YEAR'S TOPIC:
Technology and the Future

HOW TO ENTER:
Email submissions with the subject line "Young Writers Contest" to:
swilkinson@sonomalibrary.org

SELECTION CRITERIA:
Please note that the entry you submit for the contest will be evaluated on originality, creativity, relevance to the topic, and adherence to the contest rules. Your writing must be free of spelling or grammatical errors. Please proofread it before submitting. The judging process will be anonymous, and adult members of the local community who are not affiliated with the participating schools or any participants will evaluate submissions.

PRIZES:
First-, second-, and third-place winners will be selected for each grade level (5-9), along with an honorable mention for each grade. First-place winners will receive $100, second-place winners $75, third-place winners $50, and honorable mentions $25.

Writers are encouraged to attend the awards ceremony to celebrate with friends, family, library staff, and volunteers. Teachers and school administrators are likewise encouraged to attend.

PUBLICITY RELEASE:

The winning submissions may be eligible for publication in local news outlets, with permission.

QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS?
Email the Guerneville Regional Teen Services Librarian, Stuart Wilkinson, at swilkinson@sonomalibrary.org

CONTACT INFORMATION:
Name: Stuart Wilkinson
Email: swilkinson@sonomalibrary.org
Phone Number: (707) 869-9004 ext. 0351
Presenter: River Friends of the Library