From email from the Colorado Water Trust (Barrett Donavan):
Here are the details:
- Write a maximum 300-word story about a river (or rivers) in Colorado.
- Stories should inspire your fellow Coloradans to love and care about Colorado’s rivers.
- Submissions may be poetry or prose and silly, serious, or sweet. You can do a fairytale, a real river story, or anything in between. It can be as short as you like, but no more than 300 words. Title not included in word count. The field is wide open! Have fun! The more creative the better!
- Illustrations and/or photos are welcome but not required.
- You may submit more than one entry and all ages of writers are encouraged.
- Entries should be emailed by Friday April 19th at 11:59 PM MT to Barrett Donovan at bdonovan@coloradowatertrust.org.
We have four great judges who will choose the top five stories. First, second, and third place winners will receive an awesome prize, and all top five submissions will be shared on our website, in our newsletter, and on our social media accounts.
The Judges:
- Anne Castle: Senior Fellow, Getches-Wilkinson Center, University of Colorado; US Commissioner, Upper Colorado River Commission; Water Trust Board of Directors
- Luke Runyon: Journalist; Co-director of The Water Desk at the University of Colorado’s Center for Environmental Journalism
- Radha Marcum: Poet and writer with a focus on the intersection of the environment, culture, and personal history
- Amelia Marsh: Editor in Chief, University of Denver Water Law Review
Judging Criteria:
- River Inspiration: Your story must inspire readers to love and care for their Colorado rivers.
- Quality of Story: Entries must tell a story, including a main character of some kind and a true story arc even if it’s tiny. Entries must not be merely descriptions or mood pieces.
- Quality of Writing: If you’re going to rhyme, give us your best. Overall writing quality and use of language are also important.
- Originality and Creativity: These two elements are often what sets one story above another. You will want yours to stand out from the crowd!