Contest showcases bad writing

The English Student Association will hold its second World's Worst Writing Contest during the College of Liberal Arts Week at the end of March. 

"Last semester the event was such a huge success, we wanted to open it to the entire school," said Kelly Schendel, vice president of the English Student Association.

Community is the theme for the College of Liberal Arts Week and the student association thought it would be fun to get all students involved in the contest, Schendel said.

Prizes to be awarded are a computer and monitor to the first place winner, and a color printer to the second place winner.

"We are looking for humor, it has to be funny," Schendel said.   In  addition to bad writing, the story must be around 250 words and in story format, with a beginning, middle and end. Students are encouraged to use mixed metaphors, alliteration and to have fun with the writing, Schendel said.

"It is actually harder to write bad," said last semester's first place winner, graduate student Silver Damsen. "This helps reinforce what good writing is."

The deadline for submissions is March 10 at 5 p.m. 

Drop-off boxes will be placed in the Student Development Office, on the third floor of the McIntosh Humanities Building and other locations on campus, Schendel said.

The top ten writers will read their stories before an audience on March 28. The winner will be judged at the contest. "Make it as bad as you can make it," Schendel said.