The JustWrite Michigan Program
The JustWrite Michigan High School Program
The Who:
JustWrite, Inc is a supporter of all high school teen writers. The program is open to all public, private, parochial, charter, and homeschool cohorts.
The Basics:
Schools enter a DIVISION 1 (9th and 10th grade) and/or a DIVISION 2 (11th and 12th grade) team into a Regional tournament. Each division consists of six writers. (Cost-$250 to enter one division, $400 to enter both divisions)
If desired, the school may enter more than one team; thus, having both Team A and Team B. This creates a second team for the school that will compete against their teammates on Team A. Please remember that, since this is a separate team, it will never be combined with the A team, and fees/judges will remain separate.
How It Works:
Schools register for a Regional tournament. Upon receipt of payment, JustWrite releases the password to the Coach’s Corner materials. Student writers attend the Regional tournament, competing in three rounds of timed creative writing. They must write to the assigned genre and prompt. Stories are scored against other writers. Top individual writers receive awards, as do top schools and poets. Top writers from the Regional tournaments advance to the State Tournament.
Regional Tournament Specifics: If a Michigan tournament is not available, schools can compete in the Ohio program in person or virtually.
Each team is required to provide one judge per division/team entered in the REGIONAL competition. Typically, the judges are the team coaches. During competitions, students are given a genre-specific prompt. These genres may include: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mystery, Classic Horror/Gothic, Fantasy, and Narrative Nonfiction.
Students have 45 minutes per round, competing in a total of three rounds. All students must write to incorporate both the genre and the prompt.
Judges are assigned groups of writers and read and rank their stories according to a rubric. This rubric addresses not only creative writing but also technical aspects of composition. No writer can be given the same score on the rubric as any other writer in their round group, and this rubric score will determine round winners. Rank is used only to break ties when determining awards.
In addition, competing writers are asked to bring one poem, based on a predetermined prompt, to the competition. These poems are read by special laureates, and three poems from each division. These top poets compose a second poem to be judged at the State Competition. One poet will emerge as the winner of the Excellence in Poetry Award. This is to honor the power of poetry.
To qualify to win Regional Awards:
The top 15 writers in each division will be recognized at the Regional level. (If a tournament has fewer than 10 full teams, JustWrite reserves the right to reduce the number of top writer awards)
In addition, teams will be awarded points based on their overall performance. First-, second-, and third-place division trophies will be awarded to schools. There will also be one school named the tournament champion–this is a combined total of all points from both divisions.
State Tournament Specifics: At this time, Michigan advancers will compete in the Ohio state tournament.
Each team is required to provide one judge for every three advancing writers in each division. Typically, the judges are the team coaches. They can also be teachers, student teachers, parents, community members, and JustWrite Alumni.
During competition, students are given a genre-specific prompt. These genres may include: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mystery, Classic Horror/Gothic, Fantasy, and Narrative Nonfiction. Students have 45 minutes per round, competing in a total of three rounds. All students must write to incorporate the genre-specific prompt.
Judges are assigned groups of writers and read and rank their stories according to a rubric. This rubric addresses not only creative writing but also technical aspects of composition. No writer can be given the same score on the rubric as any other writer in their round group, and this rubric score will determine round winners. Rank is used only to break ties when determining awards.
To qualify to win State Awards:
The top 15 writers in each division will be recognized at the State level.
Poets, selected by the laureates at the Regional tournaments, will compete with a new prompt, and one will be chosen for the Excellence in Poetry Award. The winner of this award will be chosen by an expert in the field.
Three writers from each division will be chosen for a Director’s Choice Award. These six winners will be chosen from all the stories that were first in the Regional competitions.
One student will receive the Nikki Delamotte Award for Excellence in Narrative Writing. This award is given to one student writer whose story from the Regional Tournament is a standout piece and highlights overall excellence. This award is narrowed down by the JustWrite Board of Directors and chosen by either the JustWrite Board or the Keynote Author.
One student will receive the Rising Quill Award. This award is given to one Division I student chosen by the JustWrite Board of Directors.
In addition, teams will be awarded points based on their overall performance. First-, second-, and third-place division trophies will be awarded to schools. There will also be one school named the State Tournament Grand Champion–this is a combined total of all points from both divisions.
The JustWrite Junior Invitationals
The Who:
JustWrite Junior is open to 6th-8th-grade students. The program is open to all public, private, parochial, charter, and homeschool cohorts.
These Invitationals are one-time events held alongside the JustWrite High School Regional Tournaments. While it is not required that schools have a high school team, it can be a great recruitment event. There is a $ 25-per-writer fee, and schools must provide ONE judge for every 6 students entered into the competition.
Invitational Specifics:
These invitationals are a singular event. There is no progression to higher-level tournaments. Students, regardless of school, compete against each other in 6/7-grade and 7/8-grade bands. There are no team awards for the JustWrite Junior Invitationals, and top writers will be individually recognized. Students will compete in 3 rounds of genre/prompt-based creative writing and poetry.
Each team must provide one judge for every 6 students entered in the competition. Typically, the judges are the team coaches, but can also be student teachers, other educators, trained parents, or JustWrite Alumni. During competitions, students are given a genre-specific prompt. These genres may include: Historical Fiction, Science Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mystery, Classic Horror/Gothic, Fantasy, and Narrative Nonfiction. Coaches will be notified prior to the event of 4 possible genres the students may be assigned.
Students have 45 minutes per round, competing in a total of three rounds. All students must write to incorporate both the genre and the prompt.
Judges are assigned groups of writers and read and rank their stories according to a rubric. This rubric addresses not only creative writing but also technical aspects of composition. No writer can be given the same score on the rubric as any other writer in their round group, and this rubric score will determine round winners. Rank is used only to break ties when determining awards.
In addition, competing writers are asked to bring one poem, based on a predetermined prompt, to the competition. These poems are read by special laureates, and three poems from each division. These winning poets will have the opportunity to have their poetry published in the JustWrite Anthology: A Collection of Voices.
In addition to this, top writers in each grade band, 6/7 and 7/8, will be recognized with medals. Students who receive a #1 in a round will be given the opportunity to submit their stories for possible publication.