Students! Want to enter the annual writing contest, The Big Write? Get started now. Submission deadline is Sept. 12.

The three top winners in each of two grade level categories: (1) 4th and 5th graders, and (2) 6th through 8th graders, will win $100 for 1st place, $50 for second place, and $25 for 3rd place,

Of course your be reading your winning entries before a live audience at The Big Read Festival. Check out the contest guidelines by clicking here.

The Big Read in Clayton, an annual outdoor book festival, is Oct. 11. The Big Read site posted last year’s winning stories if you wanna see.

Click here to read a fun interview Annette Crymes conducted with a student of one of her writing workshops...presented here in St. Louis Today's book blog as a student prepares to enter this year's Big Write.

Click here to read more about Annette (a.r.) Cryme's passion for art and writing.

I'm one of the judges for the Big Write (as is Annette), and I can hardly wait to read the entries.