Contest | Cathy C. Hall Writes

Just a quick find in my inbox today from New Christian Voices…

You remember NCV, right? It’s a Christian humor site where I contribute when I’m feeling funny-ish. Lots of funny, regular columnists, lots of freelance contributors like me, lots of good, clean laughs. You can’t beat that. Unless you add a good, clean, funny contest.

It’s called the Twelve Laughs of Christmas, and it’s going on right now. All you have to do is click here, read the rules, and then come up with a great caption for that funny picture. I think the winner is chosen randomly, but you know, it’d be great if you came up with something funny.

I’d come up with something funny myself, but I’m not allowed to enter. Neither are all those other columnists and contributors. But wouldn’t you like the chance to show NCV you’re just as funny as all of us? And win great prizes, too?

I thought so. Well, c’mon then. It’ll be the Eleven Days of Christmas Laughs before you know it.

Look at those smiles! That’s what writing will do for you. Well, writing and winning.

Those young writers surrounding yours truly are the prize winners in the Centerville Writers Student Poetry Competition. We met on this fine Tuesday at the Centerville Community Center for the awards ceremony and reception. I’m the coordinator of the Centerville Writers, so I had the honor of giving the prizes and certificates and such. Oh, and we heard some great poems, too.

Justice Davis, standing on my right (or is it my left? I can never figure that out. It’s the girl standing next to me, okay?) read her first place middle school poem, “I Am From Basketball.” If she’s as handy with a basketball as she is with words, she’ll go far.

Davon Peeks, the 8th grader standing on the other side of me, won Honorable Mention for “I AM.” Davon impressed me with his quiet, yet powerful poem.

Next to Davon is Safia Siddiqui, a tenth grade student, who won first place for “My Cup of Love.” Safia’s poem was a mature, moving poem about relationships.

And last, and as it happens, also the least (She’s just a kindergartner!) is Samantha Smith, who won first place for her acrostic poem, “Family.” You know, it’s not easy for a kindergartner to write a whole poem, but Samantha did a fine job.

The winning writers will be published soon in the OneStop newspaper (a publication distributed by Gwinnett County). It’ll be their first clip. I hope they’re proud. I know I was proud when I saw them standing up there, reading those poems. Even if they’re not my kids. They’re writers.

And they’re on their way.