FYI. I have found this to be very motivating for my students to practice braille... Rebecca 2012 Blind Youth Writing Contest to Promote Braille Literacy The NFB Writers' Division is hosting a Youth Writing Contest to promote Braille literacy and excellence in creative writing. Entries will be judged on creativity (do not need to be about Braille) and quality of Braille. We are looking for creative writing, in the form of fiction and poetry. There is no charge for entering. This is a contest for students who use Braille. Entries must be submitted in hand embossed Braille, from either a slate and stylus or on a Braille writer. No computer Braille entries will be considered. Submissions must be Brailled by the entrant. All submissions, no matter the grade level, must be in contracted Braille, unless the student has yet to learn the full system. Let us know which you are, either --- "I'm studying contracted Braille." --- "I know contracted Braille." There are six categories, as follows: Elementary School Fiction and Poetry; Middle School Fiction and Poetry; High School Fiction and Poetry. The contest begins January 1st, and ends, postmarked date April 1st. There will be three cash prizes for each of the six categories. Submissions receiving honorable mention will also be listed. First prize is $30, second prize is $20 and third prize is $10. Submissions for fiction may not exceed one thousand words. Poetry may not exceed twenty lines. Authors may submit multiple entries and all work must be original and unpublished. Entries must be accompanied by a cover letter containing entrant's information: Name, address, phone, email, title of the entry, school and grade of entrant. Winners will be announced at our Division meeting during the July 2012 NFB National Convention held in Dallas, Texas. Each entrant must provide an identical electronic copy of the cover letter and story or poetry, for possible publication in our Division's quarterly magazine, "Slate & Style." Send the hardcopy Braille and cover letter to: Robert Leslie Newman 504 S 57th St Omaha, NE 68106 Email submissions (copy of story or poetry and cover letter) should be sent to Robert Leslie Newman at [email protected]. More can be learned about the NFB Writers' Division and our contest by taking a visit to our Division's website- http://www.nfb-writers-division.net Robert Leslie Newman President, NFB Writers' Division Division Website http://www.nfb-writers-division.net <http://www.nfb-writers-division.net/> Chair, Newsletter Publication committee Personal Website- http://www.thoughtprovoker.info <http://www.thoughtprovoker.info/>