| When I was a child, I loved to draw, read, | | | | scholarship opportunities.The competition in |
| and write, but my parents never really | | | | the kids categories are not quite as fierce |
| encouraged me to pursue that passion. I was | | | | as the adult market, and by helping your |
| always told that writing is a hobby and not a | | | | child start at a young age breaking into the |
| career. Well, it took me over 15 years to get | | | | industry, as a parent or a teacher, you will |
| to the point where I didn't hear those words | | | | be providing the encouragement and support to |
| in my head and actually learned to take what | | | | a child that will last a lifetime. Who knows, |
| I love to do and make a profession out of it. | | | | perhaps the child you help prepare for a |
| I can't help but wonder though how | | | | contest in illustrating or writing might just |
| differently my life might have turned out if | | | | be the next James Patterson or Stephen |
| my parents had encouraged me to be a writer | | | | King.Not only do children's writing and |
| from a very young age.My son loves to draw | | | | illustrating contests offer a child the |
| pictures about my books and my daughter loves | | | | opportunity to explore their creative side, |
| to read them, and she also likes to write | | | | they just might get to see their name and |
| short stories on my writer's forum. As a | | | | work in print! If your child has real talent |
| novelist and an author, you can imagine that | | | | and seeks to pursue a career in the arts or |
| I love the fact that my children are | | | | literature, this is also a step in the right |
| interested in the arts and literature.Do you | | | | direction for building a working portfolio |
| have a child who likes to write? Are you a | | | | for college admissions and future career |
| parent or a teacher of a child who seems to | | | | development.I know that when I was a child, I |
| always have their nose stuck in a book? Maybe | | | | had no clue that contests and things such as |
| you know a kid who always has a pen or pencil | | | | this existed. Had I known, I could have |
| and paper and who spends all day long | | | | started on my career as a writer much earlier |
| drawing. Why not help those kids who already | | | | than I did. Do a quick internet search and |
| have a love of the arts and literature to | | | | find some good contests for your kids who |
| expand that love into more than just a | | | | love to draw and write, and then encourage |
| hobby?On the internet today, you can find a | | | | and support their dreams. Good luck to you |
| multitude of children's contests. While you | | | | and the child you encourage!Michelle L Devon |
| should be careful to ensure that the contests | | | | is an author and freelance editor for |
| are not scams, finding a contest that fits | | | | Accentuate Services and various publishers. |
| your child's desire to write or draw is not a | | | | She is an a published author with Koboca |
| difficult thing to do. Some of the best | | | | Publishing, who currently has children's |
| contests for kids come directly through small | | | | illustration and writing contests, ongoing. |
| publishing companies. Some of these contests | | | | For more information you can visit Koboca's |
| offer royalty contracts to the winners, some | | | | site at or you can visit Ms. |
| offer cash prizes, and some offer college | | | | |