Born: Victoria
Age: 13
Family: Mom, Dad, little brother Brian
Occupation: Student at Colquitz Middle School
Favourite authors: Ellen Hopkins (Burned) and Sara Shepherd (The Pretty Little Liars series)
Writing background: First writing experience, aside from school assignments, was in her journal. This is her first public contest. She also enjoys sketching and animation, which she works into her writing. "I sort of piece them together sometimes. Say if I'm writing about scenery, then I would sort of draw it out."
How often she writes: On weekends and after school. Plus about one major writing assignment each month at school.
Where she writes: Sometimes outside in the backyard, where she just picks a spot and lies down. But most often, at her desk in her bedroom: "It's just sort of like a man-cave to me or something like that. It's private." Preferred type or style of writing: Doesn't have a strong preference for styles or forms, but enjoys writing poems. In terms of reading: "To be honest, I like romance and dramatic books."
On the inspiration for her submission: She was browsing photos online. "I saw this image of a photograph, really of, this dark sea and the sky. That was my inspiration. ... There was this orange-y sunset and there were these like really rough waves, the water was really dark."
Fun fact: Her favourite subjects are math, science and language arts. "My teachers usually get us to write creative writing and stuff like that, so I really enjoy that in English class. And for science - I don't know, it just really interests me. And math, I'm just good at it, so I enjoy it."
HER SUBMISSION: SURREAL
am walking on the Coastline
I Watching as the tide brings waste ashore
The once glimmering, clear, ocean
Now a dull blue
I realize that natural beauty does not last long
I search for my reflection
In the bitter water that lies beneath me
Wondering if the vast sea can give me answers
To what I'm looking for
The tide ripples my reflection
Until I see nothing
I look ahead and find a small deserted island
Looking awkward in the middle of the ocean
Like it doesn't belong there
Like it became swept up from the direction of the currents
And been placed there,
With not much thought
The island reminds me of the confused person I am
Searching, dreaming, but not reaching
A piece of paper suddenly catches my eye
I dig it up out of the silky sand and out comes a newspaper article
The headline reads
"What Lies Beneath"
As if those words are a seal of approval that nothing is what it seems
I can visualize the sea; wounded, hurt, just like me
As I look further in the horizon,
I see a ferry ripping through the water like glass
I notice the exhaust coming out of the pipes
Befouling the sky, water, and everything around it
I wonder where Mother Nature is
When we needed her most
I look into the immense white clouds above me
If I could somehow attain that surreal world
By crossing a bridge
If only it were that simple
