This Call for Writing invites students, ages 11–18 years, to interpret their world through the use of creative writing in the form of short works of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Writers may use their own experience for inspiration or base their writings on fictional events. Students submitting writing must have a disability or a connection to people with disabilities.

The selected pieces will become part of the VSA online writing journal, Infinite Difference.

All submissions must be submitted by Friday, November 20, 2009.

The Theme - "EsSense"

What is the essence of an object or experience? What attributes and qualities are the most significant when you think about a person or thing? The 2010 VSA Call for Writing invites you to create a short work of fiction, nonfiction, or poetry that describes the essence of a moment, event, person, or object by concentrating on only one of its attributes. In order to help your reader understand the essence of what you are describing, you will mainly use characteristics centered around one of the 5 senses (hearing, smell, sight, taste, or touch). The five senses are the means through which information is received. By primarily using only one of your senses to create a piece of writing, you will challenge your interpretations of the world.

Choose one of the following ways to approach the theme.

1. Think about an ordinary situation and transform it into something extraordinary by describing it through a sense that a person may not initially realize surrounds them. For example, you may choose to depict a landscape by describing the sounds you hear, rather than just what you see on the horizon. Push your mind to think outside of conventional perceptions in order to portray feelings and emotions through often forgotten about qualities.

2. You may want to consider a moment evoked through one of your senses. Does the sight of a color make you think about what is in your future? Does touching a certain fabric bring you back to a special time in your life? Is there a sound that reminds you of a particular person? Consider how a taste might cause you to reminisce about the special occasion you last celebrated.

You can use your own experience or rely on your creativity to describe what feelings and emotions are triggered when you see, touch, hear, smell, or taste something. Be creative—think about the moment, event, person, or thing in a different way than you may be accustomed. Bring to the forefront of your writing the sense that the piece is centered. However, you do not need to solely rely on this one sense. Feel free to include other senses that will allow your reader to better relate to the story or poem.

Submissions will be judged on creativity, technical proficiency, adherence to the theme, and presence of personal style and vision. Short fiction, nonfiction, and all poetic forms are welcome.

My Ocean’s Sweet Song
By Bryan Arnold
Age 17, Anchorage, Alaska, United States

I woke up feeling like I had something stuck in my throat, before I realized it was from the hole in my throat from the tracheotomy they had done. In the background I heard a sound that reminded me of the ocean. It was a whoosh, whoosh sound, constant and rhythmic and ever so sweet sounding. And then I pinpointed the sound. It was the sound of my new ventilator I would never again be without.

It’s been a long, heart-wrenching year, but I made it through. The ventilator is making me feel better than I have in a long time. I think the finest words I ever heard came from my doctor as I was leaving the hospital. “You have just extended your life by ten years.” Those nine words will ring in my ears for a long time to come. Those words and the lifesaving melody of my ocean’s sweet song.

(Excerpt from My Ocean’s Sweet Song, selected from the 2009 VSA call for writing)

Entry guidelines

1. The call is open to students with disabilities and students who have connections to people with disabilities. Students must be between the ages of 11 and 18 years. Submissions must relate to the theme “EsSense.”

2. Entries must reach VSA on or before Friday, November 20, 2009.

3. Writing may be submitted in any language.

4. Writing must be original and created by the student submitting the entry. A total of two entries per student are allowed: one fiction or nonfiction piece and one poem. Guidelines for each genre of work are:

• Fiction and nonfiction must not exceed 500 words. Works exceeding this length will not be accepted.
  
  
• Poems must not exceed 100 lines. Poems exceeding this length will not be accepted. Poems intended for song lyrics are acceptable.

5. Alternate formats for texts, such as audio recordings or Braille, are welcome.

6. If the author is under 18 years of age, a parent or guardian must grant VSA the right to use writing submissions for public relations purposes, including, but not limited to, the VSA Web site, newsletter, related media, collection books, and exhibitions.

7. Writing, video, and audio tape submissions become the property of VSA and will not be returned. It is suggested that students make copies of their submissions before sending them to VSA.

8. Each submission must be accompanied by a separate entry form. Entries can be submitted electronically by clicking here or by mail. You may also download an entry form below. Entry forms must be signed by the author and parent/guardian for students under 18 years of age. The author’s name and title of work must be on all pieces included in the submission. Please note that if you are under 18 years of age and submit an entry form online your parent/guardian is required to verify their approval. Please plan on submitting your entry when your parent/guardian is available. If you change computers you will not be able to access the information previously submitted, and will need to retype the information again.

Submitting Applications

Submit your entry:

By Clicking Here

or

Mail your entry to:
VSA—Call for Writing
818 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006 USA

Entries must be received by Friday, November 20, 2009.

Alternative Formats or Questions?

If you would like an alternative format of this brochure, or have any questions regarding the Call for Writing, please contact Melissa Del Rios at 1-800-933-8721, 1-202-628-2800 (voice), 1-202-737-0645 (TTY), or via e-mail at writing@vsarts.org.

Downloads:

Entry Guidelines 156KB

Entry Form 36KB

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Free Writing Tools for Educators and Parents

The call for writing is a tool to encourage educators to explore creative writing in their classrooms and learning environments. It is an opportunity to draw out the expressive minds of students of all abilities through the written word, while also addressing education standards in reading and writing. Educators new to creative writing can use this call as a catalyst for expanding teaching techniques. For those already using creative writing in their curricula, the call offers young writers a chance to share their talents and skills with a larger community.

VSA has compiled a series of writing guides for educators who desire to learn more about using creative writing to promote inclusive learning environments. These books offer concrete, simple, and adaptive lesson ideas and writing exercises with practical tips for working with students with disabilities. They are available online under Resources for Educators and Parents. An excerpt from one of the guides can be found below.

Excerpt from Let the Light In:

Lesson 6—Mapping Your World
Begin by asking the students several questions. These will help them focus on their places and imagine them more fully. The questions are not asked to be answered, but rather to stimulate the imagination: “Where do you go when you want to be alone? Is it in the mountains, the sea, or an open field? Is it in a small alley or the corner of a park? Is there a river? What time of day is it—dusk, dawn, noon? What is the weather like? Where are you? Are you sitting on a rock or a bench? Are you lying in the sun or curled up beside a warm brick wall?” Some students choose their bedrooms or their cars. One student chose a closed hockey rink. The key is to choose a place that feels like “home.”

Including All Learners
For students with emotional disabilities, this exercise may trigger memories of places that are frightening or have a negative history. Be prepared to deal with this with an acknowledgement about the reality of this for the student, but with encouragement to think about a safe and good space, perhaps an imagined one.