WORDSMITHS WRITING CONTEST

Wordsmith /’w rd,smiTH/: a craftsperson who works words into usable forms; a skilled user of words

Current Contest:


Pourquoi Possibilities

For thousands of years, people have told imaginative stories to explain the world around them. Long before science could answer these questions, cultures created origin myths—tales that explain not just how the world began, but why animals behave the way they do, why natural features exist, and why the world looks the way it does.

These stories are sometimes called pourquoi tales (from the French word pourquoi, meaning “why”), since they answer questions like Why are there seasons? or Why is the crow black?

Today we know that the seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis as it orbits the sun. Long ago, however, the ancient Greeks explained the seasons through a story. They believed the seasons were caused by Demeter, the goddess of the harvest, whose daughter Persephone was kidnapped by Hades and forced to spend six months each year in the underworld. While Persephone is gone, Demeter mourns and the world is winter. When Persephone returns, Demeter’s joy brings spring and summer.

Science tells us that crow feathers are filled with melanin, which protects the birds from UV rays and gives them their black color. However, according to a Cherokee folktale, the crow was once white. During a cold, harsh winter, he flew to the sun to bring back fire for the people. He saved them, but the flames scorched his feathers and turned them black. That is why crows are black to this day.

As you can see, these stories are not scientific explanations. They are imaginative tales that use characters, actions, and consequences to explain why something is the way it is. For this contest, you will write your own origin myth. Choose one of the questions below and write a short story explaining how or why it came to be that way.

POURQUOI PROMPTS


  • Why are flamingos pink?
  • Why do sloths move so slowly?
  • Why does an octopus have eight arms?
  • Why do wolves howl at the moon?
  • Why is the sea salty?
  • How did the mountains come to be?
  • Where did snow come from?
  • Why is the sunset colorful?

How to Get Started


1. Choose a question from the list in the box.

2. Brainstorm ideas about how things used to be compared to how they are now.

3. Choose your characters. Your story might include animals, people, spirits, or magical creatures. Pourquoi tales often give plants, animals, or inanimate objects the ability to think, speak, and act.

4. Think of an event or problem that could have caused the change. This is often linked to something the main character wants.

5. Tell it like a story. Don’t just say why things changed. Develop the ideas into a complete short story with a beginning, middle, and end.

One helpful way to plan your story is the SWBS method:

  • Somebody (a character)
  • Wanted (something they hoped to do or change)
  • But (a problem or challenge occurred)
  • So (something happened that solved it)
  • You can repeat this pattern several times as the story unfolds.

Remember: the goal is to tell an imaginative story that explains why something is the way it is today. For this contest, creative ideas are the most important.

Entries due: 11:59 PM on FRIDAY, April 17, 2026

Word Limit: 500 words

PRIZES:

First, second, and third place winners in each age group will be printed in The Homeschooler Magazine. Other entries may be but are not guaranteed to be published.

Prizes are as follows:

Age Divisions 1st Place 2nd Place 3rd Place
5-8 Years Old $50 $30 $20
9-12 Years Old $75 $45 $30
13-18 Years Old $100 $60 $40

RULES:

Submission of entry into this contest constitutes acceptance of all rules and conditions.

  • Entrants must be residents of Utah and must be must be between the ages of 5–17 as of Sept. 1, 2025 (Turning 18 during the school year is OK). Entrants must be participating in homeschool during the 2025-2026 school year.
  • Only one writing contest entry is allowed per student per contest. Students MAY submit student spotlights, book reviews, big wins, AND one entry in the writing contest.
  • No vulgarity, profanity, gratuitous violence, or “adult themes” are allowed. Entries must be “family friendly” and suitable for reading by children and adults of all ages.
  • AI is strictly prohibited and may NOT be used in any form at any stage of writing. You may NOT use ChatGPT, Grammarly, or any other AI to brainstorm essay ideas, generate an outline, write any text, or improve text you have written. All words should be the student’s own. Spell check is OK.
  • Entries must be the student’s own original work and must not copy from books, movies, or online content. Entries that contain plagiarism will be disqualified.
  • All entries must be in English.
  • All entries must be typed and submitted digitally. No hard-copy entries or pictures of hand-written entries will be accepted.
  • Copyright remains with the author, but The Utah Homeschooler has the right to publish it in the magazine, post it on their website, or use it for promotional materials.

SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

  • Student’s first and last name, age, and mailing address. (Only first name and last initial will be published.)
  • Student’s typed writing contest entry; can be included in the body of the email, attached as a word document or PDF, or shared as a Google Doc file. If formatting matters (i.e. for some poetry), attach it as a PDF to preserve the formatting.
  • Entry title
  • A photo of the student that shows their face
  • A signed Rules Agreement & Publication Release waiver (click here to get it). Please note that a new signed agreement is required for each contest.

Entries must be submitted no later than 11:59 PM on Friday, November 21, 2025. Send entries to:

JUDGING:

Entries will be divided into three age groups for judging: 5–8 year olds, 9–12 year olds, and 13–18 year olds. Poems will be judged using age-appropriate expectations based on the following criteria:

Ideas: Does the poem focus on a clear aspect of nature and communicate an interesting, meaningful, or thoughtful idea? Does it show careful observation of the natural world?

Organization: Does the poem have a clear sense of structure or flow, even if it does not follow a traditional format? Do the lines or stanzas work together in a way that feels intentional?

Word Choice: Are the words vivid, precise, and descriptive? Do they help create strong images, sounds, or feelings related to nature?

Voice: Does the poem have a clear and engaging voice? Is the tone consistent and appropriate for the subject and mood of the poem?

Conventions: Is the poem polished, with correct spelling, punctuation, and formatting? Does it follow the word limit and contest guidelines?

For this contest, ideas, word choice, and voice are most important. Poems that go over the word count may be disqualified.

GUIDELINES & RESOURCES FOR PARENT INVOLVEMENT:

Each writing contest in The Utah Homeschooler is intended to help students practice a specific writing skill. Here are some useful resources to help teach your children about origin stories / pourquoi tales and how to write them.