Writing for Peace

On this special May Day, we are delighted to announce the winners for the 2012 Writing for Peace Young Writers’ Contest. The contest challenged writers, ages 13-19, to research and write in the voice of a character from another culture, digging beneath the surface to explore common humanity and universal themes. Young writers from all over the United States took up our short fiction challenge, and their stories reflected a broad spectrum of cultures. Our editors were amazed at the quality of work submitted across the board, but our three winners stood out in not only the beauty of their prose, but in their cultural insights. 

Learn more about these talented young writers by clicking on their links (below).

 

First Place Winner

“A North Korean Perspective”

Shadia Farah, 11^th grade

Brooklyn Technical High School

New York

 

Our Fiction Judge, William Haywood Henderson, had this to say about Shadia’s short story: 

“A North Korean Perspective” is a sharp, intense glimpse into the personal consequences of living under a totalitarian regime. We’re left with haunting images—the blisters on a girl’s fingers as she practices her string instrument for an upcoming ceremony, a photo of a ballistic missile slowly fading on a computer screen, the beautiful dress the girl has hidden beneath her bed, a dress she feels compelled to destroy. Shadia Farah has beautifully evoked a girl’s struggles to contain her emotions, to do the right thing, to conform, and in that the story is universal.

 

“The U.S.A. has its flaws, but those are minor scratches compared to the deep wounds of North Korea.” ~Shadia Farah

 

 

Second Place Winner

“Unparalleled Freedom”

Caroline Nawrocki, 10^th grade

Germantown Academy

Pennsylvania

 

“There is something so nomadically beautiful about the Romani people that it seems like a crime for them to be oppressed as much as they are.  Awareness needs to be spread about their cause, and through the written word I hope that can be accomplished.”  ~Caroline Nawrocki

 

 

Third Place Winner

“Women are Women the World Over”

Tait Rutherford, 12^th grade

Fort Collins High School

Colorado

 

 “Compassion is a beautiful thing, possibly the most beautiful thing in the world, especially when combined with initiative and ingenuity, and a will to create peace where none now exists.” ~Tait Rutherford

 

 

2012 Writing for Peace Young Writer’s Contest winners will receive $250 for first place, and $75 for second and third places.  You can read their award winning short fiction in our upcoming journal, DoveTales, appearing online on January 1^st, 2013. General submission guidelines will be posted June 1^st, as well as guidelines for the 2013 Writing for Peace Young Writers’ Contest.

 

Happy May Day, and Congratulations to all our 2012 Young Writers!

 

Copyright © 2012 Writing for Peace. All rights reserved.

 

 

New Year’s Reflections on Writing for Peace

By Carmel Mawle

I’m going into the New Year meditating on what it means to choose a peaceful response to violence, to acknowledge our human impulse to strike back…and choose something different.  What does it mean to pick up a pen when every cell of your body cries out for a sword?  

I’m humbled by my friend Damilola Michael Aderibigbe in Nigeria, a young writer who has picked up a pen in answer to the senseless bombing that left a church’s steps covered in blood on Christmas morning.  In their shock and pain, even good people are calling this violence an act of war, a declaration that can only lead to more violence and suffering.  Yet, despite his pain and anger, this young man is looking for another answer, a way to reach out to all the good people of Nigeria, for Christians and Muslims to stand shoulder to shoulder against violence, to work together for the security and well-being of all Nigerians.  

I started Writing for Peace to create a place where young people could develop cultural empathy and compassion through creative writing, connect with other young writers and be inspired by each others’ work.  Since going online, I’ve met young people from all over the world who are writing about human rights, political and environmental issues, their own lives and hopes and dreams.  Their fiction, poetry and essays have inspired me.  In Sarah Jane Kyle’s recent Coloradoan article about Writing for Peace, sophomore Madeline Wischow, 15, put it this way, “I might be young and a little naive, but sometimes you need naiveté to hope for something different.”

I have not found naiveté in these young writers. In fact, I wonder if there has ever been a generation more clear-eyed.  But if our future is in the hands of young people like Madeline and Damilola, there is hope for us, yet.  Damilola’s vision for a peaceful Nigeria is one that we would all do well to aspire to in 2012. 

Best wishes for a Peaceful New Year.

Carmel

Copyright © 2011 Writing for Peace. All rights reserved.

Writing for Peace is a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating empathy through creative writing, and developing a foundation of compassion on which to build a more peaceful world.

2011 Writing for Peace Young Writers’ Contest

Through our annual creative writing contest, we invite writers to research a new culture, write a poem, essay, or a short story in the voice of a character from that culture and to reflect upon the lessons learned in the form of a short essay.   While we encourage writers of all ages to accept this writing challenge and share their results with us, our writing contest is only open to writers between the ages of 13 and 19. 

Writing for Peace is pleased to introduce our distinguished panel of judges!

• William Haywood Henderson, MA, will judge the Fiction category.
• Michael Henry, MFA, will judge the Poetry category.
• Phyllis Barber, MFA, will judge the Nonfiction category.

Read more about these accomplished writers on the new “Judges” page!

No Fee

There is no fee and all contest contributors will receive a certificate of participation.

Awards

• First, second, and third place prizes will be awarded in short fiction, nonfiction, and poetry categories. 
• First place winners will receive $250. 
• Second and third place winners will receive $75. 
• Winners and Honorable Mentions will be published in our first Online Journal.

Deadline

Submissions must be postmarked by March 1st, 2012, and winners will be announced on May 1st, 2012.  See guidelines for full details and check out our research and writing tips.

Subscribe to Writing for Peace

While the contest is only open to ages 13 to 19, we invite everyone to subscribe to Writing for Peace and receive periodic updates, news, research and writing tips and prompts.

Become a Sustaining Member and Share the Vision

Generous donations from Sustaining Members have allowed us to add a nonfiction category to our first annual Writing for Peace Young Writers’ Contest.  Writing for Peace looks toward establishing an online journal, an annual Rocky Mountain Writing for Peace Workshop that brings together young writers, authors, and peace activists from around the world, substantial scholarships for young writers, and a print anthology.   

If you share our vision of a more peaceful and compassionate world, we invite you to join Writing for Peace!  Writing for Peace welcomes volunteer writers interested in starting and coaching Writing for Peace Clubs in their area High Schools, as well as readers, and writers with skills in marketing and fund raising.  And, of course, we hope you will consider adding Writing for Peace to your charitable giving. For more information, contact us at Editor@writingforpeace.org.

Please send donations to:

• Writing for Peace, P.O. Box 270908, Fort Collins, CO 80525

Writing for Peace gratefully acknowledges our generous sustaining members.  Your gifts make possible this vision of a more peaceful world.

• LeRoy and Willean Hornbeck, $100
• Leo and Sandra McGarry, $100
• Craig and Carmel Mawle, $1000

Writing for Peace is a nonprofit organization, currently in the process of applying for 501 c 3 status. Until that process is complete, donations may not be deducted.

Copyright © 2011 Writing for Peace. All rights reserved.