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|  | May 2013 - Blogging Contest
This is the FREE, international, monthly blogging contest hosted by StageofLife.com. Submit your essay below. Also...don't forget to enter our monthly Twitter "Short Short Story" writing contest, too.
May 2013 Writing Contest Prompt: "Letter to Mom" - Share a special memory about your mother, grandmother, or an important woman in your life.
 Details: In honor of Mother's Day this month, we want to recognize and thank the women who helped raise us. Think about your Mom, your Grandmother, or any special woman in your life who is or was a source of inspiration. Now close your eyes and think about what makes that woman special. Is it her overall characteristics or personality? Is it a memory of a specific event or moment (serious, sad, or humorous) you shared with your Mom that brings joy to your heart? Was it something she said that has stuck with you?
What makes this woman special when you think about her?
Keeping these positive thoughts flowing, now write a creative, memoir-style short essay (500 words or less) that captures the essence of your feelings as you answer the writing prompt, "Share a special memory about your mother, grandmother, or an important woman in your life."
 As an added action item for this blogging contest, after you've submitted your essay (submission button is below), share the URL of your post with your Mom or Grandmother. Send it to her on Facebook. Tweet the url to her. Or print it out and mail or give it to her. However you do it, consider letting her know the positive thoughts and memories you shared about her with the world.
We look forward to reading your "Letter to Mom" essays this month.
Upload your 500 Word (or less) Essay...
 Essay Title: When submitting your writing contest essay, title it as follows:
Letter to Mom: ____________ [include the phrase "Letter to Mom" as the beginning of your essay title in the Story Title field, but add your own headline following that so your essay title is unique]
Title Examples:
- Letter to Mom: My Mom Never Gives Up
- Letter to Mom: She Can't Cook, but She Sure Can Sing!
Please be creative with your title, then type or cut and paste your full essay from a program like NotePad or TextEdit (don't use any formatting - just text, please) into the Story Details field. Adjust the spacing as necessary.
IMPORTANT TIPS/QUICK RULES:
- You are welcome to blog on StageofLife.com as much as you want, but only TWO essay submissions per user for this May 2013 writing contest are allowed.
- Title your essay using the instructions above so our Editors can find it in the story feeds in your life stage homepage on the website. Example: Here's where all of the high school student submissions get posted - High School
- Editorial Note: StageofLife.com is a non-partisan literacy initiative. We judge the writing contest submissions not on the political or religious stance of our bloggers, but rather on how creative, original, passionate, and well written the essays are.
- Type in your 500 word (or less) essay (or cut and paste it from another program) into the "Story Details" field of the writing contest submission form, which will appear after you click "Submit Essay" above.
NOTE: You will need to login to submit your writing contest entry. If you don't have a StageofLife.com login, please register (it's free).
EXTRA INFORMATION AND RULES TO HELP YOU ON THE WRITING CONTEST
Be Real. Be Yourself: The strongest submissions for this essay contest will use a personal tone and point-of-view writing style that shares your thoughts on the topic.
Resources:
We don't have any formal resources for this writing contest this month. Only you know what you want to share or say about Mom or your Grandmother - so simply follow your heart.
Prize Package: The winning writer will receive...
- A spot as a Featured Writer on StageofLife.com
- Stage of Life pen
- Prize or gift card from the life stage sponsor (see top of this page)
 Free Essay Contest:
This is a free writing contest. StageofLife.com does not require a submission fee. TWO ESSAYS ENTRY PER PERSON FOR THIS MONTH'S WRITING CONTEST. However, you are welcome to blog about your life or other topics outside of this writing contest at any time on StageofLife.com
Contest Deadline:
May 31, 2013 at midnight Pacific Standard Time (US). NOTE - the StageofLife.com time stamps all essay in Greenwich Mean Time (England) as we are an international writing initiative. International student submissions are welcome.
Prize Package and Winner(s):
Of the submitted essays, winners will be selected from across several of the various life stages. The winner(s) will be announced here after June 20th, 2013. Winner(s) will be contacted by a StageofLife.com staffer via the email used to register for the website.
As we state in our Writing Contest Rules and Judging Criteria for Student Writers, writers selected as our national essay finalists and winner(s) will demonstrate strong writing skills, a unique point-of-view, personal tone, originality, and realness in their essay.
"Realness?" Yes...realness.
 The reason that journalists and organizations ranging from TIME.com to Mint Education have featured our essays (especially our teen posts) in the national media is because our bloggers all write from the heart. Real people sharing real stories about their lives. Combine this with our position as one of the only international, non-partisan, literacy platforms in the world and you'll find Stage of Life an open environment to share your ideas.
Post Comments:
We'd like to encourage all participants and readers to make comments on these writing contest essays. Please just remember to keep all comments/posts/discussions civil and in good taste in each of the essay-blog threads, especially since some of our writing prompts are sensitive in nature. Nasty comments, personal attacks, or other such comments are not allowed and will be removed should they come to our attention.
Judging:
If you have questions about the rules or judging criteria for our writing contests, you can visit our Rules & Judging Criteria page.
 Last Words - Share Your Story:
Our hope is that your writing contest submission will positively impact others and help with our mission of making the world a better place, one story at a time. Your essay may inspire others or even better, give you an opportunity to share a story that's simply important to you.
After you've submitted your essay, feel free to share the link to your essay on Facebook or Twitter. Our essays are judged by real Editors, not popularity, but we do like to spread the word about our national, grassroots writing contest. Also, please share this writing contest with Language Arts, English and History teachers, or on your blog.
If you know a teacher who would like a free Stage of Life writing contest poster for his or her classroom, have them contact us.
About:
Read more about StageofLife.com and our mission
Good luck! Scroll back up and click on the "Submit Essay" button to upload your essay. |
 | April 2013 - Blogging Contest
This is the FREE, international, monthly, blogging contest hosted by StageofLife.com. Submit your essay below. Don't forget to enter our new monthly Twitter "Short Short Story" writing contest, too.
Writing Contest Prompt: "In the News" - What Current National or International News Story Do You Think More People In Your Life Stage Should Care About, and Why?
Details: There is a LOT going on in the news. For instance, the day we posted this April monthly writing contest, we saw headlines for news stories on the following topics...
- Nuclear armed North Korea's aggressive militaristic talk
- North Dakota passes most restrictive abortion bill in US history
- US Supreme Court debates gay marriage
- Cyprus Banks and Economic issues in the Euro Zone
- Pope includes women for first time in Holy Thursday rite
- US Senate group resolves key immigration issues to move ahead with overhaul of US immigration policy
- China's losing battle against polluters
- Obama makes impassioned plea for gun control legislation
- NCAA Basketball Tournament enters Final 4
- Obamacare
- and many others
Keeping these news headlines (and others you may have recently read, seen, or heard in mind), our blogging contest writing prompt this month is..."What current news story or event should people care about...and why?"
 Answer that question in 500 words or less. In your essay, consider addressing these questions in a CREATIVE manner...
- What is the particular news story are you most passionate about?
- Why do you care about it so much?
- How does this news event or story effect you or people in your particular life stage?
- Why should people in your life stage care more about this news story?
- Is there anything you, or others, can do to help make a difference in the outcome of this news story?
With over a quarter of a million visitors coming to StageofLife.com from around the world to read or participate in our blogging contests each year, our hope is that your "In the News" essay creates more awareness for a news item that's close to your heart and inspires other people to engage the world around them.
Good luck - we look forward to reading your "In the News" essays this month.
Upload your 500 Word (or less) Essay...
Essay Title: When submitting your writing contest essay, title it as follows:
In the News: ____________ [include the phrase "In the News" as the beginning of your essay title in the Story Title field, but add your own headline following that so your essay title is unique]
Title Examples:
- In the News: Prepare for a short cold war with North Korea
- In the News: New abortion laws in AR and ND strain relations between me and my family...and we don't even live in those states
Please be creative with your title, then type or cut and paste your full essay from a program like NotePad or TextEdit (don't use any formatting - just text, please) into the Story Details field. Adjust the spacing as necessary.
IMPORTANT TIPS/QUICK RULES:
- You are welcome to blog on StageofLife.com as much as you want, but only TWO essay submissions per user for this April 2013 writing contest are allowed.
- Title your essay using the instructions above so our Editors can find it in the story feeds in your life stage homepage on the website. Example: Here's where all of the high school student submissions go - High School
- Editorial Note: StageofLife.com is a non-partisan literacy-focused blogging community. Whether your reaction and viewpoints put you on the right, left, or middle of a particular news story, we judge the writing contest submissions not on the political or religious stance of our bloggers, but rather on how creative, original, passionate, and well written the essays are.
- Type in your 500 word (or less) essay (or cut and paste it from another program) into the "Story Details" field of the writing contest submission form, which will appear after you click "Submit Essay" above.
NOTE: You will need to login to submit your writing contest entry. If you don't have a StageofLife.com login, please register (it's free).
EXTRA INFORMATION AND RULES TO HELP YOU ON THE WRITING CONTEST
Be Real. Be Yourself: The strongest submissions for this essay contest will use a personal tone and point-of-view writing style that shares your thoughts on the topic. If you want to make your essay even stronger, we recommend doing a little research and adding quotes or a statistic (or two).
Resources:
If you haven't looked at news headlines lately, visit the Reuters website to get up to date with what's happening in our world: http://www.reuters.com/
Prize Package: The winning writers will receive...
- A spot as a Featured Writer on StageofLife.com
- Stage of Life pen
- Prize package that includes a gift card from one of our brand sponsors
Free Essay Contest:
This is a free writing contest. StageofLife.com does not require a submission fee. TWO ESSAYS ENTRY PER PERSON FOR THIS MONTH'S WRITING CONTEST. However, you are welcome to blog about your life or other topics outside of this writing contest at any time on StageofLife.com
Contest Deadline:
April 30, 2013 at midnight Pacific Standard Time (US). NOTE - the StageofLife.com time stamps all essay in Greenwich Mean Time (England) as we are an international writing initiative. International submissions are welcome.
Prize Package and Winner(s):
Of the submitted essays, one essay winner will be selected. The winner and semi-finalists will be announced here after May 20th, 2013. Winner and semi-finalists will be contacted by a StageofLife.com staffer via the email used to register for the website.
As we state in our Writing Contest Rules and Judging Criteria for student writers, the bloggers selected as our national essay finalists and winner(s) will demonstrate strong writing skills, a unique point-of-view, personal tone, originality, and realness in their essay.
"Realness?" Yes...realness.
The reason that journalists and organizations ranging from TIME.com to Mint Education have featured our essays (especially our teen posts) in the national media is because our amazing bloggers that participate in the StageofLife.com writing community all write from the heart. Real people sharing real stories about their lives. Combine this with our position as one of the only international, non-partisan, literacy platforms in the world and you'll find Stage of Life an open environment to share your ideas.
Post Comments:
We'd like to encourage all participants and readers to make comments on these writing contest essays. Please just remember to keep all comments/posts/discussions civil and in good taste in each of the essay-blog threads, especially since some of our writing prompts are sensitive in nature. Nasty comments, personal attacks, or other such comments are not allowed and will be removed should they come to our attention.
Judging:
If you have questions about the rules or judging criteria for our writing contests, you can visit our Rules & Judging Criteria page. NOTE - these rules are geared towards teens and college students, but apply to everyone.
Last Words - Share Your Story:
Our hope is that your writing contest submission will positively impact others and help with our mission of making the world a better place, one story at a time. Your essay may inspire others or even better, give you an opportunity to share a story that's simply important to you.
After you've submitted your essay, feel free to share the link to your essay on Facebook or Twitter. Our essays are judged by real Editors, not popularity, but we do like to spread the word about our national, grassroots writing contest. Also, please share this writing contest with Language Arts, English and History teachers, or on your blog.
If you know a teacher who would like a free Stage of Life writing contest poster for his or her classroom, have them contact us.
About:
Read more about StageofLife.com and our mission
Good luck! Scroll back up and click on the "Submit Essay" button to upload your essay. |
 | March 2013 - Writing Contest
This is the FREE, national, monthly, writing and blogging contest hosted by StageofLife.com. Submit your essay below. Don't forget to enter our new monthly Twitter "Short Short Story" writing contest, too.
Writing Contest Prompt: When have you applied the phrase "No Fear" in your life?
Details: Everyone has particular fears as they travel through life. Some are things you can touch, like snakes. Some are situations you want to avoid, like public speaking or test taking. Some come from childhood stories, like ghosts or monsters. Some are things that unfortunately find us, like terrorism, natural disasters, or cancer. And some are specifically tied to your life stage...fear of never finding that special someone...fear of losing a child...fear of tackling a home project...fear of retirement.
However, we can't live in the shadows of our fears everyday. To do so would dishonor the act of living.
So this month, the Stage of Life national writing contest prompt is simple: "How have you applied the phrase "No Fear" at some point in your life?"
 Tell us a story about yourself, in 500 words or less, about how you tackled a fear, whether it's personal, situational, external, or other. In your essay, consider including these pieces in a CREATIVE manner...
- Identify the fear
- Describe how it was holding you back in life
- Share what you specifically did to conquer it
- And let us know how you're living differently now
With over a quarter of a million visitors coming to StageofLife.com to read or participate in our blogging contests each year, we know your "No Fear" essay may inspire others to conquer their fears.
Once the judging is complete, we'll post the list of the No Fear essays and a link to the essay finalists, runner's up and the winner here after Apriil 15, 2013.
Good luck - we look forward to reading your No Fear essays this month!
Upload your 500 Word (or less) Essay...
Essay Title: When submitting your writing contest essay, title it as follows:
No Fear: ____________ [include the "No Fear" in the story title line but add your own headline following that so your essay title is unique]
Title Examples:
- No Fear: I never thought Mr. Right would find me...so I found him.
- No Fear: I couldn't face my dying grandma during her hospice period.
Please be creative with your title, then type or cut and paste your essay from a program like NotePad or TextEdit (don't use any formatting - just text, please) into the Story Details field. Adjust the spacing as necessary.
Good luck!
IMPORTANT TIPS/QUICK RULES:
- You are welcome to blog on StageofLife.com as much as you want, but only TWO essay submissions per user for this March 2013 writing contest are allowed.
- Title your essay using the instructions above so our Editors can find it in the story feeds in your life stage homepage on the website. Example: Here's where all of the high school student submissions go - High School
- Type in your 500 word (or less) essay (or cut and paste it from another program) into the "Story Details" field of the writing contest submission form, which will appear after you click "Submit Essay" above.
NOTE: You will need to login to submit your writing contest entry. If you don't have a StageofLife.com login, please register (it's free).
EXTRA INFORMATION AND RULES TO HELP YOU ON THE WRITING CONTEST
Be Real. Be Yourself: The strongest submissions for this essay contest will use a personal tone and point-of-view writing style that shares your thoughts on the topic. If you want to make your essay even stronger, we recommend doing a little research and adding quotes or a statistic (or two).
Resources:
Consider these questions as you craft your No Fear essay...
- How was/is your fear holding you back?
- What inspired you to make a stand and tackle your fear?
- Did you fail the first time you tried to conquer your fear? If so, how many times did it take before you succeeded? Why didn't you quit?
- Do you know other people who have the same fear?
- Are there organizations that help people with your fear? If so, what are they?
- Are you able or interested to help others conquer the same fear?
Prize Package: The winning writers will receive...
- A spot as a Featured Writer on StageofLife.com
- Stage of Life pen
- Prize package containing a gift card from our Stage of Life national brand sponsors.
Free Essay Contest:
This is a free writing contest. StageofLife.com does not require a submission fee. TWO ESSAYS ENTRY PER PERSON FOR THIS MONTH'S WRITING CONTEST. However, you are welcome to blog about your life or other topics outside of this writing contest at any time on StageofLife.com
Contest Deadline:
March 31, 2013 at midnight Pacific Standard Time (US). NOTE - the StageofLife.com time stamps all essay in Greenwich Mean Time (England) as we are an international writing initiative.
Prize Package and Winner(s):
Of the submitted essays, one winner will be selected from each of the following life stages: On My Own; Wedding/Married; Baby/Family/Grandparents; Homeownership; and Empty Nest & Retirement. The winner and semi-finalists will be announced here after April 15th, 2013. Winner and semi-finalists will be contacted by a StageofLife.com staffer via the email used to register for the website.
STUDENT BLOGGERS in particular: As we state in our Writing Contest Rules and Judging Criteria, student writers selected as our national essay finalists and winner(s) will demonstrate strong writing skills, a unique point-of-view, personal tone, originality, and realness in their essay.
"Realness?" Yes...realness.
The reason that journalists and organizations ranging from TIME.com to Mint Education have featured our essays (especially our teen posts) in the national media is because our bloggers all write from the heart. Real people sharing real stories about their lives. Combine this with our position as one of the only national, non-partisan, literacy platforms in the world and you'll find Stage of Life an open environment to share your ideas.
Post Comments:
We'd like to encourage all participants and readers to make comments on these writing contest essays. Please just remember to keep all comments/posts/discussions civil and in good taste in each of the essay-blog threads, especially since some of our writing prompts are sensitive in nature. Nasty comments, personal attacks, or other such comments are not allowed and will be removed should they come to our attention.
Judging:
If you have questions about the rules or judging criteria for our writing contests, you can visit our Rules & Judging Criteria page.
Last Words - Share Your Story:
Our hope is that your writing contest submission will positively impact others and help with our mission of making the world a better place, one story at a time. Your essay may inspire others or even better, give you an opportunity to share a story that's simply important to you.
After you've submitted your essay, feel free to share the link to your essay on Facebook or Twitter. Our essays are judged by real Editors, not popularity, but we do like to spread the word about our national, grassroots writing contest. Also, please share this writing contest with Language Arts, English and History teachers, or on your blog.
If you know a teacher who would like a free Stage of Life writing contest poster for his or her classroom, have them contact us.
About:
Read more about StageofLife.com and our mission
Good luck! Scroll back up and click on the "Submit Essay" button to upload your essay. |
 | February 2013 - National Writing and Blogging Contest
This writing contest has ended and is currently being judged
Writing Contest Prompt: Why can't you turn away from your favorite TV show?
 Details: It's winter, and we're in the middle of a new season of TV programming (as most of you know who have been fervently waiting for your favorite shows to begin again).
For good or bad, people everywhere are spending more time indoors right now in front of the warm glow of their favorite television shows. Breaking Bad. Mad Men. The Bachelor. The Super Bowl. American Idol. Boardwalk Empire. Nashville. Survivor. Downton Abby. Homeland. Modern Family. And the list goes on.
 Whether you love Golden Globe nominated TV programming found on the cable channels or the popular reality TV series found on all of the networks, we want to know what one TV show makes you stop in your tracks, put on your cozy clothes, and jump up on the couch for 30-60 minutes of "me" time.
In 500 words or less, tell us about your favorite show and why you just can't look away.
 NOTE - 1) you may actually submit TWO essays for this writing contest and 2) the TV show you select as the topic of your essay can be something currently airing, in re-runs, or a favorite show from your childhood. The choice is yours. We'll post the list of all of the TV shows nominated by our Stage of Life bloggers and a link to your essays here after March 15, 2013 - once the judging is complete.
The best essays (hint hint) will incorporate some aspect into the piece about how your favorite TV show effects you in your particular stage of life.
Good luck - we look forward to reading your TV essays this month (after we've watched our favorite shows of course)!
EXTRA INFORMATION AND RULES TO HELP YOU ON THE WRITING CONTEST
Resources:
Consider these questions as you craft your TV essay...
- What makes your favorite TV show special?
- Does this TV show have any connection to your own hobbies, passions, or interests?
- For those that may be unfamiliar with your favorite show, are there larger themes that this TV show addresses that could be helpful for people to know about?
- Is there a reason you like this particular show, e.g. it's a tradition that you watch it each week with your children, family, or friends?
- If you're looking for some ideas on TV shows to write about - take a look at our list of TV shows by Generation...
Prize Package: The winning writers will receive...
- A spot as a Featured Writer on StageofLife.com
- Stage of Life pen
- Prize package for blogger winner that includes a gift code from one of our national sponsors: SpaWeek.com, Shoebuy.com, or FrangranceNet.com
Free Essay Contest:
This is a free writing contest. StageofLife.com does not require a submission fee. TWO ESSAYS ENTRY PER PERSON FOR THIS MONTH'S WRITING CONTEST. However, you are welcome to blog about your life or other topics outside of this writing contest at any time on StageofLife.com
Contest Deadline:
February 28th, 2013 at midnight Pacific Standard Time (US)
Prize Package and Winner(s):
Of the submitted essays, one winner will be selected from across the adult stages of life across the site (on my own, wedding, married, baby, homeowner, family, grandparents, and retirement). The winner and semi-finalists will be announced here after March 15th, 2013. Winner and semi-finalists will be contacted by a StageofLife.com staffer via the email used to register for the website.
About:
Read more about StageofLife.com and our mission |
 | January 2013 - National Writing Contest
This writing contest has ended.
View the StageofLife.com trend report on the gun control debate, our statistics on teens and guns from the national Stage of Life poll, and read over 300 original essays submitted on the gun debate topic...
Writing Contest Prompt: Where do we go after the Newtown school shooting?
 Essay Contest Winners:
Teen and College Runners-Up (in no particular order):
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: America, wake up by kat.talerico (Other western countries have invoked stronger gun control laws and saw their gun/murder rates significantly decline)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: So this is why I left The Old Country, an Immigrant Perspective by nive.raghavan (The second amendment doesn’t give you the right to kill with assault weapons)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: More Violence Isn’t the Answer by Inspired (This teen’s mom was the victim of a gun crime… but fortunately lived)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: Guns don’t kill people, people kill people by Lakea (68% of murder weapons are firearms)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: Yes, we can find a balance between gun rights and gun control by telltheworld (Violence will always occur, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to prevent it)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: The rifle—my companion and another’s weapon by Winwinhh (This teen organized a response to the Newtown shooting in her all-girls school)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: Why someone could shoot innocent people by ritamarino2090 (Lanza was a victim of his disorder—a lonely man)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: Guns are Not the Problem by Mind_of_BP (Focus on the people, not the guns)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: The shooter by rhiFTW (This teen “feels bad” for the shooter)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: It’s a Human Problem by saraht314 (One in five Americans has a mental health issue)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: A Change Through Tragedy by lindseythibault (People with mental illnesses need to better treated, not just medicated
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: Teach love, not hate by NCpollyCA (Teach people the value of a life)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: Shooting from the Hip About Gun Violence by michaelhourahan94 (This teen reevaluated his position on violence in society)
 Teen and College Semi-Finalists (in no particular order):
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: A Taxing Issue by wchung (Congress should tax the sale of guns)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: Guns = Bloodshed by Ikraan (This Somali teen knows her homeland won’t ever be the same because of war)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: Futures Cut Short by Gun Tragedies by olivia (Other countries have really strict gun control, something we need too)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: No guns, no gun violence. Simple logic by OliviaZZZ5 (The second amendment calls for a well-regulated militia, not a citizen army)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: The road to recovery by codster7 (When we can buy guns on Craigslist, we’ve got a problem)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: Why schools are better off without guns by KelseyAN (The world isn’t divided into “good guys” and “bad guys”)
-
My Thoughts on Newtown: What’s behind it all? by s_barnett (We have deplorable mental health resources in this country)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: Action is Required by jcd14 (Mental illness is just like physical illness… but mental illness has a stigma)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: The person behind the trigger by bridgette1 (This teen has a mental disorders, and resents the stigma that comes with it)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: A Message for Gun Control and Prevention of Tragedy by C95 (Concealed officers and smart chips in guns would help prevent future tragedies)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: Searching for “We” by MariaRose (The divided debate must come together to find a solution)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: Don’t fight fire with fire by EmiliaCristy (Violence doesn’t beget violence)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: Horrified but not Shocked by flummerie (Schools and communities should be familiar with gun safety)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: We can’t blame the gun; we have to blame the people by CaseyBerg5 (Gun owners should be subject to random psychological tests)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: When Seconds Count, the Police are Only Moments Away by n0stalgic (A person wouldn’t attack an armed school)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: Guns don’t kill people, people kill people by K.A.Duncan (Anyone and everyone can be a victim of gun violence)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: Tragedy will always exist by lvest (States should enact conceal and carry laws)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: Stop pointing fingers by bbigday (This teen knows there is no one solution; she just wants her sense of safety back)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: Let’s Play the Game, Not Blame by Papples (Video games allow teens to release their aggressions in a fictional world)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: Reporting Gun Violence the Right Way by ErinnClaire (Stop sensationalizing violence)
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My Thoughts on Newtown: Desensitization by SEKOO (Violent video games desensitize us to death)
Details: In the wake of last month's Newtown, CT school shooting, we are faced with a reality in 2013 that many of us want to change. The tragedy brought another visceral reminder that something is wrong. Newtown. Oak Creek, WI. Aurora, CO. Fort Hood. Virgina Tech. And of course others...including tragic mass shootings that occur internationally.
Every day we hear soundbites from lawmakers, the gun lobby, mental health professionals, educators, media personalities, and others who have solutions for addressing what needs to happen to prevent another mass shooting. Some advocate gun rights. Others gun control.
Who's right?
We'd like to hear from you.
What would you propose to Congress, parents, school officials, gun advocacy groups, or the NRA after the events in Newtown in December? Or, on a more emotional level, how do you simply feel about this event and what changes, if any, did it make in you?
And for everyone...where do we go from here?
We know that without an open dialogue and a place to share a variety of viewpoints, nothing will change. StageofLife.com is one of the few non-partisan, non-religious, and non-politically founded personal-opinion-writing-platforms, so we both welcome and support ALL viewpoints on this sensitive issue.
When writing your essay, we encourage you to frame the perspective from your current stage in life. Please submit your essay and take our national gun survey below. US resident and international essay submissions are welcome.
Essay Title: When submitting your writing contest essay, title it as follows:
My thoughts on Newtown: ____________ [include the "My thoughts on Newtown:" in the story title line but add your own headline following that so your essay title is unique]
Title Examples:
- My thoughts on Newtown: Guns are not evil, people are
- My thoughts on Newtown: I didn't watch the news for two weeks - I couldn't watch another gun tragedy
Resources:
Questions you may want to consider for your essay when answering this month's writing national writing prompt:
- Do you feel safe at school or work?
- What would you do to improve security?
- Did your school or workplace take a moment of silence in the wake of Newtown?
- Is gun control needed?
- Is NRA’s CEO & EVP Wayne LaPierre's call to put police officers or armed security in every school something that would help?
- Some are calling for teachers to carry concealed weapons. Is this a good idea?
- Does Newtown reflect a need for a larger mandate on the 2nd Amendment, i.e. that more law-abiding citizens should carry guns as a deterrent to violence?
- Are 1st shooter video games or harmful music lyrics to blame for the desensitization to violence that is causing cracks in our culture?
- Is mental health care, not guns, the core issue?
- Should everyone just move on and stop talking about this?
- Is there really anything we can do?
Don't try to address all of these questions in your essay. They are simply prompts to get you thinking about your point-of-view for the piece. Above all else, be personal in your response to this month's writing contest. How would YOU suggest we move forward from Newtown?
Prize Package: The winning writers will receive...
- A spot as a Featured Writer on StageofLife.com
- Stage of Life pen
- Prize package for teen or college student winner that includes 2 Complimentary Movie Tickets from the nation's leading moviegoer destination Fandango.com
- Prize package for non-student winner that includes $25-$50 gift card or gift card to one of our other writing contest sponsors: Shoebuy.com, SpaWeek.com, or FragranceNet.com
- A mention and link to your essay in Stage of Life's national monthly press release - here's a link to last month's press release for reference.
Free Essay Contest:
This is a free writing contest. StageofLife.com does not require a submission fee. ONE ESSAY ENTRY PER PERSON FOR THIS MONTH'S WRITING CONTEST. However, you are welcome to blog about your life or other topics outside of this writing contest at any time on StageofLife.com
Contest Deadline:
January 31, 2013 at midnight Pacific Standard Time (US)
Post Comments:
We'd like to encourage all participants and readers to make comments on these writing contest essays. Please just remember to keep all comments/posts/discussions civil and in good taste in each of the essay-blog threads, especially since some of our writing prompts are sensitive in nature. Nasty comments, personal attacks, or other such comments are not allowed and will be removed should they come to our attention.
Judging:
If you have questions about the rules or judging criteria for our writing contests, you can visit our Rules & Judging Criteria page.
Last Words - Share Your Story:
Our hope is that your writing contest submission will positively impact others and help with our mission of making the world a better place, one story at a time. Your essay may inspire others or even better, give you an opportunity to share a story that's simply important to you.
After you've submitted your essay, feel free to share the link to your essay on Facebook or Twitter. Our essays are judged by real Editors, not popularity, but we do like to spread the word about our national, grassroots writing contest. Also, please share this writing contest with Language Arts, English and History teachers, or on your blog.
If you know a teacher who would like a free Stage of Life writing contest poster for his or her classroom, have them contact us.
About:
Read more about StageofLife.com and our mission |
 | Writing Contests Resume January 1st, 2013
ATTENTION WRITERS AND BLOGGERS:
As we wrap up the year and plan our Editorial calendar for 2013, there will unfortunately be no writing or blogging contest on StageofLife.com for this life stage during the month of December.
All writing contests will resume January 1st, 2013. Please visit us again then!
 If you have suggestions for writing prompts, writing contest questions, or just want to drop us a note, don't hesitate to Contact Us anytime.
Have a happy and safe holiday!
The Stage of Life Editorial Team
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 | November 2012 Writing Contest
This Writing Contest has ended.
Writing Contest Prompt: What was the most inspirational or important book you've ever read?
Three Essay Winners in Three Life Stages:
Details: This is our semi-annual, site-wide writing contest, where every life stage answers the same writing prompt. This month, we took a look back at nearly three years of writing contests and discovered that after years of asking people to submit personal, inspirational essays about everything from their favorite songs to how they could change the world, surprisingly, we never asked anyone to write an essay about their favorite...book.
For those of you familiar with StageofLife.com, you know we're one of the nation's leading digital literacy initiatives.
So it's about time we celebrate one of the foundations of literacy itself...
books!
Take a few minutes to think about the books you've read. Then consider those books that
really stood out to you.
- The book that inspired you to think differently.
- The book that most challenged your world view.
- The book that you simply couldn't put down.
- The book that first made you cry.
- The book that gave you new insight into a part of your personality.
- The book you could read again and again.
Whatever impact it had on you, pick one book, and in 500 words or less, write a personal essay that shares why that book is so important to you. And please don't think we're asking for a flat book report on the classics.
Far from it.
In fact, regarding the classics, we don't care about the genre of the book you pick. That's up to you. It's your book choice. Science Fiction book? Business book? Motor Cross table top book? One of the classics? It doesn't matter.
What does matter is that you submit an original, personal essay with a unique point-of-view about a book and why it's important (to you).
Our hope is that your essay will inspire another person to read the same book. And considering we see a bit of traffic to the website each year from people who come to read the essays published here, we have a strong feeling your essay will be read, and someone will be inspired by your words.
Resources: Consider these book lists for future reading or to help spur your memory as you select the book(s) to nominate in your essay...
Prize Package: The winning writer(s) will receive...
- A spot as a Featured Writer on StageofLife.com
- Stage of Life SWAG
- Prize package that includes a $25 - $50 gift card from one of our national sponsors: SpaWeek.com, BareNecessities.com, Shoebuy.com, etc.
Upload your Essay...
Essay Title: When submitting your writing contest essay, title it as follows:
My Favorite Book: ____________ [add your own unique headline about how the book was inspirational]. Please make sure to mention the author in the title too.
Title Examples:
- My Favorite Book: "The Hobbit" by J.R.R. Tolkien inspired me to take up the hobby of metal detecting
- My Favorite Book: "Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger made me realize my teenager is normal
Please be creative with your title, and for the essay itself, be original and speak with a unique point of view on why your book is important to you. Be creative. Be personal. Good luck!
IMPORTANT TIPS/QUICK RULES:
- You are welcome to blog on StageofLife.com as much as you want, but only TWO essay submissions per user for this November 2012 writing contest are allowed.
- Title your essay using the instructions above so our Editors can find it in the story feeds on the website.
- Cut and paste your essay (500 words or less) into the "Story Details" field of the writing contest submission form, which will appear after you click "Submit Essay" above. We recommend writing your essay in NotePad, TextEdit or a Word program first (please use spell check) and then cutting and pasting it into our online submission form. Once the essay is in the online form, please adjust the spacing as necessary so your essay looks good.
NOTE: You will need to login to submit your writing contest entry. If you don't have a StageofLife.com login, please register (it's free).
FULL WRITING CONTEST RULES
Free Contest:
This is a free writing contest. StageofLife.com does not require a submission fee. TWO ESSAY ENTRIES PER PERSON FOR THIS MONTH'S WRITING CONTEST. However, you are welcome to blog about your life or other topics outside of this writing contest at any time on StageofLife.com
Contest Deadline:
Nov. 30, 2012 at midnight Pacific Standard Time (US)
Prize Package and Winner:
The winner and semi-finalists will be announced here after Dec. 15th, 2012.
Winner and semi-finalists will be contacted by a StageofLife.com staffer via the email used to register for the website.
Bloggers selected as our national essay finalists and winner(s) will demonstrate strong writing skills, a unique point-of-view, personal tone, originality, and realness in their essay.
"Realness?" Yes...realness.
The reason that journalists and organizations ranging from TIME.com to Mint Education have featured our bloggers' essays in the national media is because our bloggers and members write from the heart. Real people sharing real stories about their lives. Couple this with our position as one of the few national, non-partisan, digital literacy platforms in the world and you'll find Stage of Life an open environment to share your ideas.
Post Comments:
We'd like to encourage all participants and readers to make comments on these writing contest essays. Please just remember to keep all comments/posts/discussions civil and in good taste in each of the essay-blog threads. Nasty comments, personal attacks, or other such comments are not allowed.
Last Words - Share Your Story:
Our hope is that your writing contest submission will positively impact others and help with our mission of making the world a better place, one story at a time. Your essay may inspire others or even better, give you an opportunity to share a story that's simply important to you.
After you've submitted your essay, feel free to share the link to your essay on Facebook or Twitter. Our essays are judged by real Editors, not popularity, but we do like to spread the word about our national writing contest, and word-of-mouth is always the best method. Tell your friends about your essay on Stage of Life.
Also, if you know any teachers that would like a free Stage of Life writing contest poster for their classroom, have them contact us.
About:
Read more about StageofLife.com and our mission
Good luck! Scroll back up and click on the "Submit Essay" button to upload your essay. |
 | Sept. - Oct. 2012: Empty Nest & Retirement Writing Contest
Writing Contest Topic: Which Presidential Candidate will be best for Baby Boomers (and older generations) in the Empty Nest or Retirement stage of life?
 Details: President Obama and Governor Mitt Romney face off in November for the 2012 U.S. Presidential Election. In your opinion, which candidate presents the policy platform on the key issues that will most benefit you as you head into or continue in the retirement or empty nest stage of your life?
Tell us a personal story about which one or two key issues, in your opinion, are most important to today's Baby Boomers (or older generations) in a 500 word (or less) essay sharing your political viewpoint. Remember - this is an essay contest on Stage of Life. We're looking for original, personal and real viewpoints from people who are either in or near the Empty Nest and/or Retirement stage of life.
 Prize Package: The winning writer will receive...
- A spot as a Featured Writer on StageofLife.com
- Stage of Life SWAG
- $25 gift code from Stage of Life blogging contest sponsor, Shoebuy.com
Upload your Essay...
Essay Title: So our Editors can easily find your writing contest essay in our story feed on Stage of Life, please title it as follows:
[Obama/Romney] will be best for Baby Boomers because ____________ [complete this sentence with your own unique title as it pertains to your life in or near Retirement or Empty Nest].
NOTE: You will need to login to submit your essay to the Empty Nest and Retirement writing contest. If you don't have a StageofLife.com login, please register (it's free).
DISCLAIMER: Stage of Life is a non-partisan, national, grassroots writing and blogging community. We do not endorse any particular candidate or political party. Your viewpoints and those of other bloggers participating in this writing contest are just that...your viewpoints...not ours. We look forward to reading the mix of responses from this writing contest!
FULL WRITING CONTEST RULES
Free Contest:
This is a free writing contest. StageofLife.com does not require a submission fee. ONE ESSAY ENTRY PER PERSON for the writing contest (although you are welcome to blog and submit essays on StageofLife as much as you want outside of the writing contest. Just click any of the "Share Your Story" tabs or buttons throughout the site.).
Contest Deadline:
October 31st, 2012 at Midnight Pacific Standard Time
 Resource: If you're curious about exploring common policy issues and how the 2012 presidential candidates match up with your viewpoints, visit iSideWith.org to take their free Election Quiz.
Prize Package and Winner: Winner(s) will be announced, along with finalists, here after November. 15th, 2012. Winner and semi-finalists will be contacted by a StageofLife.com staffer via the email used to register for the website.
Post Comments:
We'd like to encourage all participants and readers to make comments on these writing contest essays. Please just remember to keep all comments/posts/discussions civil and in good taste. We know topics on Stage of Life can often hit home (we're talking about real life after all), but remember that EVERYONE is respected and welcome to his or her opinion in our blogging community. Any nasty or personal attacks via the Comment features are not allowed.
Last Words - Share Your Story:
Our hope is that your political essay and thoughts will positively impact others and help with our mission of making the world a better place, one story at a time. Your essay may inspire others. After you've submitted your story to the writing contest, feel free to share the link to your essay on Facebook or Twitter. Or, send the link to a political organization that could benefit from your viewpoint. Also, feel free to share this writing contest and/or your essay on your blog.
About:
Read more about StageofLife.com and our mission
Good luck! Scroll back up and click on the "Submit Essay" button to upload your essay.
P.S. Share with family and friends: If you have friends or family in other stages of life who have passionate opinions about politics, encourage them to enter our writing contests for the other life stages on StageofLife.com. |
 | July & August 2012 Writing Contest
This Contest has Ended
Writing Contest Topic: Share a story about a song that was incredibly important or inspiring to you at one point in your life.
To view ALL of the essays for this writing contest and a full summary report of the poll, click below.
Essay Winner:
1st Place: My Song: “I Wonder” by Kellie Pickler made me think about the mother I never had by lpd811 (This teen writes letters to her birth mother)
2nd Place: My Song: “You’ll Be in My Heart” gave me the strength to accept what cannot be changed by suddenfury (This song helped me cope when her father suffered a traumatic injury)
3rd Place: My Song: “Us Against the World” by Coldplay gives me hope after my soul mate’s passing by charleytagg (She is never without his love)
4th Place (tie): My Song: “After the Storm” Understands Why I Hold by abigailmumm (Her father received a devastating double diagnosis)
4th Place (tie): My Song: “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” by Bob Marley gave me the strength to overcome life’s struggles by jpeschard (His parents discovered his most well-guarded secret)
Runners-Up:
- My Song: “Eyes Open” Helped Me Fight the Night by minito50 (This teen was inspired to get to work)
- My Song: “Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore” by Joyce Hager (A love story in song form)
- My Song: “Both of Us” by B.O.B. feat. Taylor Swift is the story of my life by livisan (This song accurately describes her struggles)
- My Song: “Hammers and Strings” by Jack’s Mannequin made me worth something to myself by Writer Selbe (She found reassurance in a song that sounds like it was written for her)
- My Song: “I’ll Be There For You” showed me that high school friendships weren’t going anywhere by KL94 (High school graduations brought bittersweet feelings)
- My Song: “I Will Wait For You” by Connie Francis reminds me of my childhood promise by ShaunaMarieJ (She made an important promise to her grandmother)
- My Song: “I Won’t Give Up” by Jason Mraz by iJulestheWorld (A Yale rejection made this teen stumble over her “life plan”)
- My Song: “Shattered” (by Trading Yesterday), just like my amnesiac ex-best friend’s memory by KuronoxShizaya (Her friend suffered a terrible accident and was left with few memories)
- My Song: The album “Tennessee” saved me from myself by amanda.tucker (She turned to bad decisions after an unexpected breakup)
- My Song: “Till I Collapse” by Eminem was my lifeline in tenth grade by thocho23 (He struggled with adapting to a new school 10,000 miles from home)
- My Song: My love song made by the universe by AlyRose (This song can’t be accurately described)
 Semi-Finalists (in no particular order):
- My Song: “The Christmas Song”, sung by Nat King Cole, fills my mind with wonderful family memories and life lessons by momaloft (She hopes to share life lesson with her children and grandchildren)
- My Song: “Taking You Home” by Don Henley was the perfect wedding song for Sue and I by Tom_Leskiw (He searched for the perfect song for a second marriage)
- My Song: “Citizen Soldier” by 3 Doors Down: It’s Me by derrick.jayska (This song calmed him down when he was deploying overseas)
- My Song: “Can’t You See” by The Marshall Tucker Band reminds me that my marriage is worth the effort by momaloft (This song calms the anger in their relationship)
- My Song: “Everybody Hurts” pulls me from the abyss by jildaleigh (This song restores her faith in herself)
- My Song: “I’ll Be Missing You” by riserthinking (This song reminds this teen of pleasant memories with an old friend)
- My Song: Taylor Swift – “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” by watchinxfileswiththelightson (Taylor Swift understands her hard break up)
- My Song: “Anthem Part Two”—Unifying a Generation by jwilson (Adults need to give teens more credit)
- My Song: “Breathe” for Jared by defalinician (A story of sadness for an old friend)
- My Song: “Don’t Cha” helped mend a broken heart by lookingforanswers (This fun and silly song helped cheer her friend up in her time of need)
- My Song: “Yellow” by Coldplay Taught Me the Art of the Stars by marameama (The stars are peaceful)
- My Song: “Patience” was an everyday reminder by amanda.tucker (Don’t give up on love)
- My Song: “Heaven is a Place on Earth”. Really. by zenarein (Fond memories with friends)
- My Song: “Hey Jude” by artfreak889 (A poem about the famous Beatles song)
- My Song: “Alice” by Avril Lavigne reminds me of my struggle finding my major for college by fluffystatickitty09 (She couldn’t decide on a major)
- My Song: “Home” by Phillip Phillips lets me know that home is wherever I am with the ones by lookingforanswers (Good feelings during the Olympics)
- My Song: “The House that Built Me” the song that points me to where I belong by yancy1 (This song helped her through a tough and difficult time)
- My Song: “I Believe” reminded me that I really do believe by efeldan (This teen successfully ran a half-marathon)
- My Song: Be “Mean” (by Taylor Swift) all you want but see if I budge by swohsmsj (She was horribly bullied by adults and kids when she was growing up)
- My Song: “Party Rock” in the House Every Saturday by parkman2626 (This song broke up the monotony in a tough biology SAT class)
- My Song: “Ronda Alla Turca” by Mozart taught me nothing’s perfect by emily.jamison1 (This teen learned more about music from this song than anything else)
- My Song: “Stand By Me” reminds me of the unwavering devotion of my best friend by SmilinAlltheWay (Her childhood best friend continues to stand by her side despite their distance)
- My Song: Kelly Clarkson’s “Stronger” helped me on by ecat197 (This teen wouldn’t let rejection get her down)
- My Song: “Superstar” and how Chinese pop inexplicably helped me become more confident by Hatman (This song helped this teen loosen up in a scary situation)
- My Song: “Sway” helped me remember the love instead of the distance by madeline101 (Her boyfriend asked her out in a romantic and unexpected way)
- My Song: “Teenage Daughters” by Martina McBride taught me that boys leave but moms stay by horsekisses1 (A bad break-up inspired her mom to show her how much she loved hers)
- My Song: “What Makes You Beautiful”: the song I should NOT have danced to by katie_selena (She had an embarrassing interaction with her crush)
To view the full summary report for this writing contest:
Details: Music plays an integral and emotional role in our lives. There was the song that was playing in the background during your first kiss. The song you picked for your first dance at your wedding. The song that helped you through a difficult time. Or the song you and your friends belted out at the top of your lungs one summer night around a campfire.
We all have stories and memories tied to songs that have become a part of who are, because as we all know music plays an integral part of shaping our identity as we mature through life.
Prize Package: The winning writer will receive...
- A spot as a Featured Writer on StageofLife.com
- Stage of Life SWAG
- Prize package from Stage of Life essay sponsors featuring over $100 in gift certificates from...
Essay Title: When submitting your writing contest essay, title it as follows:
My Song: ____________ [add your own unique headline about the song as it pertains to your life].
Title Examples:
- My Song: "These Arms of Mine" by Otis Redding reminds me how much I love my wife
- My Song: "Blister in the Sun" reminded me in high school that I must go on
- My Song: I painted my entire house listening only to The Darkness
STUDENTS: Aside from the writing contest, if you're a major music fan or personally know a band, songwriter or musician and would like to write a formal music review for Stage of Life about that band, check out our Teens and Music page for details (and for some tips on new music to check out).
Contest Deadline:
THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED AND IS BEING JUDGED. SEMI-FINALISTS AND WINNER(S) WILL BE ANNOUNCED HERE AFTER SEPT. 15TH.
Prize Package and Winner: One or two winners will be selected, along with finalists. The winner and semi-finalists will be announced here after Sept. 15th, 2012. Winner and semi-finalists will be contacted by a StageofLife.com staffer via the email used to register for the website.
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 | Empty Nest/Retirement Writing Contest: May - June 2012
THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED
Writing Contest Question: What is your dream renovation?
Essay Winner: My Dream Improvement Project: Begins Outside by momaloft
Runner-Up: My Dream Improvement Project: Becoming a Published Author by Cherise Wyneken
Background: Summer is drawing near and this is prime climate for home improvement projects and renovations. You may be a veteran or entry level empty nester with the need to make new with the now empty space of your kid(s), a retiree with time on their hands and the need to fill a vision, or, a baby boomer looking to cash in on equity and maybe bring up the value of your home. Even if the economy is holding off plans or the dream is yet to be put into action, we all have those home projects that will fill a need or fulfill a dream! What will your dream remodel, renovation, or improvement project consist of, be it empty nest, retirement, or increasing the value of your investment…your home?
Essay Title: Please title your story/essay: My Dream Improvement Project: (Insert your creative title here)
Example of Essay Title: My Dream Improvement Project: Kids Room Today, My Music Room Tomorrow!
Remember - your essay needs to be 500 words or less.
Prizes: Three prizes awarded to winner...
 StageofLife.com SWAG package (pen and more)- Featured Writer status for your essay on StageofLife.com.
- $25 gift card from Shoebuy.com
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 | Empty Nest/Retirement Writing Contest: March- April 2012
This Contest has Ended
Writing Contest Question: "With gas prices rising, how will this affect your retirement plans?"
Retirement Writing Contest Winner: The Economy and My Retirement: Off the Grid! by momaloft
Background: The economy has it's ups and downs, which always affects the way people spend and save. As the price of gas begins to rise, will this force you to change your empty nest and retirement travel plans?
Essay Title: Please title your story/essay: The Economy and My Retirement: ________ [insert your answer]
Example of Essay Title: The Economy and My Retirement: Florida will have to wait
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 | January- February 2012: Writing Contest
This Contest has Ended
Writing Contest: What do you envision for 2012?
Details: Whether you are a single woman or man over 50, recently retired or experienced the first holiday season without your son or daughter who is off on their own, there is no doubt that we all experienced different emotions and possibly witnessed change of past traditions. Then again, some of us may have been totally unaffected by change and the economy.
Have the kids moved away or are they still local, and did the distance, tight finances or alternating families of significant others put restrictions on visits? If you have been single or are new to this experience, what kind of plans did you make to stay on top of it all. If you are retired, money may have been tight this year tell us your thoughts on 2012. What do you expect it to be like?
In your essay, please creatively tell us...
- Your outlook for 2012
- Goals
- Worries
Winner: My 2012 Vision: A Nod to Yogi Berra by dswiatek |
 | November - December 2011: Writing Contest
This Contest has Ended
Writing Contest: Awareness Month Nomination - What issue or cause should receive its own "awareness" month?
View summary for this writing contest:
Winner: Awareness Month Nomination: Don’t Let Another One Die From Suicide by NCpollyCA (Suicide prevention deserves an entire year, let alone one month)
Runners Up:
- Awareness Month Nomination: Realizing Time by Guerillafilth (“Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional”)
- Awareness Month Nomination: Increasing Awesome by Papples (Stage of Life should feature “awesome” news stories from around the world)
Details: We saw NFL players wearing pink throughout October in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness month. We will pay tribute to the role of African-Americans throughout February during Black History month. Now think about the topics on which you're passionate, and share your thoughts on a single issue or cause that should receive its own awareness month.
In your essay, please creatively tell us...
- Is this a local, regional, national, international or planetary issue?
- Why is this issue important?
- Who does the issue impact?
- How could the message be spread?
- Are there any organizations, companies or blogs currently trying to make a difference to increase awareness on this issue?
Here's the exciting part...
This is going to be our first-ever, site-wide writing contest on StageofLife.com (verses the individual monthly writing contests). So no matter what your stage of life may be, we want everyone, from teens to Baby Boomers, to share their vision and thoughts on how we could make the world a better place through your personal nomination of a societal issue that needs increased awareness in its own Awareness Month.
The best essay responses will be compiled on a summary page and shared via a national press release in early 2012.
$250 Prize Package: One essay winner will be selected from across all writing contest entries in all life stages on StageofLife.com We will also select 10 finalists, one from each life stage. The solo-winner will receive a prize package valued at over $250:
- $100 in cash from StageofLife.com
- $50 gift card from contest sponsor, BareNecessities.com
- $50 gift card from contest sponsor, FragranceNet.com
- $25 gift card from contest sponsor, KodakGallery.com
- $25 gift card from contest sponsor, Shoebuy.com
- Free Pillow from contest sponsor, Sleepy's
- Free T-Shirt from contest sponsor, T-Shirts.com
- Stage of Life SWAG package, including letter from Stage of Life CEO
- Invitation to become a Featured Writer on StageofLife.com
Writing Contest Prize Sponsors
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 | Retirement/Empty Nest Writing Contest: September-October, 2011
Retirement/Empty Nest Writing Contest Question: "What do you feel may become the new trend or norm for the future of retirement?"
Background: It’s common for parents to be devastated when the kids move out. Further, you have spent most of your life stressed out about retirement funds. But times and economic events have created a shift in your ability to save. Those nest eggs and fund accounts seem to be on the chopping block. Many of us will never be able to afford what is deemed as a ‘normal’ or traditional retirement.
What do you see for a future life of retirement and what are some ideas on how retirement traditions will change. Whether you have first hand experience as a current retiree or see it somewhere in the future as an empty nester or baby boomer, your thoughts and ideas are important to us all! As an empty nester, retiree or soon to be either, what do you feel may become the new trend or norm for the future of retirement?
Essay Title: Please title your story/essay: The future of retirement: ________ [insert your unique part of the title]
Example: The future of retirement: Working a part-time job just to get by.
Contest Deadline: October 31st, 2011
Winner: Announced after November 10, 2011
Retirement/Empty Nest Writing Contest Winner Gets:
- Stage of Life t-shirt and pen
- Featured Writer invite on Stage of Life
- $25 cash from Stage of Life!
THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED AND IS BEING JUDGED |
 | Retirement/Empty Nest Writing Contest: July- August, 2011
Retirement/Empty Nest Writing Contest Question: "What are you looking forward to when you retire or have an empty nest?
Contest Details: Don't deny it, we know your excited to retire or have the house all to yourself. What are your plans for retirement? Are you going to:
- Travel
- Remodel
- Relocate
- Downsize
- Pick a new hobby
- Renew your relationship with your significant other
Essay Title: Please title your story/essay: How will you fill your time: ________ [insert your unique part of the title]
Example: How will you fill your time: I will buy an RV and travel with my wife.
THIS CONTEST HAS ENDED
Contest Deadline: August 31st, 2011
Winner: How will you fill your time: I will survive by momaloft
Retirement/Empty Nest Writing Contest Winner Gets:
- Stage of Life t-shirt and pen
- Featured Writer invite on Stage of Life
- $25 cash from Stage of Life!
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