Superhero Story Writing Contest For 6 to 8 grades
Bring your superhero to life
The world needs a new superhero. Write a thrilling story or design a comic book strip about your superhero and describe how he/she will save humanity. Tell us how they will create a safer, more humane world and win fantastic prizes!
Winners of Storybook Category
1st Place
Adrian F.
Grade 8
Cerro Villa Middle School, Villa Park, CA
2nd Place
Isbah A.
Grade 8
Cerro Villa Middle School, Villa Park, CA
3rd Place
Abigail W.
Grade 7
Meyerland PVA Middle School, Houston, TX
Winners of Comic Book Category
1st Place
Kanzi A.
Grade 8
Culver City Middle School, Culver City, CA
2nd Place
Jake G.
Grade 6
St. James Middle School, St. James, MO
3rd Place
Naya H.
Grade 7
South Pasadena Middle School, South Pasadena, CA
Closed for Submissions
Note: Submission deadline was March 31, 2021.
Cash Prizes to win!
1st prize
$75
(Amazon Gift Card)
2nd prize
$50
(Amazon Gift Card)
3rd prize
$25
(Amazon Gift Card)
Stan Lee did it. Now it’s your turn.
Can your superhero save the day?
Story Prompt: What the world needs now is a new superhero. Now’s your chance to create one. 2020 has been a very difficult year. We need superheroes to guide us with their magic powers. In these times, we need fighters to win for humanity. Where are they? Who are they? What kinds of problems can they cure? What kind of world can we expect in 2021?
Design your superhero to help the universe. Put your creativity and your genius to the test. We will all be grateful. Oh, and have FUN! THE BEST SUPERHERO WINS!
Design your superhero to help the universe. Put your creativity and your genius to the test. We will all be grateful. Oh, and have FUN! THE BEST SUPERHERO WINS!
Guidelines
Submit your entry for Superhero Story Writing Contest in the form of a Narrative Story or Graphic Story (Comic Book Style).
- Submission should not exceed 2000 words.
- PDF file only, not to exceed 10 MB.
- Typed only
- Include a title for the book.
- Submission should not exceed 8 single-sided 8.5X11 pages including the cover page.
- PDF file only, not to exceed 10 MB.
- Black and white only
- Can be hand-drawn or digital.
- Any written content should be legible.
- Include a title for your Comic Book.
- Submission of entry into this contest constitutes acceptance of all rules and conditions.
- Students should be US residents.
- Students should be from grades 6 through 8 during the 2020-21 school year.
- Only one submission allowed per student.
- Each submission must be the creative and original work of the student. Help from an adult or other students is not allowed. Computer-generated images are acceptable as long as they are your original work (no clip art).
- Narrative Story should not exceed 2000 words.
- Graphic Story should not exceed the maximum length of 8 pages, including the cover page.
- Use letter-size paper (8.5 x 11) with black-and-white drawings on single-sided pages only.
- Only digital copies are accepted. No hard copy submissions allowed.
- Talentnook reserves the right to reproduce your work. You can reuse all your work after the contest. This submission shall remain the property of the entrant, but entry into this program constitutes the entrant’s irrevocable permission and consent that Talentnook may display, copy, reproduce, enhance, print, sublicense, publish, distribute and create derivative works for its own purposes.
- Entries can be submitted no later than 11:59 PM on Sunday, March 31, 2021.
- The use of copyrighted content, including any copyrighted comic book or cartoon characters or likeness thereof, is not acceptable in any submission.
- The submission may include public places, figures, well-known products, trademarks or certain other copyrighted content as long as that copyrighted material is incidental to the submission.
- The resulting work cannot try to establish an association between the participating student and the trademark or copyrighted content/material, or influence the purchase/non-purchase of any trademarked products.
- Talentnook cash cannot be redeemed for cash and is subject to terms and conditions as per https://talentnook.com/terms-of-use
Have questions about the writing contest? Reach out to us at info@talentnook.com
Judging Criteria
Entries for the Superhero Story Writing Contest will be judged using a rubric scale by a panel of Talentnook teachers and staff. To understand what the judges will be looking for, you can view the rubric for each category.
Story Book Rubric
Comic Book Rubric
- The writer obviously understands what they are writing about.
- No generalizations are made or assumed.
- All details are interesting.
- All details are relevant to the topic.
- Appropriate and insightful support is given and explained.
- The organization enhances and showcases the central idea.
- The order and structure is compelling. (It makes you want to continue reading without choppiness.)
- The organization moves the reader through the text – the reader doesn’t have to stop at any time and go back to figure out what was said.
- The writer speaks directly to the reader in a way that is
- individualistic
- expressive
- engaging
- Clearly, the writer is involved in the text and is writing to be read and enjoyed.
- First person is only used when appropriate.
- No use of “I think” or “I believe” – these words take away the power of the statement and are unnecessary.
- Words convey the intended message in an interesting, precise, and natural way.
- Precise word choice (No “empty words” like: good, bad, etc)
- No overused words or phrases.
- No misused words out of context.
- No awkward words, phrases, or details.
- The writing is full and rich, yet concise.
- The words make the paper enjoyable to read, not boring or confusing.
- The writing has an easy flow and rhythm when read aloud.
- No choppy sentences.
- Combined sentences that show consistency.
- Use of transitions throughout the story to show place value.
- Sentences are well built, consistently strong, and varied. so structure makes expressive oral reading easy, fun, and enjoyable.
- No awkward sentence structure.
- Even careful reading reveals no glaring errors.
- Spelling
- Capitalization
- Punctuation
- Run-on sentences
- Fragment sentences
- Subject/verb agreement
- Tense Changing problems
- Correct paragraph breaks
- Writing conventions are used so well that they make text easier to read, and the story flows.
Comic Book Rubric
- The writer obviously understands what they are writing and illustrating on paper.
- No generalizations are made.
- All details are interesting and bold.
- All details are relevant to the topic.
- The story is interesting and leaves a visual impact.
- Illustrations match the story.
- Illustrations are clear and easy to follow visually.
- Easy to identify what is going on in sequence.
- Style is unique and captivating.
- Character designs are interesting.
- Characters look consistent between panels.
- The text is well placed.
- The writer’s voice is:
- individualistic
- expressive
- engaging
- The plot makes sense and there is a climax and resolution.
- Pacing is appropriate.
- The illustrations are sequential and adhere to the plot.
- Words convey the intended message of illustrations in an interesting, precise, and natural way.
- Precise word choice (No “empty words” like: good, bad, etc).
- No Overused word for redundancy.
- No misused out of context words.
- No awkward words which detract.
- The writing is full and rich, yet concise.
- The words make the comic book enjoyable to read, not boring or confusing.
- The setting is well established.
- The organization enhances and showcases the central idea.
- The order and structure is compelling. (It makes you want to continue reading.)
- The organization moves the reader through the text – the reader doesn’t have to stop at any time and go back to figure out what was illustrated or mentioned.
- Even careful reading reveals no glaring errors.
- Spelling
- Capitalization
- Punctuation
- Run-on sentences or phrases
- Fragment
- Subject/verb agreement
- Tense Changing
- The conventions are used so well that the frame is easy and fun to read.
Virtual Awards Ceremony
Join us as we celebrate the winners of our writing contest and meet our new superheroes! Writing Contest award winners will be announced along with the prize distribution.
Save the date
When: Thursday, April 29, 2021. 5:00 PM PST
Where: Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87331404749?pwd=SjFNaFM2bmp2TnhDY1F5RzlJMDVHZz09
Meeting ID: 873 3140 4749
Passcode: 800044
All contestants, their families, and friends are invited. Also open to the public!
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