Searching For Write Stuff From Teens Outdoor Writing Contest Open To Region’S High School Students

Sun., Sept. 17, 2000

By Rich Landers

Outdoors editor

It’s time for high school students to begin thinking about fame, fortune and the great outdoors.

The Spokesman-Review once again is joining the Outdoor Writers Association of America in sponsoring a contest for youth outdoor writing.

The contest is open to high school students writing on the general topic of “outdoors.”

This includes subjects such as hiking, camping, fishing, hunting, boating, nature and conservation. Any literary style — including humor, fiction, letters or poetry — is acceptable in both contests.

Imagination helps. For instance, one student placed in the national competition several years ago with a letter regarding the outdoors written to President Bill Clinton.

Contest rules are as follows:

* Stories must be original and may be no longer than 1,000 words.

* All entries should include the writer’s name, school, grade, home address and telephone number.

* Stories should be typed and double-spaced.

* Entries must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Wednesday Nov. 22.

* Limit is one entry per student.

* Mail entries to Youth Outdoor Writing Contest, The Spokesman-Review, 999 W. Riverside, Spokane, WA 99201.

Newspaper writers and editors will pick the best entries and award one $75 first-place prize and at least two $50 runner-up prizes. The winning entries will be published in the Sunday Outdoors & Travel section and entered in the national OWAA Scholastic Writing Contest.

The national contest offers awards of up to $300 for the best outdoors articles published by high school students in 2000.

For more information, contact Outdoors editor Rich Landers at 459-5508.

Cheney student wins

Mira Copeland of Cheney has won second place and $250 in the 2000 Youth Writing Contest sponsored by the Outdoor Writers Association of America.

Copeland’s story is a fictional piece about a girl and her memories of her father, a southern commercial shrimp fisherman.

Copeland was a sophomore at Lewis and Clark High School last fall when she entered the story in The Spokesman- Review’s outdoor writing contest for high school students. She was one of four winners chosen from 212 entries.

The newspaper published her story along with three other winners in December and forwarded the four entries to the national competition.

Finishing first in the National competition was Eric Korman of Hawick, Minn., with “A Deer Hunting Experience.” Third place went to Brendan Watson, Chicago, Ill., with “Attention! March!”

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