SPECIAL PROMPTS

“MY LIFE” radio commentaries. YWP is partnering with Vermont Public Radio for an ongoing series for radio broadcast. We are looking for conversational stories or commentary on events or moments in your lives. Focus on one topic that engages you, where you feel you have something to say in which others would be interested. VPR will record, produce and air the selected writer reading his or her piece for the morning news shows! If you are interested, email Geoffrey Gevalt, YWP editor. For more information and guidelines, click here.

FARMING. Each spring, the YWP sponsors a special writing contest and prompt on farming -- a story, poem or essay. There will be a cash award for this prompt. Go to the Web site to see past winners’ entries. Deadline: Mar. 5. Click here for more information and links to the 2007 winners.

YOUNG SONGWRITERS. Is your writing the stuff of music? Send in your lyrics for the special Young songWriters Project prompt. Professional musicians will come to the classes of those selected to help put music to the words. Some songs may be performed at a concert in May. Deadline: Mar. 19.
For examples, click here.
Tips on writing lyrics, click here.

WWII ORAL HISTORIES. Ken Burns’ latest epic, “The War,” is underway on Vermont Public Television and will be shown several more times this fall. The multi-part series focuses on World War II through the eyes of people in four communities. VPT, the YWP and other organizations are encouraging students to seek out World War II veterans -- or people who were alive during the war -- to get their oral histories. YWP encourages classes to watch the series for background and interview relatives or people in their towns. Special field guides and other materials can be obtained through YWP and VPT. For more, click here.