The Flathead Lakers and Families for a Livable Climate are partnering to host a youth creative writing contest. Now through April 16th, submit your story for a special feature and a chance to receive $50. Selected stories will be featured on Montana Climate Stories website, and may be included in a traveling exhibit of stories in 2023.
Calling all Montana youth (ages 18 and under): Submit your creative writing by April 16 for a chance to be published in The Changing Times magazine! Selected submissions will receive a cash prize of $50. (Limit one submission per person.)
BACKGROUND
The Changing Times is a seasonal publication of Families for a Livable Climate featuring original art and writing from Montanans responding to the climate crisis. Since its beginning, The Changing Times has worked to highlight youth voices in climate activism and to share climate perspectives relevant to families.
In our upcoming issue, we are fully centering youth perspectives in our first ever youth writing contest. Through this contest we hope to empower more Montana children and teenagers to tell their stories, and inspire action to protect our shared future.
PROMPT
Share with us your creative climate future.
Imagine it is the year 2070. Using story (think characters, metaphor, fantasy, sci-fi, realism, imagery, etc!) and your imagination, tell us about what your community looks like and how people are responding.
In your piece, please address at least one of the following questions:
How have climate impacts in Montana affected you, your loved ones, your community, your traditions, or your favorite Montana places, plants, or animals?
What are some changes your community has made to help Montana become healthy and livable for all?
How are you helping to reweave the world? What unique skills or gifts are you offering to create a livable community?
GUIDELINES
Format: Your story may be in written narrative (prose) form or poetry.
Length: Submissions will be grouped into age categories. Poetry submissions can be up to two pages for all ages. Length guidelines for prose submissions are:
Ages 10 or below: Up to 250 words.
Ages 11 - 14: Up to 500 words.
Ages 15 - 18: Up to 1000 words.
CONTEST DETAILS
We will select one first and second prize winner per age category for both Prose and Poetry. Contest winners will be featured in the spring/summer issue of The Changing Times, to be released late spring, 2023. First prize winners of each category will receive a cash prize of $50.
Contact us at magazine@livableclimate.org with any questions.