WEST CARLETON – The West Carleton Writers collective of those who love the written word is hosting a writing competition aimed at the youth of West Carleton.

Summer Wonderings 2021 is an initiative with the aim of encouraging youth writers aged 12 – 17 to develop and to share their unique voice and writing style.

“This year, we will open the opportunity to youth from Carp, Stittsville, West Carleton,” West Carleton Writers member Sylvia Melba McGee released in a statement last week (Feb. 17). “Our goal for this contest is to inspire creativity in local youth, and to keep a founding in the arts for the next generation of writers. We also aim to promote more awareness of the opportunities to put your unique voice out there, tell your story, and see your work printed in a Summer Wonderings anthology which will be offered to the local authors bookshelves of OPL branches in Carp, Stittsville and West Carleton.”

This event is being hosted with the help of volunteers from three writers’ groups: CCWG (Carp Creative Writers Group), SCWG (Stittsville Creative Writing Group) and WCW (West Carleton Writers Facebook group).

While young writers will want to get cracking to have their entry reading for the submissions period starting July 1, contest organizers are still accepting volunteers to help run the competition when things heat up over the summer.

Contest organizers are looking for those who are interested in hearing more, and who are interested in volunteering to help as

Judges (including poetry judges),

Publicist (developing a simple website, finding a list of middle and secondary schools within the Carp, Stittsville, West Carleton areas),

Editors to help prep successful entries for placement in the anthologies.

The contest will start accepting submissions from July 1 to Sept. 15 and judging will commence Sept. 16.

“Our intention is to complete the judging and choice of entries into the anthology in the fall of 2021,” McGee said. “Please consider joining us in this adventure for local youth authors.”

If you would like to contact to contact McGee you can do so at  SylviaMelbaMcGee@gmail.com.