The Kootenay Literary Competition organizers are inviting young and old writers to put pen to paper.
The competition used to be just for Nelson residents, but has now opened up to entries from all across the Kootenays.
“Until this year it was always focused on Nelson and area. It was part of the Nelson and District Arts Council,” said Morty Mint, one of the competition’s organizers.
This year there will also be two distinct competitions: one for adults and one for youth.
“Last year we only had an adult competition and this year we wanted to see it expanded,” said Mint. “We had one submission last year from a young adult and it showed we’re not doing a heck of a lot in promoting this thing. This year we have two competitions aimed at youth.”
Youth can enter the Grades 10 to 12 category or the Grades 7 to 9 category.
Young writers entering the Grades 10 to 12 category should use the following first line, “It wasn’t that I meant for it to happen...” and they also must use the words trick, 17 cents and sweet in their writing.
Mint said competition organizers are going out to all of the secondary schools and all of the libraries in the Kootenays to try and drum up some interest from young writers.
The theme for the adult competition this year is chaos.
“I don’t know how chaos came up,” said Mint with a laugh. “I was at the meeting here at the agency, and people were talking about themes and all of a sudden chaos came up, which I thought was pretty appropriate for the Kootenays.”
Mint said that last year the theme was isolation and he said there was some excellent writing submitted around the theme.
The deadline for the Kootenay Literary Competition is November 15 at 5 p.m.
Submissions can be emailed to kootenaylitcomp@gmail.com or mailed to Mint Agency at suite 6-560 Baker Street. in Nelson.
For full competition details such as entry fees and submission format visit the Kootenay Literary Competition’s website at litcomp.inthekoots.com