Rutland Herald 2014-2015

THIS WEEK: General writing
Panic
BY MARY BABB
Grade 8, Christ the King School
You know the queasy feeling in the pit
of your stomach that you get before you
walk out in front of a bunch of people?
Well, I was having that very feeling.
What if I forget my lines while I am on
stage and everyone notices and starts
laughing or I have a wardrobe malfunction?
I calmed my nerves a little by listening to one of my favorite songs. I looked
around the room at the other performers
who would be right up there on stage
alongside me.
I could tell that compared to the other
actors on a scale of nervousness from
1-10, 10 being the most nervous I was
probably a 3 or maybe a 2.5. I felt like I
might throw up because of the churning
in my stomach, if that tells you anything
about the other people in the room.
There were people practically jogging
around the room because they were so
wired, hopping from one post to the next
first hair, then makeup, then to the other
side of the room where people were waiting patiently trying to hide their anxiousness, usually unsuccessfully.
Seeing the panic and anxiety of my fellow actors reminded me that I was one of
the people who could control their nerves
best, so if they were to have any hope of
cooling off I would have to cool off first.
If I could do it, maybe my stability
could inspire others to calm down a little
or at least stop skipping around and making everyone else nerved up.
I breathed a little, reminded myself that
this was something I could do no, that I
would do successfully.
A few minutes later I could sit still
without my fingers fumbling on my best
friends iPod as I picked a new song.
I stood up and walked over to a place
where everyone was congregating in a
jittery mob.
If I could get one person to calm down,
then that would help calm the tense atmosphere in the tiny room.
My friend Katy came right up to me
and hugged me, partly because this might
be our last play together, and partly because we were both nervous and we both
had big roles, and we both needed a little
bit of a shoulder to lean on.
It made me feel better, and I think it
made her feel better, but she was still
shaking a little bit.
I am totally going to throw up, she
said. I gave her a semi-confident, semishaky laugh. Hopefully it sounded more
confident than shaky.
(continued right column)
Each week, Young Writers Project receives several

hundred submissions from students across Vermont
and New Hampshire. A team of staff, mentors and
students selects the best writing and images for
publication. This week, we present a response to the
prompt, General writing. Read more at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP
Young Writers Project is an independent nonprofit that engages students to write, helps them improve
and connects them with authentic
audiences in newspapers, before live
audiences and on web sites, youngwritersproject.org, vpr.net, vtdigger.
org, and cowbird.com. YWP also
publishes The Voice, a monthly digital magazine with YWPs best writing, images and features. To learn
more, go to youngwritersproject.org
or contact YWP at (802) 324-9537.
YWP is supported by this newspaper and foundations, businesses

and individuals who recognize the
power and value of writing. If you
would like to contribute, please go
to youngwritersproject.org/support,
or mail your donation to YWP, 47
Maple St., Suite 106, Burlington,
VT 05401.
Special thanks this week to
JANES TRUST
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Not a chance. You nailed it last time,

and the time before that, and all of the
practices. I know for a fact that you are
not going to mess this up; you have your
part down to a science.
She didnt look very convinced but
she wasnt as jittery as before. I call that
a win.
I moved on to another person. Ethan
was younger than most of us, but he enjoyed being in plays and acting.
He was nervous but I am pretty sure it
was just because he was afraid he would
forget something. I did once. Thats the
thing, if you can mess up once people will
focus on that and let you mess up a hundred more times without noticing. So my
advice is to make your mistakes count.
He was shaking like a leaf and talking
in a high-pitched tone. By the time I was
done with Ethan I could tell he was feeling lot better than before.
If you can make someone laugh for a
reason unrelated to what is making them
nervous make them laugh a real laugh,
not a nervous one I guarantee they will
feel at least a little less anxious. That is
why I tried to make the people waiting to
go on stage chuckle a little. If they could
smile because they wanted to smile, not
because the butterflies in their stomachs
were forcing them to, they would feel a
hundred times better. I could clearly see
the minor panic attack Katy was having
across the stage so I flashed her a smile
that said, Youve got this.
When I realized it was time for me to
go up, I had my own mini panic attack,
then forced it back down. I looked at the
other actors waiting behind me and saw
that they were more comfortable than
they had been before and could once
again speak in full sentences. I saw them
and drew up my confidence.
Youve got this, I told myself. Time
to go. I started to walk on stage, ready
for whatever might happen.
READ THE JUNE ISSUE

OF YWPS DIGITAL MAGAZINE
Nate Ertle, Essex High School
Go to youngwritersproject.org
to get your FREE subscription!
Likes and dislikes
THIS WEEK: Happening & Lists
BY AREN PATTON
Grade 6, Shrewsbury Mountain School

and New Hampshire. This week, we present responses
to the prompts, Happening: Begin a piece with the
phrase, I didnt know what was happening at the
time... and Lists: What are your top likes and dislikes? Read more at youngwritersproject.org.
LIKES
1. Taking road trips to towns in Vermont because it reminds me how
beautiful our state is
2. Drinking root beer after a month
when I begin to crave it because its
refreshing
3. Reading a short novel over a vacation
while relaxing
4. Cute and fluffy living animals
5. Well-seasoned, thick-cut meat
6. Singing in a group because I feel like
Im part of something bigger than
myself
7. Climbing to high areas because I feel
safer
8. The smell and taste of stevia
9. Pondering which clothes to wear
based on how the color and style go
together
10. Remodeling a room to make it look
more organized and tidy
DISLIKES
1. Wasting time
2. Seeing someone be a bystander
3. Reading a long book that ends up
being terrible
4. The unpleasant feeling of waking up
to your mouth covered in a layer of
crust
5. People who dont seem to care about
anything
6. The texture of gum that feels like silt
in your mouth
7. The initial, frigid feeling of snow
down your back
8. Standing at the edge of a building
with only a railing from my waist
down
9. Listening to my heater click while
Im alone because it sends chills up
my spine
10. Thinking about and eating lentils
because of their texture
Sticks and stones

BY MICHAEL BLAIS
I didnt know ... that you liked jokes.
Heres one:
Who says, Sticks and stones may
break my bones, but words will never
hurt me?
A guy who has never been hit with a
dictionary.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

VT 05401.
THE BAY AND PAUL

FOUNDATIONS
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
COMING JUNE 1!
WATCH FOR THE JUNE ISSUE
THE VOICE
Mysterious paper
BY ANGELINA TOMMOLA
Kristina Pretty, Essex High School
My top 10
BY BROGAN GIFFIN
LIKES
1. The way a chipmunk stops and
shoves a nut in its mouth
2. Sitting on my porch and reading a
book on a warm, sunny day
3. The chirp of chickadees in the morning
4. Wearing white checkered fedoras
5. Hanging out at a friends house
6. How Pink Lady apples taste similar
to candy apples
7. How smooth milk chocolate melts in
my mouth
8. Eating out at Killarneys in Ludlow
9. When my little sister learns some-
thing new and starts screaming

around the house
10. The cool feel of the water at Buttermilk Falls
DISLIKES
1. The texture and taste of mango
2. Going out into cold weather and getting sick from the cold
3. The brightness of neon yellow
4. When platypus lay eggs even though
they are mammals
5. The bizarre medicine taste of eggnog
6. The taste and texture of mayonnaise
7. When someone bothers me while I
am doing homework
8. The strong taste of dark chocolate
9. Eating out at McDonalds because of
the unhealthiness there
10. When bullies torment other kids
I didnt know what was happening at the

time
when I saw the substitute teacher walking
toward the desks.
She seemed to be collecting papers,
but what papers these were, I did not
know.
I looked to my right to a paper on a desk,
and also to my left, another filled-out
paper.
What was this mysterious paper?
Where was my mysterious paper?
I needed this paper; but how was I to get
it?
The substitute was now very close.
I prayed that she would understand.
But when she stopped in front of me,
I was silent and looked up, ashamed.
I awaited the detention slips to be revealed,
and I even offered my pen to her.
However, she bent over and whispered in
my ear,
I honestly dont know what I am collecting.
She smiled at me uneasily, continuing to
collect.
But I guess neither one of us knew what
was happening at the time.
Happy reminder
BY MARY BABB
I have a scar. It is there clinging to

me; it always will be. A scar should bring
back bad memories, remind us of times of
pain. Mine does not.
It was my favorite holiday, Halloween.
That morning I got up and put on my Halloween costume and wore it to school like
the other second-graders.
It was one of my favorite traditions;
it still is. My costume was a velvet dress
that was poofy and frilly and a little too
big.
Some days in the afternoons after
school our parents would be late picking us up. The second grade teacher
would pick a few of the children in the
after-school program to help clean up her
classroom. We thought of it as an honor.
We would be disappointed if we werent
picked and overjoyed if we were.
A couple of my close friends and I
were chosen to help her clean that day.
We put on goggles and gloves to protect ourselves from the chemicals in the
cleaning supplies. Since it was Halloween
she took a picture of us in our costumes
with the cleaning gear and supplies and
brooms in our hands and gave one to each
of our parents.
It may sound boring to you, but for us
it was an honor to clean with our favorite
teacher, and since we got to hang out with
our friends it was extra special.
At the time, my parents were putting
an addition on our house. There would be
a garage on the first floor, a few bedrooms, and a new attic. When I got home
I was eager to see the progress on the addition. Dad told us on the ride home that
we were now able to walk in the attic as
long as we stayed on the plywood sheets
he had laid down. All we had to get to the
attic then was a ladder. From down below,
the attic was just a wooden frame in the
ceiling. My dad and a friend of his were
talking about what they were planning to
do with the wall across the room.
I started climbing the ladder. When
I was close to the top, one of my shoes
caught on my oversized puffy skirt. I
started to fall so I reached out for the
wooden frame of the attic. My hand
latched onto a board in front of me but the
board was not drilled or screwed down so
it came loose and fell back with me.
Time seemed to stop, those few seconds felt like forever. It all happened in
slow motion: crying out; seeing my dad
turning around, twisting in midair so I
could try to break my fall; the pain in my
wrist when I hit the floor; the air leaving
my lungs; the burning feeling on my chin;
(continued>)
THIS WEEK: Scar

and New Hampshire. A team of staff, mentors and students selects the best writing and images for publication. This week, we present responses to the prompt,
Scar: Write about a scar you have, literal or figurative. Read more at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

VT 05401.
MGN FAMILY
FOUNDATION
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Kevin Huang, Burlington High School
the clattering of the board next to me.

I could have been lying there for half a
second or two minutes; I couldnt tell.
Someone picked me up off the ground
and time went back to normal. My dad
checked me over, my mom heard the yell
and thud when I hit the ground and came
to see what was wrong. When she saw
what had happened she rushed to get a
bandage. What had happened? I wondered. I struggled to breathe. My face was
starting to go numb and my arm was in
pain as well, though dull in comparison.

My father drove me to the ER. The
friendly lady behind the desk sent us to sit
in the waiting room.
I didnt know what I looked like, but it
hurt to talk, to move my head from side to
side and to sit in the car while we hit the
tiniest of bumps in the road. All the way
there, I never said a word or shed a tear.
They asked me what hurt; I told them.
My chin was clearly bleeding and I told
them about my arm too. Someone took
my bloody bandage and traded it with

an ice pack. My dad told me to hold the
pack in place while we waited patiently
for a special doctor to come and stitch up
the cut on my chin. When my arm would
get tired of holding the pack up to my
face I would switch hands but my left
arm seemed to get tired faster so I would
switch back to my right frequently while
I played with a magnetized board with
cartoon faces that had exaggerated expressions. The doctor came to get us after
what felt like hours and I did my best to
answer him and do what he said. I dont
remember the stitching itself. However, I
remember trying my best to hold my head
back at an uncomfortable angle without
moving or flinching.
When I was all stitched up, the doctor
told me that it was a nasty scrape. He said
that I did a great job holding still and that
I would definitely have a scar. We also
learned that my left wrist was broken.
On our way back out through the ER,
the friendly woman wed seen when we
arrived stopped us and asked how it had
happened. It turned out she had been in a
similar situation, and she gave me a bag
with a pumpkin on the side that had little
Halloween treats in it.
By the time we got out of the hospital,
everyone who had come to trick-or-treat
with my brothers and me had already
finished trick-or-treating and had gone to
the Halloween parade. We rushed to catch
up with everyone before the parade was
over. My mother had tried to get some
candy for me but most people didnt hand
out candy to adults.
We got to the parade and were standing
near a family we knew, a young couple
and their baby. When the parade ended
and we were about to leave, my parents
stopped to say hello to the family, and
when they heard that I had missed most
of the parade and trick-or-treating because I was in the emergency room, they
gave me all the candy that they said had
too much sugar for the baby girl.
I have a scar; I always will. Most scars
would bring back bad memories. Mine
does not. I dont think about falling off
a ladder or breaking my arm or scarring
my chin or waiting for hours in a hospital
waiting room. Instead, I think of hanging out with my friends after school and
having the honor of being chosen to clean
with one of my favorite teachers and getting to dress up on my favorite holiday.
I remember the friendly woman at the
hospital who went out of her way to get
treats for me since we had had the same
problem, and the friendly couple who
were kind enough to sort through their
bag on the side of the road to see that I
got some candy that night. They are small
happy memories and I will remember
them forever.
How to be a human
THIS WEEK: Manual & Happening
What happened?
BY RORY BELLE CARRARA


to the prompts, Manual: Write instructions on how to
be a human being; and Happening: Use this line in
your piece: I didnt know what was happening at the
time... Read more at youngwritersproject.org.
BY DANIS LY
STEP ONE: FIT IN

Laugh at all the stupid jokes. (If the

person who made the joke isnt popular, dont laugh, even if it was funny.)
Wear the right clothes. (Ladies, this
means skinny jeans only, certain
brands and obviously Uggs!) (Guys,
Abercrombie and Hollister, please!
And your cologne must be burning
my nostrils.)
Be smart, but not too smart. Dont
spend your free time reading and
dont join Math Team. Just get OK
grades.
Have a flat stomach. If you dont,
just really, dont bother trying; youll
never make it. (This goes for both
genders!)
Play sports! Act sporty, but dont
participate in the weird sports like
karate or skating (only cool things
like soccer or lacrosse.)
THANKS FROM YWP

VT 05401.
THE BAY AND PAUL

FOUNDATIONS
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
STEP TWO: FACE

ABOUT THE PROJECT
I didnt know what was happening

at the time, but my mind felt flushed in
ideas.
My head was out of reality and into a
new world of unrealistic events, a world
where everything was fanciful.
I knew it couldnt be real, as it is only
made from my own thoughts, but, for
some reason, I thought: What would happen if it wasnt a fantasy?
Ive always thought to myself about
this. Although it felt like a short period
of time, the interval that passed seemed
longer than I had expected.
It always is, and I dont seem to notice
the activities happening around me despite being present.
All of the noise blurs out and all of my
vision is focused toward the thoughts in
my mind.
I do this a lot during class and studying, but it always ends with me smiling
without my notice.
My smile stays on, although I wish my
daydreams were real.
Absolutely no acne. (I dont care how

many different acne soaps you use,
figure it out!)
Foundation doesnt exactly match
your skin tone? Dont bother.
Your teeth must be as white as snow.
If theyre not, you obviously arent
brushing your teeth, right?
Glasses are automatically eww! Get
contacts! We only wear the hipster
chic fake glasses. Now, those are
cute!
STEP THREE: ELECTRONICS/SOCIAL MEDIA

If your Instagram bio isnt cool,

neither are you.
Two posts in one day?! What do you
think this is?! Buy one get one free?!
No way!
Tweet about everything. If everyone doesnt know what you had for
breakfast, they might just *gasp* die!
Facebook is only for people over the
age of 40.
You better listen to the latest pop hits.
(Nothing from last year!)
STEP FOUR: PEOPLE AND PERSONALITY

So, youll want to hang with the right

crew. I mean obviously, they have to
be nice and all that but of course,
they have to be the popular ones.
READ THE MAY ISSUE

Jo Munson, Essex High School
If you want to hang out with all kinds

of people, youre out of luck.
Everyone has their own personality.
Dont be too much like someone else,
but dont be unusual. Have the same
fake laugh as the rest of the group
and same voice tone.
Dont laugh too much! That gets
annoying.
STEP FIVE: BE YOURSELF

So, believe all that stuff on Tumblr
with the Be yourself and Youre

perfect, and pretend it doesnt bother
you when people point out your
flaws.
When youre about ready to break
down, dont rant to your friends because before you know it, the whole
algebra class will know.
And finally, dont listen to people.
No one knows more about yourself
than you do. This one is totally serious, guys, no sarcasm.
THE VOICE
FINAL SLAM OF THE YEAR!

YWP HEADQUARTERS
47 MAPLE ST.
BURLINGTON
THURSDAY, MAY 14, 6 P.M.
FREE PIZZA | FREE POETRY
Someone familiar
BY ANGELINA TOMMOLA
Yesterday at noontime, something
quite marvelous happened.
I encountered this man, you see. He
stopped me just outside the cafe. A gentle
hand gripped my elbow and spun me
around, and I was caught in a strong gaze.
His eyes, lled with bewilderment,
were so captivating. I was startled, even
a bit scared. I was not sure about this
stranger contact.
Without a word, I let his rm hand
steer me into a corner booth, far away
from any familiar face.
My mind was not thinking clearly,
but my eyes were captured in a hypnotic
stare. The color of his gleaming eyes
seemed to be rapidly changing, but my
eyes remained locked to his.
There was something about this man,
vaguely familiar yet very remote in his
own world.
I wondered, who was this man? What
was going on?
Yet, I remained. My mind began to
formulate a question for this enchanting
man, but he beat me to it. A rather surprising inquiry at that. The man requested my
mothers name in an urgent tone, so I spat
it out, Arabella von Hendrich.
I waited in suspense, becoming more
and more unsure of this situation with
every passing second.
Eyes once lled with mystery and
fascination turned compassionate and full
of solace. He regained his attention, and
then shifted, about to reach his hand into
his jacket pocket.
His hand now held an aged envelope
with a name etched across the rm folds.
I watched as he brushed his hand over the
delicate letters, taking in a deep breath.
He reached out to my hand, placed the
envelope in my palm, and gently folded
my ngers over it.
With an exhale, he swiftly stood up,
so I followed. The mans eyes started to
water the slightest bit, and then he pulled
me into a tight embrace. I was stunned.
To be polite, I hugged him back, and
could hear him whisper in my ear, Your
Dad loves you, Lucy. Take good care of
your mother for me.
Before I could understand what was
happening, he was gone. I hung clutching
onto the still air, realization and sadness
falling over me.
My eyes scanned everywhere, but he
was nowhere to be found. Attempting
to hold back the tears, I reached into the
envelope and started to read the note.
(continued >)
THIS WEEK: Between

Between: You meet a man who says he is between life
and the afterlife, suspended until he gets sorted out.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP
Young Writers Project is an independent nonprot that engages students to write, helps them improve

VT 05401.
JANES TRUST
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
It read:
Dearest Lucy,
As you might have guessed, I am your
father. I have been wanting to tell you that
for as long I can remember.
You see, as your mother has probably
told you, I passed in combat when you
were 8 months old.
I never was able to see your precious
little baby face, or be the dad you so
much deserved to have with you growing
up.
I apologize with my whole heart, and I
hope you can forgive me.
However, I did not go on to Heaven
when I passed. I have been in what they
call the Between Stage, though you have
changed that.
If you are reading this, that means I
have completed my life purpose: to meet
my darling little girl.
My eyes have spent years searching
for yours so I could live a peaceful life in
eternity.
Now that I have met you, I am able to
join in the kingdom of Heaven, and I will
be your guardian forever and always.
Lucy, I love you, and dont you ever
forget me.
I love you and your mother more than
anything, and I will meet you once again
someday.
Goodbye, Lucy. Go live your life.
Love always,
Dad
YWP NEWS
READ THE MAY ISSUE

Emma Parizo, Essex High School
MORE GREAT WRITING AT

YOUNGWRITERSPROJECT.ORG
Silhouette
BY ZOE RIELL
Grade 12, Homeschool, Poultney
She didnt want to think about
nothing. Filled her room with $5
roadside furniture, her desk with cutouts
of old maps, her mouth
with nutritional nothings. Sat outside
on the front stoop, hollering
to pedestrians. Fed the stray dogs
and cats. Made sure
her house was lled with people, made
sure
her ears were lled
with people, her eyes with people, her
scrapbooks with people.
She liked people.
She wrote a novel once but it was all
dialogue - no setting or
scenery. Didnt care
much when or where things happened as
long
as things happened.
She worked as a cashier who earned
very little an hour. If she had to,
shed never be able
to pay rent, but that was
all right.
Her parents owned
the house, let her
stay as long as she ate
dinner with them sometimes.
THIS WEEK: Safe & General

publication. This week, we present responses to the
prompts, Safe: Where do you feel safe? and General
writing. Read more at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

VT 05401.
NATIONAL LIFE GROUP
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
She wondered why they never

asked her to pay rent. They came
and told her to cook dinner for them
sometimes,
but always helped.
She didnt know why.
Nothing was ever anything
she wanted to think about. She
folded it up and stuffed
it into corners, like wrapping paper
she might need someday.
She divvied up her evenings. Kept
herself working until she couldnt walk
straight and was falling headlong
into the sheets, because she didnt
want to lie there and do nothing for any
period of time. She had shadows
like puddles under her eyes but that was
all right. At least, she said, Im
busy. It could be worse: I could
be doing nothing.
MORE GREAT STUDENT WRITING AT

Safe haven
BY SYDNEY BENNETT
Grade 8, Benson Village School
Birds sing and dance
on the weeping willows
with branches
hanging over the raging river.
The water swirls and splashes
against huge, rough rocks
that create a barrier to the mountains.
Anything can happen here,
and its all up to me.
I might be lying in my bed
in a cocoon of thick blankets,
but I am far, far away
in another land,
a land created by me.
I am safe, with no dangers,
unless they are in my thoughts.
I could create pain,
but I wouldnt be able to feel it.
I could create fear,
but I wouldnt be able to feel
the butteries in my stomach.
I could create an absolutely terrifying
situation,
but no matter what I do,
I am safe.
Movies and books
all have some variation
of a happy ending,
and in my world,
it is a book or a movie unraveling
throughout my sleep.
I am unaffected by dangers
and guaranteed safety,
and if it doesnt happen as planned,
I can always wake up.
Hidden in tall, snow-covered mountains,
I start a new chapter,
epic changes to the plot and setting,
but I know that I will be safe.
Terrors in my world
and the real world cant reach me.
I am the safest I could ever be;
Im in my dreams.
Bri Lancaster, Essex High School
NEXT PROMPTS
Happening. Write a poem or story with a rst
line of, I didnt know what was happening at the
time Alternates: Stranger. You know that
person you always see on the bus, on the way to
school, or just around town. Youre curious -- who
is this person? Write his or her story as if you have
followed the person home, to school or work, on
errands, wherever. What do you discover? and
Photo 9 (right). Due May 1
READ THE VOICE

to get your FREE subscription
of YWPs monthly digital magazine!
Unjust
He sits alone
in the middle of the lunch room,
just him, at the pink allergy table.
And God only knows,
there MUST be someone without peanut
butter.
But both God and I know
no one will sit with him.
He might be annoying,
mean,
unlikable,
and the list seems never ending.
But
if that were any other person,
there would have been 10 people getting
up and joining him.
In this small, little Catholic school,
I cant be the only one to have the heart,
to see him,
to feel bad.
This injustice must be stopped.
So I sit with him.
Just him and me.
But unfortunately, thats the only just
thing about this situation.
THIS WEEK: Unjust & General

and New Hampshire. A team of staff, mentors and students selects the best writing and images for publication. This week, we present responses to the prompts,
Unjust: Write about an injustice; and General writing. Read more at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

VT 05401.

PHYSICIANS COMPUTER CO.
FEATURED PHOTO
Ten ways of
looking at poetry
BY TAYLOR KRUPP
Grade 8, Rutland Town Elementary
School
ONE: Such big meaning for not so many

words.
TWO: Poetry equals reading; reading
equals overrated.
THREE: Poetry alone is nothing; poetry
and a point is everything.
FOUR: Among the thousands of speeches
spoken, a silent poem shouts the loudest.
FIVE: A full trash can and a blank paper:
A poem must be in progress.
SIX: The Bible was written in many
languages, but it was only written in one
form, and that was not poetry.
SEVEN: Without poetry, people wouldnt
be rich for only writing down a few
words on a piece of paper.
EIGHT: A world without poetry would be
like mac without cheese: Tasteless.
NINE: To write poetry for some is hard,
for others, its a relief.
TEN: Happy, sad, overjoyed, angry. These
are emotions. But poetry, this is them all.
Paint smears
BY KATY DUGAN
A new art exhibit has just opened at the
Museum of Modern Art with The Starry
Night by Vincent Van Gogh, one of my
favorite paintings of all time.
I gather everything that I need and
head out the door. I rush out of my NYU
dorm and toward the subway station
down the street. I hop on the F train and
go uptown. I arrive at the museum at
about 11 a.m., which means I have about
six hours before closing.
I walk through the museum, taking in
everything around me. At about 5 p.m. or
so I make my way to the exhibit.
It is even better than I could have ever
imagined. I sit on a bench to rest a moment; my feet are killing me.
I feel my eyelids become heavy and I
drift off to sleep.
I wake up and look at my phone. It is 7
p.m.! The museum has been closed for an
hour and a half and I am still here!
I hear noises, so I look up to nd the
paintings are . . . moving? I pinch myself
to see if I am awake, and I am.
I walk around and watch the paintings. I get to The Starry Night and I
am amazed. What I saw during the day
doesnt even begin to compare to this.
The stars are gleaming and the lights
of the town are shining brightly. As if in a
trance, I reach out and touch the painting.
I start to get drawn in, so I close my
eyes and scream as loud as I can. When I
open my eyes again, I am inside the painting. I walk around, admiring the work and
the detail put into this masterpiece.
Suddenly, I hear a growl, then another. I turn to see that the sky has turned
black and red and I see that the growling is coming from a never-ending sea
of beasts. Dog-like creatures and some
that look almost human begin creeping
forward.
I turn and start to run through the forest, the dogs now nipping at my heels.
I see bright lights ahead and I push
toward them, only to realize that it is the
town set ablaze. The smell of smoke lls
my nostrils.
I see a gaping hole with a view of the
room from which I entered the painting.
I reach it and it is as though there is glass
or a force eld that I cant break.
The beasts have caught up to me, I
have no way out.

A.J. Combs, Essex High School
Vermont, Vermont!
BY ESA ANDERSON
Vermont, Vermont, Vermont where
Ive lived my whole life and made all my
memories.
When I think of Vermont, I think of fall
soccer, the colorful leaves blowing in the
wind, and watching pretty sunsets.
I think of Friday night football games
and hanging out with all my friends,
apple picking with my family, going to
the Vermont State Fair and eating all
kinds of junk food.
Winter comes and the ski mountains
open and basketball season starts. It
means getting the winter coats out, brushing the snow off the cars in the morning
and SNOW DAYS!
When I picture winter, I think of the
Rutland vs. MSJ game, going skiing
on the weekends and enjoying Belgian
wafes after a long day on the mountain.
Theres also CKS basketball season,
having a blast with my basketball team all
season and then CYOs at the end of the
long season.
Spring comes and its always rainy. Lacrosse season starts and Im so psyched,
I cant wait to get out on the eld and
practice.
Maple syrup time comes and I see
people out on my road tapping the trees.
Wherever you walk theres snow
mixed with rain so its all slushy and
gross.
Eventually when the snow goes away
it starts to warm up very quickly and soon
summer approaches, the time weve all
been waiting for summer vacation!
Summer is getting out of school and
starting summer camps, swim team every
morning and getting my summer homework done, going to the pool to hang out
with my friends, being tan in the summer,
going on vacation with the family, staying
up till 12 not worrying about school.
Summer is a time for relaxation, going
for hikes on Vermonts trails, and going to
the snack bar for ice cream on hot days.
THIS WEEK: Vermont & General

hundred submissions from students across Vermont and
New Hampshire. A team of staff, mentors and students
selects the best writing and images for publication. This
week, we present responses to the prompts, Vermont:
Write about your Vermont; and General writing. Read
more at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

VT 05401.

THE BAY AND PAUL
FOUNDATIONS
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Bri Lancaster, Essex High School
CLIMATE CHANGE WRITING CHALLENGE
NEXT PROMPTS
Hidden. A character discovers something that has been hidden in the familys
attic for years. This could change everything. Alternate: Pet. If your cat, dog,
horse, ferret, or other pet could talk, what
would be its rst words to you?; or Family. Your notoriously dysfunctional family
is having a big reunion. Let the mishaps
begin. Due April 17
WRITE AND WIN CASH! DEADLINE EXTENDED!

1st place: $100 | 2nd: $75 | 3rd: $50
PROMPTS AND MORE DETAILS:
youngwritersproject.org/climate15
DEADLINE EXTENDED! APRIL 17

Presented by Vermontivate!,
Vermont Energy Education Program
& Young Writers Project
Silk ribbons
BY KRISTEN ELLIOTT
Back when I was 6 my mother would
sit me down on my frilly, pink bed and tie
my hair in two silk ribbons. She would
smile at me and whisper words that I will
never know because her voice was always
small and she always spoke in a whisper
that went away just as fast as the wind.
When I was 8 my mother sat me at
the kitchen table because we no longer
owned my frilly, pink bed. Our apartment was too small for a bed made for
a princess, but we worked with what we
had. As I sat at the table my mom braided
my hair and tied it with only one silk ribbon. As I skipped out the door for school
that day I saw tears in her eyes, and in her
right hand she held a single silk ribbon
that was frayed at the ends.
When I was 11 my mother sat me on
the porch steps because the only time she
was ever home was after school, and even
then her mind was always somewhere
else. As her ngers ran through my hair
I knew that she was wishing things were
different, that we werent sitting on the
cold porch steps that led up to our onebedroom apartment. As she tied off my
French braid with a single silk ribbon she
whispered something, but it was gone just
as fast as the wind.
the lid of the toilet seat because it was the
middle of October and the porch steps
were too cold. I sat on that tiny seat in the
tiny bathroom, wearing a homecoming
dress that we bought at the thrift store for
a dollar. And as my mother twirled her
curling iron around my hair she closed
her eyes and whispered something that
I will never know because it was gone
just as fast as the wind. That night as
my friend honked her car horn and I ran
down those porch steps, my mother sat
at the kitchen table and in her hand were
two silk ribbons.
the kitchen counter because it was days
like this when the heat wasnt working
because we didnt pay the bills and the
lights would barely stay on, but we had
each other. As my mother twirled a strand
of my auburn hair around her nger I
realized just how tired she looked. As I
sat there and looked into my mothers
dull eyes in the dim light of the lamp, I
realized that this was what it was like to
hit rock bottom. And in that moment I
understood that the only thing that tied
me to my mother were two silk ribbons.
Sitting on the kitchen counter my mother
let out a long sigh, and this time it lingered for a minute before it was gone just
like the wind.
Starry night
BY EVAN JOAQUIN
Grade 5, Killington Elementary School
I was in my bed at around 10:30 p.m.

and I couldnt sleep. I tiptoed downstairs,
put my sweatshirt on, and slowly creaked
open the door.
Ever sense I was a toddler I have loved
the outdoors. The outdoors calms me
when I am frustrated.
When I creaked open the door, I saw
the starry black night, the mountains
reaching for the heavens, the willow trees
swaying in the calm, refreshing breeze.
I lay down in the soft grass and
watched the stars.
When a star dies, its light slowly dies
until you cant see it.
I stayed in the soft grass, the stars
showing the path.
I then saw the most peculiar thing, one
of the stars exploded. I was a little worried when the star came toward me.
I thought it was just my imagination,
but that changed when yellow-white
glowing dust fell all over the lawn.
Everything had a yellowish glow to it.
I went inside, got in bed, and rested my
eyes.
In my lifetime I never thought I would
reach the stars, and I never thought the
stars would reach me! But they did.
Stardust, You & Message

New Hampshire. This week, we present responses to
the prompts, Stardust: Youre exploring intergalactic
space and you meet someone selling stardust; You:
Youre the only one who understands; and Message:
You send a message in a bottle. What does it say?
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

North St., Suite 8, Burlington, VT
05401.

MGN FAMILY FOUNDATION
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
When you turn 18

BY MARIA SELL
One day when my best friend Maya
and I went hot tubing, I exclaimed, Look
at the stars!
You know, every child has a star that
will protect them until they turn 18.
Later that night, I had a dream that I
had just turned 18 and was in the galaxy.
After a while, the gas in the spaceship
started to run out. As the driver lled up
the tank, I went in to get a snack.
Hello there! said the cashier as I
walked in. How old are you?
18, I answered.
How would you like to buy your star
that has been yours since you were born?
I think its a little bit too big to take
home! I answered.
Dont be silly! he said. Its now
dust.
He handed me a bag lled with stardust...
You
BY ALEX MARTELL
One day my best friend rushed up to
me and said, Alex, can you understand
me?
Yeah, I can understand you! Why
wouldnt I understand you?
I dont know, but youre the only one
who can understand me!
Oookaaay. If I can understand you,
then can anyone understand me?
Nope.
What?!?!?!
Message in a bottle
BY NINA BORZEKOWSKI
I wrote a message in a bottle, and when
I went to the beach one summer, I took
it with me. I waded into the water till it
was up to my neck. Then I gave the bottle
a push and it was off. This was what I
wrote:
Hello, whoever gets this. My name is
Nina. I live in a small town and almost
everyone has a family member who works
at the resort. If you get this, on the back
of this paper is my address and we could
be pen pals! Also, if you nd this, dont
forget about it, please! Im really looking
forward to this. You wouldnt want to let a
little girl down, would you? No, I didnt
think so. Looking forward to meeting
you.
YOUR SOON TO BE PEN PAL (I HOPE)
NINA
A year and a half later, (Id been counting) I came home from school to nd a
letter from Austria! I gingerly opened it
and this is what it said (surprisingly in
English):
Hi, Nina! My name is Marlene. Im
also a little girl and wish to be your
pen pal...
YOUR PEN-PAL AND FRIEND MARLENE
Mya Burghardt, Essex High School
NEXT PROMPTS
Climate. Take action to combat Climate Change! Respond to three prompts, using words,
sound, images -- or all three. The challenge sponsor, Vermontivate, will award three cash
prizes and honor winners at a celebration in Montpelier in May! Go to youngwritersproject.
org/climate15 for full details of the three prompts along with resources. Due April 10.
Hidden. A character discovers something that has been hidden in the familys attic for
years. This could change everything. Alternate: Pet. If your cat, dog, horse, ferret, or other
pet could talk, what would be its rst words to you?; or Family. Your notoriously dysfunc-
tional family is having a big reunion. Let the mishaps begin. Due April 17
Marlene and I were great pen pals and

when my family went to Europe for summer vacation, we got to meet her!
It was the most spectacular break I
ever had! Even though she and I lived so
far apart, we were the best of friends.
And to think it all started with a little
bottle oating in the waves. What adventures that little bottle must have had!
Welsh Terrier
BY ESA ANDERSON
Grade 8, Christ the King
If I could be an animal for a day, I
would choose a dog, a Welsh Terrier.
I love my dog Bodie, and I always
wonder what hes thinking. What goes on
in that small brain of his when he wags
his tail or tweaks his ears in different
directions? Or when he gives me a weird
look and when he turns his head at me?
I imagine lying on my pillow with the
sun shining on me through the windows,
taking in the nice heat, not being manhandled by little kids or talked to about their
many problems.
I hear footsteps coming toward me and
someone calling my name. Bodie, where
are you? Bodie-bear, are you getting in
trouble?
I lie there and close my eyes, until I
feel a girls hands on me, grabbing my
ears, kissing my nose, hugging me until I
cant breathe.
2065 is cool
BY EVAN DOUGAN
Grade 4, Proctor Elementary School
THIS WEEK: Vermont Writes Day

In its sixth year, Vermont Writes Day sparked the
imagination of thousands of writers across the state on
March 12. With Young Writers Projects seven prompts
to guide them, students, teachers and principals stopped
what they were doing for just seven minutes and wrote!
This week, we present a sample of the writing YWP
received. Read more in the April issue of The Voice!
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.
THE VOICE
READ THE APRIL ISSUE!
JANES TRUST
CLIMATE CHANGE
WRITING CHALLENGE
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
The coolest thing invented in 2065 is a

hoverboard that is an OK size, but it has
ve other things built in: a snow cone machine, head lights, a paint ball launcher,
a soda machine and a robot hand to grab
stuff. 2065 is cool!
WRITE AND WIN!

1st place: $100 | 2nd: $75 | 3rd: $50
Improving school
DEADLINE: APRIL 10
BY LACI FRENCH
I would like more activities at recess,
and a longer recess. I would also like our
school to have more lunch choices and to
give us access to a microwave.
There should be some time in school
to have a break from learning, even 20
or 30 minutes, and only on Mondays or
Fridays.
It would be nice if we could talk a
little more in class. I understand that
school is supposed to be a learning place,
but I think we could learn and have fun at
the same time.
I would also like it if we had no
homework. We are in school for six to
seven hours a day. We learn enough during school.
If our school provided these things, it
would be a more fun place to learn.
YWP NEWS
Sophia Cannizzaro, Homeschool, West Glover
People are a lot like pencils

People are a lot like pencils.
At some points, we just... break.
We always want to erase our mistakes,
but after a while there isnt any eraser to
erase with.
Others shave us down,
trying to strip us down from the part
that matters the most.
But we can always be sharpened again.

Unless we get too short.
Then, at the end,
we get thrown away.
We all look up to the pens,
striding through life, boldly and vibrantly,
leaving their mark on the world.
There are plenty of pencils;
what makes us think that just one is so
special?
Reindeer
BY RYDEN RICHARDSON
Last night, at 11:11 p.m., I wished that
I could be Santas reindeer and I guess
it worked because now I am in the barn
getting ready for Christmas.
And in 10 minutes we are going to take
a test ight around the world. I am really
nervous. I am also afraid of heights.
Ten minutes later, I am in Santas takeoff lane. All the reindeer start yelling,
Five, four, three, two, one!
It is the fastest moment of my life!
Winter
BY MAGGIE SCHILLINGER
I ran across the white plain that had
become the ground. Snowakes stung my
cheeks as they tumbled out of the sky, one
after another, never the same, all of them
different, just like people.
The branches sagged from the heavy
snow and as I shook them of their burden,
they bounced back, reaching to the sky.
The world was quiet, everything fast
asleep in hibernation. Not me though, I
was enjoying the soft whoosh of wind
and the almost silent drop of snow as it
fell from a branch, reaching the end of its
journey on the ground.
Snowakes continued to fall as I
tumbled to the ground and lay there looking up at the sky.
I blinked a couple times as my eyes
adjusted to the bright, white nothingness.
Snowakes stuck to my eyelashes and
I blinked them away, laughing into the
silence.
YWP NEWS

week, we present responses to the prompt for General
writing. Read more at youngwritersproject.org, a safe,
civil, online community of writers.
CLIMATE CHANGE
WRITING CHALLENGE
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.
Springs greetings
THE BAY AND PAUL

FOUNDATIONS
First place: $100

Second place: $75 | Third place: $50
DEADLINE: APRIL 10
PHOTO OF THE WEEK

NEXT PROMPTS
BY BREANNA LAPRE
What is that sound?
Its the awakening critters
scurrying on the thawed ground.
Blue jays chirp, saying hello to the world.
In the pastel blue skies, newly born monarchs swirl.
Refreshing air lls your nose,
while damp grass tickles your toes.
The suns colors sparkle in the sky.
This is a place to which I wouldnt want
to say goodbye.
Human eyes cant see where the elds
end.
I have noticed this place has a unique,
special trend.
The clouds slowly pass by.
Leave here? I wouldnt even try.
Flocks of birds roam the air.
Suddenly, in the bushes, arrives a grizzly
bear.
The fresh leaves of an oak tree sway side
to side.
If I say this scene isnt pretty, I will have
lied.
I have a feeling that I know I will be
okay; heres the place I dearly want to
stay.
Its the start of a new season; I wonder
what it will bring.
Listen closely and youll be able to hear
the wind quietly sing.
WRITE AND WIN!
Unjust. Write about an injustice youve

witnessed or experienced. What should
be done about it? Alternates: Lists: Write
two lists your top 10 likes and top 10
dislikes; or General writing in any genre.
Due April 3
Climate. Take action to combat Climate
Change! Respond to three prompts, using words, sound, images -- or all three.
The challenge sponsor, Vermontivate,
will award three cash prizes and honor
winners at a celebration in Montpelier in
May! See above, and go to youngwritersproject.org/climate15 for full details of
the three prompts along with resources
and tips. Due April 10
Dylan Sayamouangkhua, Burlington High School
Seconds
BY HEATHER MCMANUS
Grade 11, Mount St. Joseph Academy
A ash before your eyes,
no more than a second has gone by.
Thats all it takes
to x your day thats gone awry.
A simple smile thrown your way
as youre walking in the hall
gives you a glimpse of hope
when youve felt youve lost it all.

A simple little smile
can brighten someones day,
so dont forget to smile
and waste your seconds away.
Hidden. A character discovers something

that has been hidden in the familys attic
for years. This could change everything.
Alternate: Pet. If your cat, dog, horse,
ferret, or other pet could talk, what would
be its rst words to you?; or Family.
Your notoriously dysfunctional family
is having a big reunion. Let the mishaps
begin. Due April 17

Ski racing
BY SYDNEY BENNETT
They can never know that I am terried of what I am about to do, if I can
even get myself together to do it. I know
that being an alpine skier isnt the easiest
thing in the world, and that we practically
sign ourselves up to ski dangerously fast
down a steep slope just to beat a competitors time.
But it is my life, and even though it
is terrifying, I wont quit because the
rush you get, the smile that appears on
your face is all worth the nerves and
the thought of things going wrong. It is
my life, and even though sometimes I
am scared to live it, I know that I would
rather be doing this than anything else.
Therefore, nobody can know I am scared;
it is my secret.
Facing the fact that I am scared and
terried and lled with a terrible gut
feeling is hard as I am standing at the top
of the knoll waiting in line to race down
a Super-G course that is screaming my
name. The course is set on Highline, a
good name for a steep race trail. By now
my fellow U14s are almost gone. The
line is shrinking as one by one, the girls
in my age group ski down the course. I
know I shouldnt be nervous because all
of them have already made it down the
course, but there is always that what if.
I know I cant turn on the brakes and
skid the turn because I will lose speed,
which wont impress the mountain school
coaches standing at the bottom of the
course or my dad, who is currently giving
the clear for my friends to go.
As I am the second to last to go, my
heart jumps out of my chest. I am next. I
cant get out of it now. Instead of thinking
of ways to bail or what will go wrong, I
turn my attention to the incredible view.
Standing at the top of a ridge looking
over a valley lled with people who look
like little ants is sort of cool. The wind
blows gracefully, creating tiny tornadoes
made of the soft powder that sparkles as
its lifted from the ground. There arent
any clouds in the sky, so the sun shines
with freedom as it illuminates the bright
blue sky. The cold surrounds me, but only
my rosy red cheeks feel the cool blast and
leave them tingling. Then I come back to
reality as I hear the scratchy voice over
the radio as I am given the clear. My
dad repeats the message and I am once
again thinking about the butteries in my
stomach.
Youre clear, Syd, he says. I hesitate
for a moment, hoping to stall for as long
as I can. I know I cant for too long or he
will know my secret. He cant know.
THIS WEEK: Secret

week, we present responses to the prompts, Secret:
Write about a secret that people must never know. Read
more great writing at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.
I plant my poles and point my skis

down the hill. I feel like I am about to
throw up, but soon my nervousness turns
into excitement as I pick up speed. I am
already moving fast, so I start my turn
and set my edge. I want to end my turn at
the gate so I can stay ahead of the course
and not get late, which is exactly what I
do. I feel forces pushing me and pulling me every which way, but I do what
I know. I ski my hardest, pushing my
body to the limits. My muscles remember
most of the movements but I still have to
push my hands forward at the gate. My
shoulder slams into the gate and I push it
out of my way. I have a good line because
the fastest line is closest to the gates. My
arm stings but I dont think about the
pain. Adrenaline ows through my body
and I love it.
Now I am coming to the jump at the
transition from the steep pitch to the ats.
I am terried, but I know I can do this.
As I nish the turn before the jump,

VERMONT BUSINESS
ROUNDTABLE
I drop into my tuck and move my hips
forward. My shins rest against my cold
boots and I cross the blue lines marking
the jump. As my skis leave the ground my
hands are already down near my boots.
With my chest down and my body weight
forward and balanced, I y off the jump.
As soon as Im in the air I am already on
the ground. I pull my hands back up and
to my knees to form a tuck. On the ats
I roll my skis over nice and easy to keep
my speed. The blue and red gates disappear as the ski club comes into view.
I am already at the bottom and my
heart is beating fast. A smile covers my
face and I come to a stop next to my
friends. Theyre smiling, too. I am almost
out of breath, but I am lled with joy. I
am so glad that I did it that I want to go
right up to the top and do it again.
My dad skis down the side of the trail
and stops at the bottom with us girls. He
smiles and mentions how we all did great
and that if we hurry, we can get one more
run in.
As most of the girls start to skate to the
ski lift, he stops me and says, The coach
was very impressed with your run.
I smile and give him a hug. I realize
that my secret, that I am terried to ski
a course for the rst time, has to stay a
secret because if anybody nds out, they
wont make me do it and I would miss
out on the fun and thrill that comes with
it.
YWP NEWS
THE VOICE
READ THE MARCH ISSUE!
CLIMATE CHANGE
WRITING CHALLENGE
WRITE AND WIN!

First place: $100
Second place: $75 | Third place: $50
DEADLINE: APRIL 10
NEXT PROMPTS
Vermont. Vermont is maple syrup, Ben
& Jerrys, Green Mountains, skiing/snowboarding, farms, right? Now, describe
your Vermont. Alternates: Life. Write
a crazy story about what would happen
to the rest of your life if a certain major
event had gone differently the more
earth-shattering, the better; or Message.
You send a message in a bottle. What do
you write? Who do you want to nd it?
Due March 27
A friend like you
BY BREANNA LAPRE
This will be hard to explain,

but here I go;
here is everything, friend,
that I want you to know.
When I thought my world
was crashing down,
you made me laugh,
like my very own clown.
I felt hopeless,
with sorrow in my eyes.
You were there,
to wipe the tears from my cries.
When I felt like I had fallen,
you were there to give me your hand.
I was abandoned in darkness,
but you showed me the opposite of heartless.
I never had a stormy day,
because you were the sunshine
that pushed the clouds away.
You made my smile bloom;
I thought I might burst with happiness
soon.
One day, I made a mistake I shouldnt
have had;
I noticed my trust had turned bad.
You arent here anymore
to sew the broken pieces of my heart.
I have to say, I miss your pride; that was a
work of art.
They say the past is the past, but I want
those memories to last.
If I could speak to you one last time,
I would say, I hope you forgive me ...
maybe someday?

students selects the best writing and images for publication. This week, we present responses to the prompt
for General writing in any genre. Read more great
writing at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK
My lists
BY ESA ANDERSON
LIKES
DISLIKES
Dogs
Summer
Makeup
Sports
Fall
Shoes
Math
Necklaces
Food
Cameras
Cats
Porta Potties
Science
The Cold
Slow Wi
Tomato Soup
Staying Home
Alone
Smell of Dog
Foods
Insects
Almond Milk

Eric Wakim, Essex High School
Leap year mom

BY ALEX MARTELL
Im older than my mom!
My mom was born on February 29,
1984.
So my mom is only 7, and Im 11.
NEXT PROMPTS
Vermont. Vermont is maple syrup,
Ben & Jerrys, Green Mountains ... Now,
describe your Vermont. Alternates: Life.
Write a crazy story about what would
happen to the rest of your life if a certain
major event had gone differently; or Message. You send a message in a bottle. What
do you write? Who do you want to nd it?
Due March 27
VERMONT
WRITES DAY
IS THIS THURSDAY!
ITS THE DAY WE STOP

EVERYTHING TO WRITE!
By legislative proclamation, March

12 is Vermont Writes Day. This is
Young Writers Projects sixth Vermont
Writes Day, and rst proclamation!
All students, teachers, principals &
members of the community are invited
to write for just seven minutes to one
of the seven prompts below. YWP will
open a special web site, vermontwritesday.org, where writing can be posted
directly, only on that day. Writing can
also be submitted on youngwritersproject.org or with pen and paper.
The best writing of the day will be
published in this newspaper and in a
special issue of The Voice, YWPs digital
magazine. Find out more at youngwritersproject.org/VTWrites15.
THE PROMPTS
1. 2065: Its the year 2065. Describe the coolest invention of the day.
Tell a story about how you use it.
2. School. What do you wish your
school would do or provide that it
doesnt do/provide now?
3. Animal: Youve been granted a
wish to be transformed into an animal
for 24 hours. What animal would you
be? Why? Tell a story of what happens.
4. Staircase: Its midnight. You
cant sleep. You open the door to your
bedroom and there, in the hall, is a
fantastic staircase that youve never seen
before. What do you do? What happens?
5. Six: Write as many six-word
stories as you can.
6. Free Write: Write about anything! Tell a story!
7. Photo: Write from the perspective of anyone, or anything in the photo
below.
Resignation is bad
for your jaw
BY ZOE RIELL
So this is how it feels to break glass
between my back teeth.
I suppose I thought it would be
warmer, somehow, like when the bassline
fades
from your chest and youre left feeling
a little bit empty.
It feels like it did last spring when my
grandfather,
embracing me, didnt remember
I had a sister.
Its that void second,
the nothing in between heartbeats, like
when
I smashed an amethyst on the oor
because I didnt have a pretty thing
to call my own.
Its a mirror fragment
reecting my own iris; its
the taste of blood pooling
in my gums.
Does it exist?
Philosopher, Regret & Queasy
YWP NEWS & EVENTS

to the prompts, Philosopher: Wax philosophic about
an issue; Regret: Write about something you regret
and cant change; and Queasy: Put a character in an
uneasy situation. More at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.
VERMONT WRITES DAY

IS THURSDAY, MARCH 12!
Stop everything to write for just 7 minutes! Get your school involved! More at
youngwritersproject.org/VTWrites15.
CLIMATE CHANGE
WRITING CHALLENGE
JANES TRUST
FEATURED PHOTO
BY HEATHER MCMANUS
WRITE AND WIN PRIZES!
If we cant see it,

is it not there?
Since we cant see it,
is there no air?
It makes the phrase true,
out of sight, out of mind;
we tend to forget
the things we cant nd.
We cannot see love;
we cannot see air.
So does it exist,
if we dont see it there?
FOR PROMPTS AND MORE DETAILS:

DEADLINE: APRIL 10
You know the story

BY OTTO NISIMBLAT
The boat rocked back and forth, back
and forth. The waves were shaking the
boat. I regretted eating that bologna
sandwich, when, suddenly, I ...You know
what I did.

& THE VOICE
I need you back

BY SANDRA GUYETTE
Grade 9, Mill River Union High School
I broke down and cried today,
whispering things I forgot to say.
My hands shook as I tried to play,
tried to play the sadness away.
But each strum of my guitar
just further broke my heart.

You encouraged me to start;
now I feel like my world is falling apart...
I need you back now!
Please, just tell me how!
How can I make things right?
When I never got to say good night.
So many things I never got to say!
I guess this regret will never go away,
I broke down and cried today.
CHECK OUT YWPS DIGITAL

MAGAZINE EVERY MONTH!
for your FREE subscription!
Im so sorry
BY MILES ALLEN
School
Annabeth and her anc Finn had been
planning their wedding for months.
Annabeth and her maid of honor Claire
had picked out a beautiful white wedding
dress.
She knew Finn was the one for her.
That dress is simply gorgeous, Claire
said.
I know, Annabeth said, smitten. She
was getting ready to walk down the aisle.
I need to go now, Annabeth, Claire
said urgently. I want to be there to see
you walk down the aisle.
Claire left just as Annabeths father
walked in.
Wow, he said softly, not in his usual
orotund voice.
Thanks, Dad, she said as she hugged
him.
Ready, darling?
Ready, Dad.
He pushed open the door to the cathedral.
Annabeth looked into Finns eyes and
smiled.
She scanned her family and friends
until she caught the eye of DeWayne,
Finns best man.
He smiled at her, and she smiled back.
She walked down the aisle with her father until she reached Finn and the priest.
We are gathered here today to
celebrate the beloved marriage of Ms.
Annabeth Gillian and Mr. Finn Tchaikovsky
Wow, DeWayne looks so hot in that
tux, Annabeth thought.
The priest kept talking and talking
and talking, but all Annabeth could think
about was DeWayne.
Do you, Finn Tchaikovsky, take
this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife? the priest said in a monotone
voice.
I do.
And do you, Annabeth Gillian, take
this man to be your lawfully wedded
husband?
Annabeth? Finn asked worriedly.
I love you, DeWayne, she said.
What? Finn said.
I guess I can leave, the priest said.
DeWayne stared at Annabeth.
Are you okay?
Annabeth turned to Finn. Im sorry
Im so sorry.
THIS WEEK: Sorry & Button

to the prompts, Sorry: Write a story that includes
the phrase, Im sorry ... Im so sorry; and Button:
Pressing buttons can be irresistible, but wait! Read
more at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.
AMY E. TARRANT
FOUNDATION
Pushing buttons
BY HEATHER MCMANUS
I go about my day;
nothing seems too strange,
but as I come to a door,
my lucks about to change.
I press the little buzzer
and all the people freeze;
I try to understand
what this all means.
I press on it again
and people start to move;
I press on it once more
like I have something to prove.
Just as before,
time seems to halt;
a sick feeling starts to rise,
knowing its my fault.
With one nal push
I set the world into motion,
but this one little button
can stop all commotion.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Haley Thon, Essex High School
Vermont Writes Day is Thursday,

March 12! Its the day we stop
everything to write for just seven
minutes! Find out more at youngwritersproject.org/VTWrites15.
NEXT PROMPTS
Supersilly. Come up with a hilarious, seemingly useless superpower and
explain how one might defeat a villain using it. Alternates: Secret. Write about
a secret (real or ctional) that people must never know; or People. Write about a
secret people (a hidden population) that most but not all people never know.
Due March 6
Decision. Think of a time you had to make a difcult decision and then create a
ctional character who makes the opposite choice from the decision you made (or
would make) when faced with the same situation. Alternates: Idea. Write about a
seemingly bad idea that turns out great; or Manual. Write instructions on how to
be a human being. Due March 13

AND
THE VOICE,
YWPS DIGITAL MAGAZINE
So many faces
THIS WEEK: Change & Statue

New Hampshire. This week, we present responses to
the prompts, Change: Use the phrase, thats when everything changed; and Statue: Youre walking through
a park and a statue strikes up a conversaton with you.
Read more at youngwritersproject.org.
BY HEATHER MCMANUS
I was walking through the park

with the sun shining bright,
but I couldnt shake the feeling
that something wasnt right.
A statue of a man was standing to my left,
and the surprise of his voice
made my heart jump from my chest.
How are you today?
I hope that youre quite well,
and you dont mind listening
to the story I have to tell.
So many people pass me by.
I see many different faces.
In the eyes of each person,
I see many different places.
Each person is unique,
each has a unique look;
I have also come to learn
the cover may not match the book.
The animated face froze once again
but the words that he had spoken
were spinning in my head.
He sees so many people,
unique in their own way
and shows we shouldnt judge
the different people we meet each day.
YWP EVENTS
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.
THE BAY AND PAUL

FOUNDATIONS
PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Memories of her
Joseph
BY KRISTEN ELLIOTT
Piper: I stand by our small stove waiting for the heat to surround me. I can see
the warm air clashing with the cold air as
it rises above the stove. I hear crackling
and turn to nd my brother dropping an
icicle onto the stove. It sizzles and turns
into bubbles that dance and move around
the top of the stove as they get smaller.
Within seconds they are gone, but the
sharp noise and the graceful movement of
the solid turned liquid linger in my mind.
Lets nish getting wood in, shouts my
brother as he shuts the door behind him.
Hes right, we should bring wood in, but I
am not quite sure thats what I want to do.
We are twins. I know my brother like
the back of my hand, and I know that if
I push the right button, I can change his
mind. I run after him out the door and
start the rst step that will launch my plan
into reality: making a snowball. ... Before
I know it, we are chasing each other. We
are ducking behind fallen trees and snow
drifts when he runs toward the lake.
Joseph! The lake isnt frozen! Dont
go over there! Joseph! But its too late.
And thats when everything changed ...
My eyes sting due to the mix of my

salty tears and the cold January wind.
My mind is fogged up with images of
her. Her laugh echoes through my mind,
and at this point I would do anything on
Gods green earth to make it go away.
Her smile lights up the darkest corners
of my brain, parts that were meant to be
left consumed by the darkness, but she
came into my brain and turned on the
light and I have yet to nd a way to turn it
off. My nails are digging into the back of
my palms and I swear to God if they go
any deeper Ill draw blood.
At this point I could really care less
that the sun is going down, and that the
already freezing day will turn to an even
colder night. And when the sun nally
makes its way below the mountains and
my eyes are bloodshot because I havent
slept in days I realize its time to go, and
Im trying to ght the thought that I was
never welcomed here in the rst place.
As I leave, her laugh becomes distant just like it did the night she left.
The memories of her throwing her head
back slowly leave my mind, but that was
before. And the night she left, well, thats
when everything changed...
BY SYDNEY BENNETT
Read the complete story at youngwritersproject.org/node/109281.
Addie Scanlon, Essex High School
Seasons
BY SAVANNAH PERRY
In shorts and a tank top, sitting by the
pool,
suddenly the leaves dropped and the air
became cool.
Next there was a snow day; all the children were home from school.
Then there was color, no joke, Im not a

fool.
That was the biggest change of all the
seasons.
I dont know why there is not a reason.
When the color came back,
at 4 p.m., it wasnt black.
All the seasons have such a range,
but in spring, thats when everything
changed.
Flowers and rain

BY LILLY KOWALCZYK
Did you know there are owers the
size of church towers? And that there are
horses that are also hairdressers? I bet you
didnt know that cows knit sweaters and
sh knit scarves.
Did you know that rainbows can grow
arms and legs and walk away? Yep, its
all true. I bet that you didnt know any of
that.
How do you think rainbows go away?
Youre thinking that when the rain goes
away the rainbows go away, and, yes,
they do.
But rainbows dont like the sun, so
they walk away with the rain and they sit
down. And when the sun comes out, they
get up and walk to where there is rain.
Rainbows and rain are best friends. They
never want to leave each others side.
Yes, yes, you think that this isnt true,
but it is.
Try UCloud
Snails, Invention & General

to the prompts, Snails: Did you know snails can swallow you whole? Tell your own whopper; and Invention: Youve invented the next big thing!; and General
writing. Read more at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.
NATIONAL LIFE GROUP
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
BY TAYLOR KRUPP
School
Imagine Holly walking down the hall.
Holly has ve textbooks, a backpack,
gym clothes, a change of shoes, a lunchbox, and a cello.
She suddenly trips on a loose pencil
and tumbles to the ground. She falls face
rst into a pile of school supplies and a
cement oor. She breaks her nose and
sprains her right ankle and left wrist. She
lands herself in a wheelchair for a month!
How do you prevent this, you ask? Buy
UCloud.
UCloud is a lightweight machine. It
can hold over 200 pounds of luggage, but
it feels like just ve pounds. The beauty is
that you dont even have to carry it!
UCloud is infused with the latest
hovercraft technology and oats behind
you as you walk! UCloud can also be
programmed so that it will recognize your
shoes and follow them around at a safe
and noninvasive distance.
UCloud is priced at $20 and comes in a
variety of colors. It is a great holiday gift!
Think of the kids. Dont be like Holly.
Buy UCloud.
BY MAGGIE SCHILLINGER
My dog has a shepherds paws and eyebrows,
but a black labs ears and body.
When he goes to sleep he turns around
and around in circles until he nds that
perfect spot,
then he folds his legs underneath him and
lies down.
He is super protective
and will go crazy if anyone he doesnt
know comes near our house.
He may not like strangers,
but if he gets to know you hell snuggle
up against you, wanting to get petted.
If you start to scratch him for longer than
10 seconds he will roll over onto his back
and stare up at you with the question in
his eyes, Any more?
He is very smart and knows countless
tricks,
however if you try to play fetch with him
hell play for about 10 minutes
and then get tired, sit down with the ball,
and gnaw on it for a little while.
He is a rescue dog, so we dont know
who his family was, what type of breed
he is, or how old he is.
But one thing is for sure,
my dog is part of my family.
YWP EVENTS
Photographers name, xxx High School

Shepherds paws

Unknown
BY SYDNEY BENNETT
Life is a game;
you can try to play your cards right,
or you can roll the dice with the hope of
luck.
I chose to play my cards,
trusting logic instead of intuition.
I found out it wasnt my choice; cards or
dice,
but that I put my life in the hands of the
unknown.
It only took seconds for my fate to be
decided,
a fate that I could either accept or deny.
People say that sugar caused it,
some people say that I inherited it.
But what they dont know is that I had no
control over it;
after all, my life is in the hands of the
unknown.
I was as clueless as a newborn baby as to
what it could be.
I am a teenager who is growing;
why be concerned?
It was a drastic change.
I looked in the mirror to nd only skin
and bones,
thirty-ve pounds gone in only three
months.
I felt the pain of hunger in my stomach all
the time,
so I ate, pausing the pain for the shortest
time.
Everlasting thirst made my mouth dry and
cracked,
so I drank for an eternity of satisfaction,
but it never came.
I felt the scratches that never healed.
I tried household medicine,
but nothing worked.
I fell asleep in math, which was my favorite subject.
It wasnt boredom,
it was my body turning on itself,
it was my brain looking for something to
help,
my liver working too hard,
my pancreas calling it quits.
Who knew in seconds my life could be
changed by the unknown?
I want everyone to know that I accepted
it,
that I wont let it dene me,
I wont let it control me,
I wont let it change who I am.
I accepted the unknown because it was
my only choice,
but also because it happened in only
seconds.
My heart is still beating,
my brain nding no solution,
THIS WEEK: Seconds

week, we present responses to the prompt, Seconds.
Write about something that can happen in seconds.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.
Seconds that
last forever
BY MATTHEW CREED
Only so many seconds left,
skating down the ice.
I nally have the puck on my stick,
and I skate for my life.
I pass up to Oliver;
he takes a shot thats blocked.
I come and crash the net
and shoot the puck high up
over the goalies shoulder.
The red light turns on.
I give a big st pump
cause we have won 2-1!
YWP NEWS
MAIN STREET LANDING
THE VOICE
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
CHECK OUT YWPS DIGITAL

MAGAZINE EVERY MONTH!
for your FREE subscription!
Mya Burghardt, Essex High School
my liver working hard but slightly dazed,

my pancreas declaring surrender,
yet I am still here.
I am still alive.
Who knew in seconds that the unknown
could choose this for me and millions
more,
even within the blink of an eye?
It took seconds to decide that I,
a young teenage girl with her dads eyes,
a girl who was completely normal yesterday,

would be thrown into the life of a responsible adult in seconds.
Just seconds!
The unknown changed my life forever,
leaving me with the hope of a cure.
I am Type 1 diabetic,
and it only happened in seconds.
NEXT PROMPTS
Stardust. Youre exploring intergalactic space and come across a
voyager selling stardust. Write your
conversation. Alternate: Regret. Is
there something you wish you had
done, but now its too late? What is
it and how do you deal with it? Due
Feb. 13
THIS WEEK: Proposal & General
Juliets rejection

and New Hampshire. A team of staff, mentors and students selects the best writing and images for publication. This week, we present responses to the prompts,
Proposal: Write about a marriage proposal that goes
terribly wrong and General writing.
BY ALEX MARTELL
After being rejected 99 times by Romeo, Juliet decided to propose marriage.
She showed up at Romeos front door
with his favorite owers and a ring.
She rang the doorbell and when Romeo
came to the door she gave him the owers
and said, Will you marry me?
She waited for a response from Romeo. The answer she got was one you
might not expect.
He said, Not in this lifetime!
Then he slammed the door in Juliets
face. That bruised Juliets condence.
After all, she was rejected 100 times by
the love of her life!
Its better this way
BY NINA BORZEKOWSKI
A man named Bradley and a woman

named Marisa were deeply in love.
They had been dating for two years
and they were on vacation in the Bahamas. Marisa was getting impatient with
Bradley. She wanted him to propose to
her on the trip.
Bradley had an engagement ring and
was trying to nd a time to propose but
was having a hard time.
Finally, Marisa and Bradley went out
to dinner and afterward went to get ice
cream. Bradley had brought the ring with
him, thinking that this was the best time
for his proposal. They were eating their
ice cream when Bradley got up, went
to the bathroom, took out the ring, went
back to Marisa and...
Will you marry me? he asked.
Marisa answered, I ... will ... I will
not marry you. I hate you because you
waited so long!
Now that practically took the life out
of Bradley. But he also liked being single
and he realized everything would be okay.
It turned out Marisa really wanted
to be single too and was happy. So they
walked to the car, drove to the hotel,
packed up their stuff and went back to
their separate homes.
That was just how it had to be.

ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.

VERMONT BUSINESS
ROUNDTABLE
Olivia Fewell, Essex High School
Yup, thats me
BY TAYLOR KRUPP
Grade 8, Rutland Town Elementary School
Are you Elsa?

Of course, Im Elsa! Do I need to
freeze you to refresh your memory?
Here is the story of my life: I started
off hiding my powers from everyone.
I dont know if that was a good choice
or not. I think it would have worked if I
hadnt frozen the country.
Ice queen problems ... I froze my
sisters heart, almost killed her. She is one
forgiving person.
Then I gured out how to control my
powers and everything is now unfrozen!
Now people call me and ask me for

some ice cream. You know what I say?
Sure thing. Let me go get my cow along
with some hot fudge.
Obviously, I cant just whip up ice
cream out of thin air. Who do they think I
am? An ice cream lord?
Sorry to upset you folks but we are
all sold out!
Then people ask me why I wear
gloves if Im an ice queen. They say,
Arent you used to the cold? I kindly
explain to them that the reason I wear
gloves is so I dont accidentally freeze
their head off while Im reaching to get
the salt and pepper.
Mortals these days ...
Are you Elsa?
Yup, thats me.
Never mind
BY HEIDI ALF
Once there was a man and a woman
who were madly in love. They were dating for ve years. It was time for them to
get married.
The man took his lady out to a fancy
dinner place. When it was time for dessert, the man said to the woman, Darling, I have something to ask you.
The woman said, Tell me, I wont
judge.
The man went down on his knees and
asked nicely, Sweetie, you were special
to me when I rst saw your long brown
hair and blue eyes. Your personality was
awless to me. So, um ...
Suddenly a ying squirrel came
through the open door of the restaurant!
Then a little girl came running in, yelling,
Ulysses! At the sound of its name, the
squirrel turned around and looked at its
owner. The girl ran to Ulysses, hugged
the squirrel and they left the restaurant.
That was sweet, the lady said. What
were you trying to say?
Suddenly a waiter with a tray of hot
food bumped into the man with the ring
and the ring ew over peoples heads and
landed in a bowl of spaghetti all covered
with cheese.
The man ran over to the bowl of
spaghetti. The person who was eating the
spaghetti took a bite and suddenly the
ring was in his mouth!
The man who had come to the restaurant to propose at a romantic dinner could
only say, Nooooo! as the ring disappeared.
Later, the lady said, What was that?
What were you going to ask me?
Never mind ... the man said. And
he walked out the door and didnt say a
word.
NEXT PROMPTS
Change. Write a story or poem
that includes the sentence, Thats
when everything changed. Alternates: Limerick. Write a limerick: a
poem of ve lines, the 1st, 2nd, and
5th lines rhyming, and the 3rd and
4th lines rhyming and use humor;
or Child. Write a story from the perspective of a small child who is left
alone and could be either frightened
and confused by the situation or very
resourceful and determined. Due
Feb. 6
The internal war
THIS WEEK: Dream & Invention
Knowledge Wear
BY TAYLOR KRUPP
School

to the prompts, Dream: Write about a recurring or
strange dream; and Invention: Youve just invented the
next big thing! Read more at youngwritersproject.org, a
safe, civil, online community of writers.
BY RACHAEL LEE
School
I keep having this dream

and it just keeps on occurring.
No matter what I try
from my mind, it does not pry.
I start off happily walking down a city
sidewalk;
I can hear almost everyone talk.
Its so loud I can barely hear myself think
and then everything goes quiet within a
blink.
It is dark, too.
I dont know what to do.
The nightmare begins
and the panic sets in.
The city actually gives me glee.
I think its the silence that scares me.
For silence is the most powerful force
because it suggests something more.
Silence is like an internal war.
Dream Pillow
BY TAQDEES AHMAD
School
I created a new invention. Its called
Dream Pillow. It captures your dreams
so you can watch and remember them.
You sleep on the pillow and all the
dreams that youve had get captured into
the pillow. You plug a cord into the pillow
and your computer. The dreams download
on to your computer so you can watch
them.
The pillow gets all your dreams. This
way you can remember them.
You might be thinking What if I have
a nightmare?
Well, I thought about that, too! Before
you use the pillow you have to add what
kind of dreams you dont want to remember. The pillow wont remember the
dreams and you dont have to worry.
But wait, theres more! How do you
add the settings? Well, the pillow is a
really soft pillow, and it has computerprogrammed chips. The chips wont break
They are in a little corner in a protected
area.
Worried about decoration? Well, it
comes with different colored dreamcatcher pillow cases that arent removable. You
can pick what color you want and if you
want your name on it or not.
Instructions are in the box. Now you
can buy one for only $10.99! Sale ends in
ve days!
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Having trouble staying awake studying

at night? Now you dont need to. Knowledge Wear can solve all of your studying
problems.
Studying for hours now takes a few
short minutes, depending on the information you need.
You only need to review the information once, then it will be recorded into
your brain, so that you wont forget it,
and you wont be up all night studying,
and your grades will be a lot better.
The Knowledge Wear basic pack is
a pair of special glasses, connected to
a modern hat. There are also different
styles. One style could be worn during
class. It is just a pair of high-tech glasses
and at the end of the glasses are recording
devices. The glasses will analyze your information and the modern hat will record
it into your brain.
Its easy and painless. Buy your basic
Knowledge Wear at local stores for two
payments of $9.99.
Its the new generation of knowledge.
THE VOICE
YWPS MONTHLY DIGITAL MAGAZINE!
NEXT PROMPTS
Detective. Write a detective story about a librarian
who nds a mysterious package at her front door.
Alternates: Penny. Tell the life story of a penny
since it was minted to the time you received it as
change; or Photo 6 (Write a story or poem based
on the photo, left). Due Jan. 30
Dont miss an issue!

for your free subscription!

Lonely life
BY MILES ALLEN
Grade 7, Rutland Town Elementary School
Its a lonely life for me, all by myself,
far away from the popular group of planets.
Ever since I was demoted, not even my older
brother Neptune has talked to me. I have my
ve moon friends, but its nothing like talking
to the real planets. I hate being excluded and
now Im in eternal solitary.
But one day, I see a ship ying above my
head. It confuses me. No one ever comes to
visit. It glides through space, and I wonder if
there are humans coming. The ship drops onto
my head. It hurts a bit. No one ever considers my feelings. Like when Earth, the bully
of the bunch, kicked me out just for being
small. I mean, what gives? I might be small,
but Im tough. I bet Uranus would be crying
if a spaceship dropped on her head. Ive never
really liked her. I dont know what Neptune
sees in her. Theyve been dating for 2 millennia now, and shes never said a word to me.
Or maybe she just doesnt enunciate. You
might be wondering, but planets communicate
by gravitational pulls. Its kind of like sign
language for humans. I hate humans. Anyway,
after the ship lands, the doors lift and a human
man struts out.
So this is Pluto, he says. I cant believe
Im here.
Ive never had a human visitor before, but
Neptune told me that humans are supposed to
wear spacesuits. Hes just wearing a mailman
suit. I guess human technology has advanced.
Well, I dont know how to go about this,
because you cant talk. But Im from Earth,
and
Ugh, Earth.
... NASA has decided to use me, the
intergalactic mailman, to send a deep and
sentimental apology.
Im listening.
So, umm, here you go, he says. And with
that, he leaves it on my head. Like he expects
me to pick it up. I dont have arms, Einstein. I
might have mentioned this before, but humans
bother me. And as if it isnt enough that he
drops a letter on my head, he sticks a metal
pole into my head thats attached to an American ag. And it hurts.
Who does he think he is? I have feelings,
you know. He just waltzes in on my very delicate head in his snazzy mailman suit and gives
me a letter that I physically cant pick up and
sticks a metal pole in my head. Which gives
me a big owie. Sometimes I wish Earth didnt
exist. But before I can get more mad at him,
he goes back into the spaceship and ies away.
So Im just sitting there, going back to my
lonely life as a dwarf planet being neglected
by everyone because theres a letter on my
head and I have no idea what it says. Earthlings are dumb. And I hate them. So I guess
its back to the lonely life of Pluto.
THIS WEEK: Pluto

students selects the best writing and images for publication. This week, we present responses to the prompt,
Pluto. NASA writes a letter to Pluto, apologizing for
demoting it from planet status. Whats the reaction?
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.
JANES TRUST
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Brady Blow, Mount Manseld Union High School
NEXT PROMPT
Time. You are transported back in time and are inhabiting the mind of someone
else. What is the internal conversation? Alternates: Queasy. Put your character
in a situation that makes her/him queasy. What is the situation and how does the
character resolve it?; or Button. Pressing buttons (in elevators, on gadgets, etc.)
is usually harmless, but this time, you press a button and something very strange
happens. Due Jan. 23.
Poor Pluto
BY SYDNEY BENNETT
Hello! My name is Charon. I am the largest

moon that Pluto has.
Lately, the newly demoted planet has just
been plain sad. I dont want to break it to him
that NASA has sent a letter apologizing for
making him a dwarf planet.
I personally assigned myself the role of
Plutos protector. Not only physically, but
emotionally too.
Pluto has been very sensitive lately and I
havent even read the letter yet or even told
him about it. I am afraid that when I do, his
icy crust will crack. But I think it is the right
thing to do.
I open the letter and this is what it says:
Dear Pluto,
We apologize for demoting you from planet
status. We now know that you didnt meet the
requirements to be an ofcial planet and that
we previously made the mistake of incorrectly
classifying you.
We now have a sufcient amount of information to support our claim. We believe that
we do not need to perform any more investigations to determine your status. Therefore, you
will forever be classied as a dwarf planet.
Thank you for your understanding and we
sincerely apologize.
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Woah! That was rough. They barely
apologized! How am I supposed to break this
to Pluto? I could play him a movie on my
giant television or sing him a song. But it still
wouldnt change anything. He would get the
message. I might as well just tell him, moon to
dwarf planet, I decide.
So I do. I read him the letter and tell him
how I had been trying to help him. But he just
laughs at me. I cant understand why, until he
tells me.
Charon. Thank you, but I am ne. I am not
upset with being a dwarf planet. It is actually
kind of nice.
No paparazzi or telescopes focused on me.
I dont have to sign any more copies of my
book, A Walk in the Shoes of Pluto the Planet.
The reporters have stopped coming to my
door asking for interviews about reports and
books and a lot of other things people have
wanted to ask me.
I enjoy this normal life without all the
publicity, especially now that NASA has been
leaving me alone...
Read the complete story at youngwritersproject.org.
node/104340.

Earning dandelions
BY TAYLOR KRUPP
School
Our car pulls up to a stop sign
right next to a construction site.
I see a man hammering wood.
He has bruises on his arms and cuts on
his ngers.
I feel a little scared.
His T-shirt is ripped and too big.
I wonder why people around here dont
wear appropriate clothes.
I look at him spit on the ground and I
want to throw up.
I bet he spends all his money on cigarettes and alcohol.
I bet he bets.
Then a little girl in a pink dress runs into
his arms,
her hair in two braids.
She hands him a dandelion and he kisses
her on the head.
The girl and the man walk to a car and he
opens the glove box.
Its lled with picked dandelions.
I realize I made a mistake.
I bet he spends all his money on little
pink dresses.
I bet he spends all his money on that little
girl.
I realize that he has worked hard to get
those cuts and bruises.
I realize his shirt is ripped for a reason.
He has earned those dandelions.
But he deserves much more.
THIS WEEK: General & Door

students selects the best writing for publication. This
week, we present responses to the prompts, General
writing and Door: Whats behind the mysterious blue
door? Read more at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.

JANES TRUST
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Winters whispers
BY BREANNA LAPRE
Sparkling white snow hugs the ground.
You can hear deer footsteps making a
faint sound.
Frosty wind brushes against the feathers of a snow owl. Suddenly a mother
wolf, at the point of the snow-covered
rock, says her winter greetings with a
howl.
Across from the huddled red cardinals in a maple tree without leaves, just
frostbitten stems and icicles there seems
to be a silent path that hasnt received
any trespassers in a while. There, I discover the true meaning of winter, which
I acknowledge with a soon-to-be-frozen
smile.
HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM ALL OF US AT YOUNG WRITERS PROJECT!

WELL BE BACK IN THIS SPACE WITH MORE GREAT WRITING ON JAN. 6.
The blue door

BY SYDNEY BENNETT
This morning was just another normal
day, but I had a feeling that it wouldnt end
up the way I expected. I brushed my hair,
put on my favorite neon pink T-shirt and
headed out the door.
It was cold and windy, but the blue skies
were bright and lled with white uffy
clouds. Just another gorgeous winter day in
Vermont. But today was different. I wasnt
really sure why until I walked by the small
gray shed behind the baseball eld on my
way to school. There was a blue door. I
had an overwhelming feeling that it wasnt
there yesterday. As a matter of fact, I know
it wasnt there yesterday.
I looked around, hoping nobody saw
me as I turned the handle and pushed the
door open. I heard a creak and took a step
in. I fell onto a cold cement oor. As I did,
a cloud of dust exploded off the oor and
left me sneezing. I barely realized that the
door had slammed shut leaving no light
inside the room.
Great. I was stuck in the ugly shed with
class starting in half an hour. Just as I was
thinking of a way to get out, lights ickered and I saw where I was.
A huge dome hung high above my head.
It was covered in detailed drawings of
people in trains and busses and planes and
a whole bunch of things that are meant to
get you places.
Hello, missy. I turned around,
shocked. It was a mans voice, but nobody
was there. I got up and checked behind the
huge columns that supported the dome.
Nothing.
Cold. I took another step toward the
other side of the room.
Warm. I kept going.
Fire! Hot! Hot!
Ummm. Hello?
Yes, you are confused. I know. I deal
with people like you every day. I only get
the curious ones, though.
Where am I?
The Intergalactic Travel Agency. But
before you ask why and where and how
and when, I will just tell you.
I was confused, so I just sat down by the
wall and listened.
The blue door moves around the world
daily. Only certain people can enter. We
chose you because we have noticed that
you possess certain qualities not found in
the average human being. We are a group
of people who transport these special
people to wherever they would like to go.
A planet, city, or the bottom of an ocean.
Anywhere...
Read the complete story at youngwritersproject.
org/node/103712.
THIS WEEK: Alone, Door & Seconds
Behind the door

to the prompts, Alone: What do you like to do when
youre alone? Door: Whats behind the mysterious
blue door? & Seconds: Describe something that can
happen in seconds. More at youngwritersproject.org.
BY HEATHER MCMANUS
I notice as I walk along
a sudden change around
where there was nothing there days
before;
a blue door now is found.
My curious side takes over,
the side that reigns supreme
and to my surprise, inside the door
is one of my greatest dreams.
The world is at my doorstep,
foreign lands abound,
different things to discover,
so many tastes and sounds.
I see the Eiffel Tower,
Taj Mahal under the stars;
Buckingham Palace
doesnt seem all that far.
The mysterious blue door
that once was never there
will let me see the world.
Ill travel anywhere.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.

AMY E. TARRANT
FOUNDATION
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Always wondered
BY TAYLOR BLODORN
I had always wondered what that huge,
blue door was and what it led to. Maybe
a secret closet?
Hmm ... Class didnt start for 17
minutes, soooooooo ... I opened the door
and put my right foot in, then my left,
and all it was was a closet full of cleaning
supplies.
But just as I was about to leave ...
BOOM!
I went ying down to some crazy place
where the people were dressed as animals
dancing! Dancing!
One was a zebra with a zebra-print
dress on, and another was dressed in gray
with a trunk like an elephant.
I ran up the stairs, into the hallway.
On my way to math, I saw the principal Mr. Smith dressed the same way as
the elephant!
Then in math class, my teacher Mrs.
Taylor was wearing that same zebra
dress! That was why I always went in
what I called the crazy closet.
BY AREN PATTON
When Im alone,
I think.
I think of the owing water in a stream,
the rolling hills under a blanket of clouds,
the blaze of a re,
the mist of a lake,
the gleam of a sunrise.
I think about the call of midnight,
the song of morning,
the spark of life.
Freedom
BY JASPER STECKLER
Playing Legos,
to build.
Reading comics,
to laugh.
Building houses,
to survive Minecraft.
Tagging friends,
to be outside.
NEXT PROMPTS
Ian Ballou, Essex High School
Matter of seconds
BY OTTO NISIMBLAT
When Im alone
As I am skiing,
I make a turn.
The snow ies.
The skis turn.

My body moves.
The skis twist.
All of this happens
in a few seconds.
Sorry. Write a story or poem that

incorporates the sentence, Im sorry
Im so sorry. Alternate: Cyborg. Write
a story about a cyborg (part human,
part machine). How did it become that
way? How does it use its powers? Can
it integrate into the world of humans or
the world of machines or is it always an
outsider? Due Dec. 19
Statue. Youre walking through an
empty park and pass a statue. To your
surprise, the statue strikes up a conversation with you. Tell the story of the statue
and what it says. Alternates: Dark.
Are you scared of the dark? Why?; or
Houston. You are an astronaut. Describe
a moment oating in space. Due Jan. 9
Love. Write the sappiest, sweetest love story you can think of. Go
overboard. Exaggerate and inate!
Alternates: Philosopher. Take a eeting thought and wax philosophic about
it (e.g., what if were really controlled
by the tides?); Headlines. Read todays
headlines from your favorite news
source. Which one catches your eye the
most uplifting one or the most disturbing? Read the story and write a short
opinion piece or letter to the editor about
it. Due Jan. 16
Winter scene
BY SEAMUS SHORTLE
The snow in winter looks like vanilla.

Trees look like a sundae with hot fudge
upside-down.
The rocks look like clams sticking their
heads out of the white sand.
Snow angel
BY EVAN JOAQUIN
I slowly open my door with my snow

gear all on. A cold, harsh breeze blows in
my face.
I take my rst steps outside, steady and
slowly. Then, I look around and see fresh,
powdery snow so high it goes up to my
neck.
I jump into the soft powder and start
making a snow angel.
The wind is howling like a silent whisper that got lost in the blizzard.
I get up to look at my work and the
angel looks perfect.
The snow stings my face and the howling whisper gets louder.
I start stumbling to the door. I can
barely see. Then the howling whisper
starts.
Its like the world stops moving. The
blizzard stops too.
I look to where my angel was, but
nothing is there. Its like I was never
there. My footprints are also gone.
I run inside and look out the window
and see nothing but a white blizzard. I can
still hear the howling whisper.
THIS WEEK: Winter Tales

New Hampshire. This week, we present responses to the
prompt for Winter Tales. See the schedule and names of
the writers whose work was selected by Vermont Stage
Company for presentation at FlynnSpace in Burlington,
Dec.10-14. More at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP
Young Writers Project is an

independent nonprot that engages
students to write, helps them improve
publishes The Voice, a monthly digital
magazine with YWPs best writing,
images and features. To learn more, go
to youngwritersproject.org or contact
YWP at (802) 324-9537.
YWP is supported by this newspaper and foundations, businesses and

individuals who recognize the power
and value of writing. If you would
like to contribute, please go to youngwritersproject.org/support, or mail
your donation to YWP, 12 North St.,
Suite 8, Burlington, VT 05401.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Wednesday, Dec. 10 @ 7:30 p.m.

Jadyn Jacobs
Emily Weatherill
Thursday, Dec. 11 @ 7:30 p.m.
Haley Noel
Sophia St. John-Lockridge
Friday, Dec. 12 @ 7:30 p.m.
Patrick Herrin
Milo Wilcox
Saturday, Dec. 13 @ 2 p.m.
Kaila Skeet Browning
Sally Matson
Saturday, Dec. 13 @ 7:30 p.m.
Samuel Boudreau
Soa Spano
Sunday, Dec. 14 @ 2 p.m.
Noah Sanderson
Holly Ray Sherrer
Sunday Dec. 14 @ 6 p.m.
Frances Kaplan
Eleanor Braun
(Presented by Vermont Stage Company at
FlynnSpace in Burlington. More than 200
writers submitted work for this writing
challenge! For more information and to
purchase tickets to any of the shows, go to
vtstage.org/winter-tales.)
Soak in winter
BY ABIGAIL MASILLO
The delicate snowakes drift down and
land on my eyelashes.
The trees crusted over with snow look
beautiful with the bright winter sun shining on them.
The once owing river now has a layer of
glossy ice on top.
I let winter soak into me and
I let my legs carry me along the trail
and my body melts into nature.
I love winters beauty.
SCHEDULE OF YWP WRITERS
YWPS DIGITAL MAGAZINE

Jonathan Palmer, Essex High School
CHECK OUT
THE
NEXT PROMPTS
100 Miles. You get lost and end up walking 100 miles through thick, bug-infested
woods. When its nally over, you cant believe whats waiting for you in a clearing at the edge of the forest Alternates: Online. Somehow youve fallen into
the Web page youve been browsing. Where are you? Whats happening?; or General writing in any genre. Due Dec. 12
NOVEMBER
ISSUE OF
THE VOICE!
Go to thevoice.youngwritersproject.org
Who am I?
BY CARLY BOOTH
Grade 12, Rutland High School
When you ask who I am,
well, the answers not simple.
Instead, ask me, What are you made of?
And I could tell you,
salt and fresh water mix in my blood.
The rain and the ocean both play their
parts.
I am one part two siblings, with six eyes
between us,
who see the same things
and interpret the meaning.
A fth of a family no, wait, make that a fourth,
a family not sure how to love anymore.
I am three hundred nights of a year
staring at the ceiling
and the rest with eyes closed,
running from things I try to forget.
I have paper organs
and a heart that pumps out words,
leather-bound skin
and a spine all the same.
You might say Im a book, but
certainly not an open one.
I am sixty percent dreams;
the other forty got lost in transit
as I kept growing
and made my way into adulthood.
I have the sky in my eyes
that clouds over too much.
It rains in my brain,
but I smile all the same.
My skeleton is made of snow.
Its melting away,
but Im still standing.
I can whisper the language
the wind speaks through the trees.
So am I what you thought me to be?
Maybe not, but
one hundred percent of all that I am
knows who I am,
knows what I am.
I dont need you to tell me.

week, we present responses to the prompt for General
civil online community of writers.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.

THE BAY AND PAUL FOUNDATIONS
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
NEXT PROMPTS
100 Miles. You get lost and end

up walking 100 miles through thick,
bug-infested woods. When its nally
over, you cant believe whats waiting
for you in a clearing at the edge of the
forest Alternates: Online. Somehow
youve fallen into the Web page youve
been browsing. Where are you? Whats
happening?; or General writing in any
genre. Due Dec. 12
Is this real?
BY LANA PAGE
I am so excited right now; I was looking through my great-great-grandfathers

antiques when I found an old book.
At rst I had no idea what it was,
but then when I read the title, I almost
fainted. On the cover of the book it read,
George Washingtons Journal in cursive
with gold paint.
I sold the journal to a museum and they
gave me $50,000! Im rich! My mom and
dad said that since I found the book, I
could keep all the money.
I decided to spend the money on
my room. I dont want to go overboard
with my room like some people who
might have their own movie theater, but
I can still go a little crazy. I just earned
$50,000; how could I not go a little crazy
on my room?
My walls are going to be a light purple,
painted with trees, clouds, owers, and
other plants. As you can tell, I like nature.
I want the oor to match the walls so
I am going to make it a royal purple; my
favorite color is purple.
I also requested my room to be in the
shape of a circle, with the diameter of 30
feet.
I think it would be cool if I had two
little hallways, coming off from the circle
to go in other rooms, but they would still
be part of my room.
One would lead to a library. In the
library there would be a tree house for
reading with lots and lots of pillows.
There would be so many pillows you
would feel like you were walking on one
giant pile of colorful uff.
The other hallway would lead to a
room where the walls, oor, and ceiling
would be trampolines. So if I was ever
bored I could just go in that room and
jump. Since the whole room would be
made out of trampolines I could bounce
on the walls and ceiling.
I am not a huge fan of electronics, but I
still use them. In my room I would want a
30-inch at screen TV right in front of my
queen-size bed so that when I was in bed,
I wouldnt have to go downstairs to watch
TV, I could just watch it in my bed. I also
would like a closet about ve feet away
from my bed full of board games.
I tried not to make my room too crazy,
but there are some things where I went a
little overboard.

THIS WEEK: Angel & Photo 3

prompts, Angel: Write about the rst time you meet
your guardian angel and Photo 3.
Photo 3. Chelsea Somerset, Essex High School
Carolyn Harnois, Essex High School
Great-grandpa
Charlie
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.

CHAMPLAIN INVESTMENT PARTNERS
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
BY RYLEY MCCLURE
Grade 8, Castleton Village School
I was outside, looking around on the

ground when I found a four-leaf clover. I
was excited because I was younger at the
time, around 7 years old.
I picked it, hoping for good luck. I
looked up, ready to turn and run to my
mom, smiling.
Now, theres a hill in our backyard, and
there, standing on it, was a man. He was
thin, had brownish hair, and wore glasses.
He was only there for a second, smiling at me. I was confused but not scared.
I told my mom about this. She called
my mimi to tell her. My mimi said that
looked exactly like my Great-grandpa
Charlie.
My mom told me that I have a guardian angel. I was a little scared, but I was
happy. I knew I was safe.
After that, I was nding four-leaf clovers left and right.
My mom was impressed. She talked
to my mimi again, and my mimi said my
Great-grandpa Charlie could nd fourleaf clovers when he was on his tractor.
My Great-grandpa Charlie gave me
luck. I havent seen him in a while.
I know hes still there, but maybe he
doesnt have to show himself anymore.
All I know is that he was there; he
gave me a gift, and I thank him for it.
Long road ahead

BY HEATHER MCMANUS
The long road ahead
seems impossible to take,
but some progress is made
with each step you take.
The path may be rocky,
uncertainly rough,
but you cant give up
when youve had enough.
The long road ahead
will be worth it some day,
when you can look back,
to see the progress youve made.
YWP NEWS & EVENTS

YWP SPEAK OUT!
Free Story Slam
& Workshop
NOVEMBER 20
FLETCHER FREE LIBRARY
BURLINGTON
DETAILS:
5 pm Workshop
6 pm Sign up for Slam
6:30 pm Slam begins!
THE VOICE
CHECK OUT THE NOVEMBER ISSUE
OF YWPS DIGITAL MAGAZINE!
Danilo Salgado, Essex High School
ITS A SPECIAL ISSUE YOULL SEE WHY
NEXT PROMPTS
Go to thevoice.youngwritersproject.org!
Invention. Youve just invented the next big thing! Pitch it to the head of the most inuential company you know. What is it and what does it do? Alternates: 15, 10, 5. Create a short dialogue of three characters. The rst can only speak 15 words, the second
10, and the third just ve words; or Author. Write in the style of your favorite author
or poet. Include the writers name and a favorite quote, if you like. Due Dec. 5

Trampoline oor
BY MARIA SELL
If I had a chance to redo my room
from scratch with no limits, I would
start by painting my walls a pastel blue.
I would have a plush carpet and a dark
wood dresser.
On the walls, I would have posters
of old Hollywood actresses and a rustic
clock. I would have a vanity and pictures
of New York City. I would have a walk-in
closet, an art room, and a TV. I would
have a trampoline oor and a waterbed, a
hot tub and my own bathroom. ... I would
have an ice cream bar and lots of fuzzy
blankets.
Best room ever

BY BROGAN GIGGIN
My dream bedroom would have four
oors equaling a total of 4,000 square feet
and each oor would have its own design.
The rst oor would have an aquarium
with a shark in it!
We would take the elevator to the second oor, which would be lled with all
my gaming and electronics...
The third oor would be my living
area, including a 75-inch plasma at
screen TV. This would be on the wall
right next to the elevator.
Across the wall, would be my doubledecker couch. Right in front of my TV
would be a vibrating chair. In the upper
right-hand corner would be a California
king-sized water bed.
The nal oor would be called Relaxation Land because all of the relaxing
structures would be up there.
In the corner, there would be a 10-foottall candy box full of Snickers bars. In
another corner, in the kitchen, my own
personal chef would make me chicken
in milk, tacos and pizza, while my baker
would make wafes, pancakes, cupcakes,
cakes, bread and other pastries. Against
the wall right next to the chef and baker
would be a pool and a hot tub.
A crystal ball chandelier would hang
above everything. For other decorations
around my room on all oors, I would
have scientic, soccer and military posters.
My walls would be all kinds of colors
like a swirled rainbow. My closet, which
would be on the living oor, would be
neon green. This concludes the tour of the
best bedroom ever!
THIS WEEK: Room

and New Hampshire. This week, we present responses to the prompt, Room: Redesign your room with no
limits. Read more at youngwritersproject.org, a safe,
civil, online community of writers.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.

MGN Family Foundation
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Big as a mansion
BY BREANNA JOHNSON
My dream room would be the size of a
mansion with all the rooms put together!
The color of my dream room walls would
be turquoise and black. My oor would
be fuzzy baby blue.
My bed would be a massage bed so
that I could be more comfortable when
I am lying down. My comforter would
have bright polka dots on a black background. To get to my bed I would have to
climb up a ladder because the bed would
be attached to my ceiling.
My couch would be under my bed
and have a zebra print ... I would have
a different closet for my jewelry, shoes,
clothes and horse things. This would help
me have more space so that everything
wasnt crunched together.
I would have a closet for my electronics, like my iPod, iPhone and my Kindle.
A triangular piece of my room would be
for a working area, with my laptop on my
desk.
Checkerboard
BY JASPER STECKLER
If I had the chance to redesign my

room, I would have a room as big as a
classroom. ... This would give me space
for my electronics. I would have my own
Xbox to play Minecraft games and military games. This would be hooked up to
a at screen TV across from my king-size
bed.
The comforter would have a black and
white checkerboard pattern. My walls also
would have a black and white checkerboard pattern. My ceiling would be white.
I would get game posters for my walls
and sports stickers for my door. I would
have a bean bag near the bed, a desk and
an Apple computer.
NEXT PROMPTS
Jill Macfarlane, Essex High School
Snails. Did you know

snails can swallow you
whole? Or that the Loch
Ness Monster and Lake
Champlains Champ are
cousins? Tell a ridiculous whopper but be
Photo 5. Library of Congress
persuasive enough that
someone just might believe you. Alternates:
Proposal. Write about a wedding proposal
that goes terribly wrong; or Photo 5. Due
Nov. 28
THIS WEEK: Leaf & General
Ebbing
BY ZOE RIELL
I found two little girls on the beach,
with the tide halfway in; they
were alone and building
sculptures in the mud ats.
I made sure to not
ruin their tiny footprints when I approached,
and asked if they had seen
the hermit crabs.
They said no, so I
took those little girls to see
the hermit crabs.
The three of us marched
toward the ocean, single le,
tallest to smallest.
They wouldnt follow me unless
they could step in my footprints,
they said.
Made me take tiny steps for their tiny legs.
And so I shufed towards the ocean while
they
jumped and skipped.
(The littlest one was always
stopping to collect the littlest
shells.)
We found the hermit crabs.
I held one
in front of their noses; made a scary noise.
They laughed.
I couldnt scare them! they shrieked.
We made it to the ocean and wrote
our names in the mud. Mine,
nished, was ten feet long; theirs
were smaller. They didnt
mind if nobody
saw them.
I shed my jacket to carry their shells.
It was cold, but they danced
on the walk back,
threw sand at me and sang
little songs. We raced
the tide in.
They took their shells and left
me to shake out the sand.
Told me I could go;
we dont need you
anymore! Waved once.
Went back to building,
lining up the new
shells on their mud battlements.
Didnt look back.
And so I shook out the sand and padded
back through the mud ats.
The tide came in; I looked but
I couldnt see them anymore.
We dont need you, they said, but I
remembered those shells on the battlements,
the footprints inside mine. I felt like
I was needed.

to the prompts, Leaf: Write from the perspective of
one leaf on a large, colorful maple tree; and General
civil online community of writers.
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK
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NEXT PROMPTS
Aren Patton, Grade 6, Shrewsbury Mountain School
A leafs life
BY FRANNI HOAG
Grade 11, Oxbow High School
I was born in the spring, in the cool, but
hopeful, bright air.
The world had been reborn.
Then, through the summer, I grew and
expanded into a fan of green.
The world grew and expanded too.

Now I see those like me tumble and swirl
to the ground in a vibrant array of
red and yellow and orange and brown.
Their beautiful corpses litter the earth
beneath me.
And with every gust of wind,
every shower of rain,
I fear that I will be next to join them.
It is fall, and the world is falling asleep.
Pluto. NASA writes an apology

letter to Pluto for demoting it from
planet status. Who receives the letter
and whats the reaction? Alternates:
Alone. What do you love to do
when you have time by yourself? or
Dream. Write about a dream that
keeps recurring. What does it mean?
Or write about the strangest dream
youve ever had. Due Nov. 14
Reporter. You are a new reporter,
excited to be assigned to your rst
big story, but everything seems to
conspire against you (e.g., trafc
jams, torrential rain, wrong information, police barricades, people who
refuse to be interviewed.) Somehow
you manage to get the story, make
the deadline and win the editors approval. Whats the story and how do
you pull it off? Alternates: Seconds.
Describe something that happened
in mere seconds, something big
or small; or Famous. You nd
out someone you know is famous.
Describe the person, and why s/he is
famous. How does this affect you?
Due Nov. 21
THIS WEEK: Treasure
Pug

Treasure: Whats something you cant part with?
BY RYAN ROGERS
When I got home, I felt like I was
being watched. Also, when I got inside, I
felt like I was being watched.
When I reached my mom, I asked
her, Do you feel like you are being
watched?
No, she said.
I heard a thud and then a whimper,
Hmm, hmm, hmm.
I asked, What was that?
I turned around and there I saw a pug!
Her name is Mea, my mom said.
She is so cute! I said.
Honey
BY LYLA TARBELL
Most peoples treasure is money,
diamonds, or maybe even a loved one,
but for me, it is a small crocheted, worndown, yellow bear.
I was six or seven and got really sick
which led to my going to the hospital. I
arrived at 9:30 a.m. I was really nervous,
scared, and wondered what the doctor
would do to me.
I really wanted to hug and hold something.
About ve hours later, my Aunt
Heather stopped by the hospital. She had
bought me some picture books and coloring books in the hospital gift shop.
I suffered through two miserable hours
of needles and medicine being put in me.
When my aunt was about to leave, she
pulled out of her bag an old yellow bear.
It was like love at rst sight.
She handed me the bear that was as
tall as a step stool, and I was so happy.
I named the bear Honey because of
her color. She was soft as a pillow and
smelled like daisies.
She was like a wish come true. Then,
even though my aunt had left, I had something to hug and hold.
Whenever I see my Honey, I remember
who gave her to me. Honey is ripping,
falling apart, but I wont throw her away,
never in a million years.
SATURDAY, NOV. 8
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WRITERS & PHOTOGRAPHERS

MAIN STREET LANDING
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PHOTO OF THE WEEK
CHECK OUT THE OCTOBER ISSUE OF

YWPS MONTHLY DIGITAL MAGAZINE!
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NEXT PROMPTS
Honk! Festival of Activist Street Bands, Boston, Oct. 11. YWPs Sophia Cannizzaro of West Glover took this photo
and also participated as part of the Bread and Puppet brass band.
Cubby
BY MITCHEL MEROSS
YWP NEWS & EVENTS
One of my favorite treasures is my

stuffed bear Cubby. He is tan and has a
little plaid bow tie. Ive had my tan buddy
since I was 6 months old.
He was given to me by my mother.

Every time I hold him I remember all of
the good memories Ive had with him.
He makes me think of all of my family
and close friends. I would take Cubby
to the grocery store, the dollar store, and
McDonalds and play in the ball pit.
Now he is relaxing in my doorway
with all of his other friends.
Door. Youre walking along when

you spot a large blue door in the wall of
a building that you pass every day and
youre sure the door wasnt there yesterday. Open it! Where does it lead?
Alternates: Season. Write about your
happiest memory of a holiday season; or
Mythical. Invent a mythical creature and
tell us about it. What does it look like?
What does it do all day? Good or bad
temper? Is it a fan of peanut butter and
jelly sandwiches? Due Nov. 7
A simple walk
BY HEATHER MCMANUS
How a simple walk
would turn to such a fright
when your dog takes off
that one cloudy night.
He dashes through the door
of the old, abandoned house.
Everything is silent,
cant even hear a mouse.
The oor cracks beneath you
as you search for your friend.
A single door is open
down the hall, at the end.
As you grow closer
a light glows from inside.
The little voice in your head
tells you you should hide.
Against your best judgment
you venture in the room
where your dog sits waiting for you
in the light from the moon.
The ghost
BY GRACE STEWART
Where are we going? my best friend
Amanda asked.
We were walking my black lab Chocolate along North Union Street. It was the
27th of July, about 8:00 at night.
Just down the road, I answered.
This street was a dead-end road, except
for the last house. Id never seen the
creepy, old house, but Id heard many
scary stories about it.
Suddenly, Chocolate pulled on the
leash and I dropped it. She barked and ran
down the road.
I waved at Amanda to catch up and
sprinted to chase Chocolate.
I turned a corner and caught a glimpse
of Chocolates tail.
I ran up and stopped dead in my tracks.
No! No!
I had seen the door of the last house on
North Union Street open. I heard a long
bark. I heard a gasp behind me.
Your dog couldnt have gone in there
... could it? Amanda asked quietly.
She did, I answered miserably.
Now, not everyone knows, but the last
house on the dead end street is haunted.
The mansion was built in 1890. The
11-year-old boy who lived in it never left
home until the day before he died.
He went to the graveyard, came back
to the house, and died the next morning.
They say that his soul haunts the house.
THIS WEEK: Haunted

to the prompt, Haunted: Your dog runs into a creepy,
abandoned house. What happens? Read more at
youngwritersproject.org, a safe, civil online community of writers.
YWP EVENTS
SATURDAY, NOV. 8
9:30 A.M. 5 P.M.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.
JANES TRUST
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Derek Pham, Essex High School
Following Buddie
BY HANNAH BLACK
My dog took off down the street and
bolted through the open door into a
creepy, abandoned house.
I tried my hardest to run after him, but
I had just come from hours of trick or
treating. What could be worse?
I heard a slight whimper coming from
inside the dilapidated, old house.

With no hesitation, I was in the house,
tracking down the squeals.
Buddie! I screamed.
This, I was not going to have fun doing... I sprinted around the creaky house.
Im not afraid of you! Give me my
dog back, you big, old spirits! Youre not
doing any good for yourself!
At last, I found him huddled in a corner, and I knew this was not over ... I had
just started a war. ...
36 COLLEGE STREET
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The sugar shack

BY IRN HANGEN VZQUEZ
Grade 5, The Dorset School
... I live in Vermont, so we have a big

backyard. Theres also a eld next to the
backyard.
I took Ruby (my hyperactive dog)
through the eld, and I was just about
to turn around when Ruby tugged me
forward!
Now, this in itself is not unusual. Ruby
loves tugging people around. But this
time, Ruby yanked the leash out of my
hands!
Stop it, Ruby! Get back here! I
yelled.
Of course, she didnt listen. I ran after
her as fast as I could. Finally, she stopped,
then ducked into a small, old building.
Oh great, now Ive lost her in a sugar
shack!
I was not happy with Ruby. I went
into the shack cautiously and called out,
Ruby, where are you? Come on!
Then the wailing started. I heard a low
wail. It sounded almost like a dog, maybe
a mutt, but certainly not a cockapoo like
Ruby. Then there was a moan almost like
a cat.
I ventured a little further. I saw some
broken crockery and a bell, like the type
in old-time schoolhouses. I wondered
how much longer I would have to be
in there before Ruby would come. ...
Just then, the bell rang! Aaahhhhh! I
screamed. I caught a glimpse of blond
hair and eyes staring at me.Its a ghost!
I called out to Ruby, frantic to get out of
the shack...
Photo 2. Jeff Schultz, Essex High School
Saving face
BY HEATHER MCMANUS
Who are you
with your friends?
Are you real
or play pretend?
Several faces
you put on,
but who are you
when they are gone?
Different people,
different acts.
No one knows
all the facts.
We play the part
we think they want,
but all those faces
stay to haunt.
THIS WEEK: Photo 2 & Treasure
YWP NEWS

selects the best writing and images for publication.
This week, we present responses to the prompts, Photo
2; and Treasure: What is something you should throw
away but cant. Read more at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.

AMY E. TARRANT FOUNDATION
YWPS KEY EVENT

OF THE YEAR!
SATURDAY, NOV. 8
9:30 A.M. 5 P.M.
MONTPELIER
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at youngwritersproject.org
THE VOICE
YWPS NEW DIGITAL MAGAZINE
IS AVAILABLE NOW!
Go to youngwritersproject.org and
click on The Voice or go to this link:
bit.ly/1CaT9WB.
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Childhood treasure
BY LIVIANA ADAMSEN
One thing I treasure is Pinky the Poodle; shes pink, soft, cuddly and lovable.
Pinky is important to me because she
reminds me of my mom. My mom and I
went shopping where I used to live and
we each got our own stuffed animal. My
mom got a koala and I got Pinky.
When I went to live in Shrewsbury, I
didnt bring Pinky or my other toys, but
the toy I missed the most was Pinky.
On my ninth birthday, six years later,
my mom brought my toy box to my new
house, and in my toy box was Pinky and
my other toys. I was so happy then. Seeing Pinky again was what I treasure the
most.
Next issue coming Oct. 22! Go to

youngwritersproject.org to view the
magazine and subscribe. Its free!
Alex Russell, Essex High School
Dr. Seuss
BY CODIE CROSS

My treasure is something that has been

in my family for a long time, a copy of
Green Eggs and Ham. The picture book
passed from my dad to my brother, and
then to me. That is why the picture book
is all torn up and has half of the last page

missing ... I know I should trash that old,
ugly book, but I keep it anyway. This is
special to me; its my only picture book
and its the only Dr. Seuss book in my
whole house.
I used to have so many Dr. Seuss
books and now I only have one. That
makes it the most important book to me.
My book needs to go, but I keep it and I
will treasure it forever.
NEXT PROMPTS
Letter. Write a letter to your
mother, father, a grandparent, teacher or favorite person to say thanks
for something special they do, or for
everything. Provide a specic story
to show why the person is so great.
Alternate: Habit. Think about a bad
habit you might have and create a
character with a similar bad habit.
Write about why the character wont
easily give up the habit. Due Oct. 24
Gone spacewalking
BY ZOE RIELL
Grade12, Homeschool, Poultney
Her entire life is spent watching
the marathons. Never did like
to take part
in the cheering; sits quiet
by the roadside, blinking
slow.
Talks about space a lot; talks about
the stars and pulsars and lists
off her favorite galaxies
on composition paper.
Always murmuring about
how shell go to space someday,
how itll be like coming home.
Its gravity.
Gravity makes her watch
the marathons.
She cries every time
she feels the weight of her tissues
and bones shifting
in her heel. Weeps and makes lists
of black holes on composition paper.
During the marathons, she sits roadside
and thinks
about the universe.
Always talks about how
she cant wait to go home.
THIS WEEK: Objects & General

week, we present responses to the prompts, Objects:
Write about a relationship between two objects; and
General writing. More at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.

VERMONT BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
NEXT PROMPTS
Angel. For the rst time you meet

your guardian angel. Write a short story
developing your guardians character
and his or her relationship with you.
Alternates: Snapchat. This is no time
to Snapchat! Use this sentence in your
story, poem or play. What has just happened or is about to happen?; or Photo 3
(below). Due Oct. 17
Letter. Write a letter to your mother,

father, a grandparent, teacher or favorite
person to say thanks. Provide a specic story to show why the person is so
great. Alternate: Habit. Think about a
bad habit you might have and create a
character with a similar bad habit. Write
about why the character wont easily
give up the habit. Due Oct. 24
Jared Lee, Essex High School
Book and words

BY MEADOW MCGALLIARD
Grade 9, The Sharon Academy
Perspective of the Book: I started out
as a tree; that was an interesting experience though it didnt last long. I was torn
apart and put back together, but I was different. I was merely a collection of blank
sheets. I was a little lonely. I couldnt
move or sense anything so there was
nothing to do.
At some point that I dont quite
remember there was a machine pressing
against my pages and after that everything changed. I acquired a vocabulary
and a beautiful story full of adventure,
confusion, troubles and beauty. At rst I
couldnt comprehend the words known
collectively as a story. I was confused,
sad, and worried that something terrible
had happened. Eventually it was like I
was hearing voices but I realized that it
was a bit different. It was calming; it was
the words expressing themselves to me in
the only way they could. I eventually fell
in love with the words; there was a hunger that I couldnt repress. I wanted all
I could possibly have and maybe even a
little bit more. I began to envy the words
and how they could have so much meaning yet be so simple. Because I cant talk,
see, feel, hear or use any other so-called
senses I was just left to ponder and rethink the words over and over again until
they were almost unrecognizable. After
this I realized that even though the words
were the only thing that I had, I still cherished them for giving me something very
few other things could a purpose and a
meaning.
Perspective of the Words: We are
something more than a blot of ink. We
are vast and endless but we are limited
to the pages of this book. As we sit here
on these pages, we loathe being trapped
yet we can appreciate having a place to
be. This book provides us with what can
almost be called a home; we can stay
here compared to drifting through a mind
or in the voices of people. Sometime we
want to be more than we are because in
a book we are limited to one story, one
plot line. Yet, its nice to have a sense of
security, not worrying about being forgotten, misused, misunderstood or having
more words than can be handled. A book
can be restricting yet secure. Its confusing... We havent always been the words
we are now, placed on the pages of a
book. Originally we were an idea, a mere
thought. Then we became physical, we
were strategically placed dots of ink on
a blank piece of paper that formed letters
which then formed words...
Complete story at youngwritersproject.org/node/97841.
Exam anxious
BY ALIYA SCHNEIDER
She told me the grades would be up by
tomorrow
but I bet that meant tonight.
The green glowing digital applique became my new social media.
While others snuck Twitter feeds under
their desks,
I craved a lled-out logo under Final
Exam, 20%.
From the minute I walked out of her
classroom Maybe since I took the longest she graded my paper rst, and posted
it before she went home
to midnight as my eyes forced shut beneath my term packet, my green applique
access grades online was a bug buzzing in
my ear, deep.
I kept picking at it.
Itll be up by morning.
My wake-up call is the anxiety reaching
out with its tentacles, sucking up my cell
phone, forcing it into my hand.
Now its today, today was tomorrow.
Why is it not posted?
From the breather between other exams,
to my bonding time with my grandmother,
my nger would lure over my touch
screen, something once foreign to touch
with a bare tip.
My eyes would pray to see an A.
And the grade would still be blank.
From 5:40 a.m. to 7:24 p.m., my eyes
drifted shut, yet I used tongs to hold them
open.
Why check? You did one minute ago.
But 30 seconds ago, she could have
posted it.
While I heard Anna telling her uncle that
pre-calc went great,
I worked up the nerve to grab the bait.
Yet it was 7:25 p.m., and 26
still no grade.
(This piece was written in the 13-14 school
year.)
THIS WEEK: Objects & General

prompts, Objects: Write about a relationship between
two objects; and General writing. More at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP

05401.
Mirror, mirror
BY HEATHER MCMANUS
Mirror, mirror
across the way,
always changing
every day,
unlike me,
the painting here,
my image stagnant,
plainly clear.
Whats it like
to never know
what youll be
or what youll show?
My paints have dried,
my fate is sealed,
but the mystery of you
is ever so real.
Should I envy
your changing state,
when mine is constant,
for change, its too late.
NATIONAL LIFE GROUP
NEXT PROMPTS
YWP NEWS
INTRODUCING...
Young Writers Projects new digital literary
magazine a multimedia
monthly that showcases
the best writing, art, photography, audio and video
posted on YWPs web
site, youngwritersproject.
org.
Subscription is free!
Go to youngwritersproject.org and click on The
Voice or go to this link:
bit.ly/1CaT9WB.
Room. You have a chance to

redesign your room from scratch
with no limits. What do you do?
Alternates: Lie. Use the sentence,
You dont have to lie; I know it
was you, in a poem or story; or
General writing. Your best piece
in any genre. Due Oct. 10
Angel. For the rst time you meet
your guardian angel. Write a short
story developing your guardians
character and his or her relationship with you. Alternates: Snapchat. This is no time to Snapchat! Use this sentence in your
story, poem or play. What has just
happened or is about to happen?;
or Photo 3. Due Oct. 17

VPR.NET
VTDIGGER.ORG
AND NOW...
Cover photo: Josina Munson, Essex

High School
THE VOICE
YWPS NEW DIGITAL MAGAZINE!

Im too cute
to throw back
BY EMMA SUKER
One of my most valuable treasures is
an old T-shirt with an orange sh jumping
out of the water on it. The bottom of the
shirt says, Im too cute to throw back.
I received it when I was 1 year old
when my family went to a boat show with
my grandpa.
I dont even remember the boat show,
but I have heard about it. The T-shirt is
important to me because my grandpa
passed away when I was in kindergarten,
ve years ago.
I can remember him through it. Currently the T-shirt is on one of my teddy
bears that he gave me.
I treasure my tiny T-shirt very much.
My dance shirt
BY GRACE STEWART
I have many treasures. However, there
is one item that I have and probably
should have gotten rid of years ago. I was
either 5 or 6 and danced at Adams School
of Dance.
I was pulled aside at the end of the
class, three days before the recital, by my
dance teacher, Ms. Sherry, followed by
three other girls. One was younger than
me, two older. I was awed then to be in
the presence of the older girls although
they too looked confused.
Ms. Sherry explained, All four of you
are on this years recital T-shirt. Out of
her bag, she pulled four shirts. Ms. Sherry
gave one to me, another to the little girl,
and a third to one of the older girls. The
last she held up. On the front in the top
left there was the logo for the dance
school and on the back there were the
other three girls and me. I was on the top
right, on my toes with my hands above
my head.
Ms. Sherry doesnt create the shirts
anymore. After I gured this out, I was so
happy that my image was on the T-shirt.
I know I should throw this out because it
has a little hole in the sleeve and is way
too small. I just cant bear to part with it
because this is the only object that Ive
ever gotten that shows me dancing.

THIS WEEK: Treasure

Each week, Young Writers Project receives submissions from students across Vermont and New Hampshire. A team of staff, mentors and students selects the
best writing and images for publication. This week,
we present responses to the prompt, Treasure.What is
something you should throw away but cant? How did
you get the object? More at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP
audiences in newspapers, before
live audiences and on web sites,
youngwritersproject.org, vpr.net,
vtdigger.org, and cowbird.com. YWP
also publishes The Voice, a monthly
digital magazine. To learn more, go
to youngwritersproject.org or contact
YWP at (802) 324-9537.

05401.

PHOTO OF THE WEEK
YWP NEWS
THIS WEEK!
YWP INTRODUCES
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e-mag and subscribe!
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WRITE ABOUT VERMONT
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Deadline: Friday, Sept. 26
Find out more at
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NEXT PROMPTS
Complicated. Your life is complicated, and some days, theres just
one mess after another. Describe
one of those days in detail it can
be funny or tragic. Alternates: Leaf.
Write from the point of view of one
leaf on a large, colorful maple tree;
or Photo 2 (Write a story or poem
based on the photo below). Due
Oct. 3
Jasmine Douglas-Hughes, Mount Manseld Union High School
Unknown treasure
BY HEATHER MCMANUS
Sitting there upon a shelf
just collecting dust,
never getting a second look,
only if you must.
Never getting noticed,
but what if it was gone

an object once forgotten
now not where it belongs.
Something that was there
all throughout your life
now just disappears,
leaving you with strife.
Some things we can toss,
but others have to stay
an unknown treasure waiting
until we treasure it again one day.
Photo 2. Jeff Schultz, Essex High School
Survival
BY KELSEY EDDY
I woke up, startled by birds chirping.
I looked around, panic aring up in my
chest as the blackness of what used to be
my vision prevented me from seeing the
world around me.
Suddenly, it hit me. The Fallen, my
team, my sacrice to save them, my escape. I felt the back of my head, my hair
stuck together with dried blood.
I took a deep breath and rubbed my
eyes, calming down. I kept my eyes
closed, pretending I could see, and let my
other senses form the picture for me.
I could hear birds, and wind blowing
the trees high above me. The wind carried
the scent of rain, reminding me that I was
in a jungle. I took another deep breath,
then slowly let it out. I had no idea where
I was, or how long I was out, but I had to
try and survive for the moment.
I tried to stand up, waving my hands
around till I found a tree. I tried to walk
forward, but the dense foliage was everywhere, catching my foot and making me
fall forward.
I caught myself, but as I tried to walk
again, I fell; this time I was unable to
recover fast enough. I hit the ground and
stayed there, tired of constant failure.
For the rst time I felt a pang of hurt
in my chest, but it was not physical ... so
hard to explain.
In the darkness of my vision a clear
picture formed. A memory. I was watching FTO ght some rebels that broke
into our area. I saw the glint of light, not
where the sun was, and suddenly the realization hit me: a snipers scope. I reached
for my own sniper, but I had left it in the
hallway during an earlier ght. Without
thinking, I lunged forward, easily clearing
the space between me and Athena, the
target. I slid in front of her, not thinking
twice about it, and a loud bang echoed
through my head as pain shot into my
chest.
The rst thing that entered my head
was, Is Athena okay? Must take out the
sniper... And those blank thoughts turned
into motion as I took Hermes gun and
shot the sniper.
Then everything went blurry, Hermes
ordering me to do something, then pain
overwhelming me before I blacked out.
Then I woke up in the med-bay. Athena,
Ares, Apollo, Hermes... all there, watching over me, but why? A smile crossed
my face, lling me with new energy,
remembering what I left behind ...
(Read the complete story at youngwritersproject.org/node/95911.)

prompt for General writing in any genre. Read more
at youngwritersproject.org.
ABOUT THE PROJECT
THANKS FROM YWP
Young Writers Project is an

independent nonprot that engages students to write, helps them
improve and connects them with
authentic audiences in newspapers,
before live audiences and on web
sites, youngwritersproject.org, vpr.
net, vtdigger.org, and cowbird.com.
This month, YWP also launches The
Voice, a monthly digital magazine
with YWPs best writing, images and
features. Learn more at youngwritersproject.org or contact YWP at (802)
324-9537.

05401.

THE BAY AND PAUL
FOUNDATIONS
PHOTO OF THE WEEK
Deidre Vanmoerkerque, Essex High School
YWP NEWS
COMING SOON ...
YWPS NEW
DIGITAL MAGAZINE
THE VOICE
Watch youngwritersproject.org
for more details on the launch!
THE CALVIN
WIN $1500 FOR AN
ESSAY ABOUT VERMONT
Write an essay and win $1500
and a trip to New York City to be
honored at a reception!
Young Writers Project partners
with the contest sponsor, the Calvin
Coolidge Foundation, for the best
essay writing in Vermont for the
2014 Calvin Prize.
This years theme: To stay
or to leave? Are you likely to stay
in Vermont or relocate elsewhere?
What factors will inuence your
decision?
Use Coolidges autobiography
and other sources to address the
issues you face and compare with
those faced by Calvin Coolidge in
his years as a Vermont youth. Your
writing must address this prompt
and be fewer than 1,000 words.
You can nd more details at
youngwritersproject.org/calvin.
Deadline: September 26
MILLENNIAL WRITERS
ON STAGE
Hear the next generation
of great Vermont writers!
NEXT PROMPTS
Objects. Write about a relationship that develops between
two inanimate objects (e.g., books on a shelf, apps on a phone,
park bench and trash bin). Alternates: Aliens. Curious aliens
visit Vermont. What is the rst thing they do? What do they
demand? or Photo 1 (right). Due Sept. 19
BURLINGTON BOOK FESTIVAL

SUNDAY, SEPT. 21
FLETCHER FREE LIBRARY

12:30 P.M.
Photo 1. Erin Bundock,

Champlain Valley
Union High School

Rutland Herald 2014-2015

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THIS WEEK: General writing

Each week, Young Writers Project receives several

ABOUT THE PROJECT

THANKS FROM YWP

YWP is supported by this newspaper and foundations, businesses

Special thanks this week to

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Not a chance. You nailed it last time,

READ THE JUNE ISSUE

Likes and dislikes

THIS WEEK: Happening & Lists

Each week, Young Writers Project receives several

Sticks and stones

ABOUT THE PROJECT

THANKS FROM YWP

YWP is supported by this newspaper and foundations, businesses

Special thanks this week to

THE BAY AND PAUL

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Kristina Pretty, Essex High School

thing new and starts screaming

I didnt know what was happening at the

I have a scar. It is there clinging to

THIS WEEK: Scar

ABOUT THE PROJECT

THANKS FROM YWP

YWP is supported by this newspaper and foundations, businesses

Special thanks this week to

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

Kevin Huang, Burlington High School

the clattering of the board next to me.

pain as well, though dull in comparison.

my bloody bandage and traded it with

THIS WEEK: Manual & Happening

BY RORY BELLE CARRARA

Each week, Young Writers Project receives several

STEP ONE: FIT IN

Laugh at all the stupid jokes. (If the

THANKS FROM YWP

YWP is supported by this newspaper and foundations, businesses

Special thanks this week to

THE BAY AND PAUL

PHOTO OF THE WEEK

STEP TWO: FACE

ABOUT THE PROJECT

I didnt know what was happening

Absolutely no acne. (I dont care how

STEP THREE: ELECTRONICS/SOCIAL MEDIA

If your Instagram bio isnt cool,

STEP FOUR: PEOPLE AND PERSONALITY

So, youll want to hang with the right

READ THE MAY ISSUE

If you want to hang out with all kinds

STEP FIVE: BE YOURSELF

So, believe all that stuff on Tumblr

with the Be yourself and Youre

FINAL SLAM OF THE YEAR!

THIS WEEK: Between

ABOUT THE PROJECT

THANKS FROM YWP

YWP is supported by this newspaper and foundations, businesses

Special thanks this week to

PHOTO OF THE WEEK