If you're a writer or artist, you can win a trip to Ottawa and other prizes!

I'm talking about the Mathieu Da Costa Challenge, which celebrates diversity in Canada. All you have to do is enter a piece of writing or artwork which "celebrates the contributions made by Canadians of Aboriginal, African, or other backgrounds to the building of Canada."

The winners get an all-expenses paid trip to Ottawa, VIP seating at the Mathieu Da Costa Awards Ceremony, and other mystery prizes!

For details, ask at your Library or check the contest website: www.mathieudacosta.gc.ca.

Books are regularly challenged, banned and censored in Canada! See this post for more info on banned books.

February 21 - 27 is Freedom to Read Week, a time when we celebrate intellectual freedom - your right to read, write or view whatever you want.

And we're having a contest! Submit a short essay about your experiences with censorship (has a book been banned at your school?) or about what "freedom to read" means to you. Then win prizes!

Click here for details and the entry form!

There is only one day left in the New Moon contest! The deadline is December 31 at midnight, so send your reviews, writing and art ASAP. You can enter up to 10 times!

Want to win the awesome New Moon prize pack pictured above? It's easy!

We are getting ready to launch a new Teen website for the Library. On this site, you'll be able to post reviews, art, and writing! But we need some stuff to put on the site for the launch. So send me your stuff, and you'll be entered to win!

The Rules:

1) For every item you send me, you will get one entry. You can send as many items as you want!

2) Reviews must be of books that the Library has in its collection (double check with the search). They should include the title and author of the book. They can be as long or short as you want, but you may want to mention plot, characters, and entertainment factor.

3) Other creative stuff: you also get one entry for each piece of art, photography, or writing (poetry, short stories, non-fiction) that you send!

4) Send your stuff to katie.edwards@calgarypubliclibrary.com by December 31 at midnight. Include your first name and your age.

Prizes:

Grand Prize: 3 full-size movie posters pictured above; keychain; buttons; New Moon tote bag (Bella and the Vamps on one side, Volturi seal on the other)

Second Prize: 3 full size movie posters pictured above; keychain

Third Prize: New Moon keychain

Want to win the awesome New Moon prize pack pictured above? It's easy!

We are getting ready to launch a new Teen website for the Library. On this site, you'll be able to post reviews, art, and writing! But we need some stuff to put on the site for the launch. So send me your stuff, and you'll be entered to win!

The Rules:

1) For every item you send me, you will get one entry. You can send as many items as you want!

2) Reviews must be of books that the Library has in its collection (double check with the search). They should include the title and author of the book. They can be as long or short as you want, but you may want to mention plot, characters, and entertainment factor.

3) Other creative stuff: you also get one entry for each piece of art, photography, or writing (poetry, short stories, non-fiction) that you send!

4) Send your stuff to katie.edwards@calgarypubliclibrary.com by December 31 at midnight. Include your first name and your age.

Prizes:

Grand Prize: 3 full-size movie posters pictured above; keychain; buttons; New Moon tote bag (Bella and the Vamps on one side, Volturi seal on the other)

Second Prize: 3 full size movie posters pictured above; keychain

Third Prize: New Moon keychain

Write Now is a teen writing conference, which is held just once a year. There will be pizza and awesome prizes!

This year, three professional authors will be joining us:

• Naomi Lewis - Novelist & Ghostwriter (this session sponsored by the WGA)
  
• Barbara Scott - Author & Editor
  
• Ethan Cole - Playwright
  

This event is free, and you don't have to register - just be there! Join us at Fish Creek Library on November 28, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Here's the poster - pass it on to your friends!

Calling all writers - it's time for NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month)! The goal of NaNoWriMo is to write an entire novel in one month, getting down as many words as possible every day. Ignore your inner editor and write as much as you can!

This year, there's even a Young Writers' version of NaNoWriMo, for those 17 and under. The adults have to write 50,000 words, but you guys get to set your own goals (you're busy, they get it).

It's fun to know that other teens all over the country are writing just as frantically as you are.

For instructions, go here. Check out the main page for the NaNoWriMo Young Writers Program here.

If you're 15 or younger, you can enter the Children's Fiction Writing Awards - and get published!

Winning stories will be published in an anthology. Your biography and photo will be in there too, so start practicing your Top Model smile. But hurry - the deadline is October 10th.

In the 12-15 year old category, stories need to be at least 3000 words (about 6 pages).

The stories must fall within one of the following genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, or Mystery. So if your story has vampires, spaceships, or secrets, you're good.

Check out the Calgary Book Fair site for details.

Writer's block? Check out these collections to get some ideas:

Lay-Ups and Long Shots: an Anthology of Short Stories

Angry Management by Chris Crutcher

The Starry Rift: Tales of New Tomorrows (includes stories by Scott Westerfeld and Neil Gaiman)

Firebirds Rising (includes stories from Tamora Pierce and Diana Wyne Jones)

Prom Nights from Hell (includes stories by Stephenie Meyer and Meg Cabot)