2015 will be our 35th year for the NFB Writers’ division’s writing contest for youth and adults. The opening date for submissions is January 1st and will close April 1st.
2015, being the Federation’s 75th birthday, the contest will for the first time ever, have a required theme. All submissions will need to somehow incorporate the theme of 75. It does not have to be necessarily about the anniversary of NFB. It could just be the number 75, or perhaps the diamond anniversary, or 75 steps to your destination, or even 75 balloons. Thinking of past entries, 75 aliens would work. Seriously, let your imagination take over. Write the piece you want, just remember to include the theme of 75; this is inspired by the 75 years of the great work that has been happening within, and because of the National Federation of the Blind.
There is no fee to enter the Youth Braille Writing Contest which is designed to promote Braille literacy. It is for students who are either studying or know contracted Braille. Entries must be hand-embossed by the student, using either a slate and stylus or a Braille writer (no computerized Braille). Entries will be judged on both creativity and the quality of the Braille.
The 2015 contest, which has categories for fiction and poetry as well as additional adult categories for nonfiction and stories written for kids, is open to all writers with visual impairments, be they novices or professionals. Any topic or theme is fair game, though it is requested that you include the number 75 in some way. There is a $6 entry fee for each adult entry and no charge for student entries.
Prizes for adult first through third place in each category are $100, $50, and $25. Youth prizes for first through third in each category given for elementary, middle, and upper school levels are $30, $20, and $10. All winners will be announced at the NFB national convention in July.
Guidelines for our 2015 writing contests:
For complete information on the contest, how to pay for your adult entry, and past winners, please visit https://writers.nfb.org/ContestPage.html.
