The list for writers accepted in the Summer 2023 Creative Communication’s poetry contest is out and 44 of OCSA’s writers are on the list. Creative Communication is “a celebration of today’s writers,” and their anthologies offer a prestigious publication opportunity for writers in grades k-9.
The only restriction for writers is the 21-line maximum. For sixth grader Charlotte Canales, “It was an exciting journey because in elementary you don’t get taken as seriously as you do in middle school, so to actually say something is wonderful.”
Most of the brand new sixth grade Creative Writers were accepted for publication, leading to bold poets who are ready to win more competitions. Cassidy Jones, sixth grade, had her doubts, “I wasn’t really confident. I wrote a rough draft, and I thought it was one of the worst things I ever wrote in my entire life, I ripped that piece of paper and threw it in the trash can.”
Her classmate Mercedes Blanco shared these feelings. At hearing the news of her acceptance, she said, “I felt really relieved, I was worried that I wouldn’t get published.”
As published poets these writers are filled with conviction. Sixth grader, Emily Moore, expresses, “Some people might just see it as a poem that got published but I see it as something that leads to more success.”
Why do you think you were accepted? The sixth grade Creative Writers responded:
“I wrote about how everyone has this special magic inside themselves that they have to find… because it’s really a gift to everyone.” – Nika Smith
“It might have been because I got something that was so normal and ordinary, and I gave it something special.” – Makenna Black
“My poem is ‘What the Night Sky Tells Me.’ It was about a person who saw the stars in the sky wishing that she or he could be as beautiful as them… But we need to realize we are more than just a person; we are created uniquely.” – Charlotte Canales
“Something that I did was put a moral or a topic in. Mine was called ‘Looking Back’ it was about was about growing up and having to deal with different types of things that come your way.” – Cassidy Jones
“I wrote about something that is special to me, I wrote about going to my grandma’s house who is in Puerto Rico.” – Mercedes Blanco
“I had this line in my brain for a really long time and when I put it in there and I rhymed it and everything it felt really good.” – Nicolas Crouch
“They [the judges] could see the backstory and understand the passion and purpose behind the story.” – Ava Gil
“I think the meaning of my poem was what got it published. My poem was about how we can’t get our thoughts out and how that can destroy us inside but if we let it out it will all be okay.” – Emily Moore
A congratulations is in order for all 44 writers accepted. It is their hard work and impressive creativity that caused them to succeed now and will continue to do so in the future.
