Last week I kicked off my "Where are They Now" series to celebrate the 5th year of my annual Be-a-Famous Writer contest for kids. I went back to all the past winners and some of the finalist to find out what they have been up too. This week I am catching up with Briana Beebe, of Centennial, Colorado. She was 8 years old when she wrote and won the grand prize in my 2010 Be-a-Famous Writer Contest for her entry "Mountain Dog". It's the story of a beloved pet that disappears during a family’s move to a new home. You can watch it here.
Enjoy this interview with Briana. I know I found her advice just magical!
How did Mrs. P's writing contest impact you? Mrs P's writing contest has made a big impact on my life, from feeling more confident about who I am to feeling more inspired to write more.
Did participating in Mrs. P's writing contest encourage you to enter more writing contest or develop more writing? Tell us about what other contests you have entered or won: Since winning Mrs. P's contest made me feel more encouraged, I did enter more contests and I also won more. Some of the contests that I have entered and/or won were... Tattered Cover Scary story contest, the Betty award and Bemis Public Library writing contest. I feel that winning a contest isn't just about the glory of being able to say that you actually won, but more the happiness and encouragement that comes out of it.
Do you have an excerpt from a story that you would like to share? Here is something I wrote when I was on my trip in Hawaii : “On the outside, the sea is just water, glistening and moving in harmony. On the inside it's much more than that. It's a world full of color and unique creatures. Maybe thats why I like it, because it's adventurous.”
What do you think you learned from the Mrs. P's writing experience? I learned that it was ok to be myself. When I was younger (around the time I entered Mrs. P's writing contest) I felt that I wasn't cool enough to do things or that people wouldn't like me. In other words I was pretty shy and only able to completely open up to a few people, and most of those people were in my family. But after I won I felt that I could fit in and that people would like me for who I was. That was when I learned that I could be myself, and most people would except me for me. 1 friend/classmate this year at 5th grade continuation said for her quote "It is better to be hated for who you are, than be loved for who you are not."
What would you like to share about the contest? The contest can feel a little stressful and suspenseful, but in the end it is all worth it, just because of the feeling that you have after you send it in.
Anything else you would like to share with us? I learned along the way of accomplishing more writing that sometimes you have to just accept that when you don't win you should keep trying even though it might be hard. Writing sort of reminds me of a karate tournament, when you get hit you have to get back up and keep trying some more. And sometimes YOU are the one standing up. Think, if neither component in a karate tournament got back up there would be no point in watching or even doing it.
Do you ever think about being a professional writer when you grow up? I have thought about being a professional writer before, but I think that I would do it alongside with another job. I think it would be fun and exiting to be a writer because it is amazing how were able to make up magical worlds with mysterious creatures.
Next week I’ll be catching up with Sarah Smale one of my 2011 winners and you’ll get to read some of her new work from an upcoming chapter book.
Be sure to bookmark my contest site for your classroom. The contest opens September 1st for entries. And a special thanks to my sponsors too. BuyerTopia, Tales2Go, Powell’s Books & Polka Dots Publishing and Penelope the Purple Pirate. They are making sure the schools win all year long with their great prizes!
Comments