[dkshumaker Posts: 1,446 Status: Offline]

Hi All,

If you like writing children's poetry, check out this contest: https://madnesspoetry.com/write.

I've been an "Authlete" for the last few years and it is SO much fun! I highly recommend it!

[edmubnd Posts: 2 Status: Offline]

Hello, SCBWI members! As Debra said, the Madness! Poetry 2019 authlete application window is now open. The deadline to apply is Saturday, February 23rd at 11:59pm. All are welcome and SCBWI members in particular are encouraged to apply.

Learn more about the event and read a near endless cycle of testimonials from former authletes, teachers, and fans here: https://madnesspoetry.com/why

We're off to a record start of teachers signing up their students to participate in 2019. Our goal is to have 5,000 students reading and voting on this year's poems. So even if you don't plan to participate yourselves, please help spread word of the event to all teachers, principals, librarians, and other student group leaders in your lives!

Thank you, and good luck! Any questions, please use the chat function on the Madness! website for fastest response.

-Ed

Ed DeCaria
Creator, Madness! Poetry

[David Wright Posts: 1,028 Status: Offline Tell me that again.]

It flits past quickly, but does one of the testimonials say it's for people from 80 to 98? LOL

It looks like fun though. I'll pass it on to teachers I know.

[edmubnd Posts: 2 Status: Offline]

LOL, yes, the full quote was "My lot love learning to write poetry - their ages range from 80-98. We are NEVER too old to learn to write poems!!!!"

A more representative set of quotes from teachers:

• "Every day was a lesson in the wonder of well-crafted words!"
• "Poetry fun and edge-of-your-seat competition rolled into one, and kids are the star judges!"
• "We loved the contest this year, and my class is doing their own poetry bracket using our SAT vocabulary words--they're inspired!"
• "Exposing my kids to excellent grammar and vocabulary has never been so much fun! I'm hooked!"
• "I can't thank you enough for this tournament! My 5th grade class was totally taken over by poetry madness!"
• "Thank you for putting this all together. My students and I loved reading the poems and voting!"
• "Fun, educational and important to have this Madness to share with our students!"
• "The kids begged for each new round and added to their analytic skill, not to mention poetry enjoyment, as they talked more and more knowledgeably about the competing poems."
• "Thanks for putting this together - It inspired an interest in reading and writing poetry and many who were not big poetry people, now think it is cool."

The teachers/kids are really engaged. For writers (specifically poets a.k.a. authletes), it's a great way to get your work in front of kids.