Several Long County students recently attended the Long County Young Author’s Conference at the Celebration Castle. Students who won in their divisions of the First District Young Authors Competition were given their awards.
Winners from Smiley Elementary School were kindergartener Matthew Hogg, who wrote “The Ducks”; first-grader Chryslen Joseph, who wrote “The Girl Who Lived Alone”; second-grader Kyle Neesmith, who wrote “My Pet”; and third-grader Joshua Salter, who wrote “Trouble.”
Winners from Walker Middle School were fourth-grader Elizabeth Snell, who wrote “My Mom in Dialysis”; fifth-grader Hannah Mason, who wrote “Dear Dr. Wells”; sixth-grader Lilly Belve, who wrote “Lights”; seventh-grader Jamie Wilson, who wrote “The Moon”; and eighth-grader Hannah Golden, who wrote “Dumptruck Disaster.”
The winners from Long County High School were ninth-grader Chanti Thomas, who wrote “Perfect”; 10th-grader Thadious Webber, who wrote “Rage”; 11th-grader Scottie Burch, who wrote “Monarch”; and 12th-grader Abigail Gonzalez, who wrote “Bus Ride.”
In addition to receiving awards, the students also were given first-hand advice and tips on how to improve their writing skills from authors Mike Buchanan and Diane Lang. Buchanan and Lang are co-authors of the book and screenplay “The Fat Boy Chronicles.”
The students also were given suggestions for how to add visual enhancements to their work from award-winning illustrator Mark Braught.
Editor and author Virginia Meldrum also told the students how to be effective story-tellers.