Contest Rules

OETA PBS KIDS GO! Young Writers Contest Rules

PBS Kids GO! Writer's ContestIt's time for the annual OETA/PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest 2013!  The OETA Contest will run from January 14, 2013 through April 1, 2013. 

Eligibility & Entry Guidelines

  • Entrants must be in kindergarten, first, second or third grade.
  • Children of employees of PBS, PBS stations or their affiliates, sales representatives, subsidiaries or parent companies, advertising/sales promotion agencies, and judges are not eligible.
  • To be eligible, an entrant must be a legal resident of the fifty (50) United States and D.C. (excluding Puerto Rico, USVI and American Samoa).  Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify ineligible entries; such entries will not be returned.
  • Only one entry per person will be accepted; all subsequent entries will be disqualified.
  • Only single author stories qualify (no co-authored stories).
  • Stories can be fact or fiction, and prose or poetry.
  • Any failure to adhere to these Contest Rules may result in disqualification from the contest.
  • No purchase is necessary.

Word Count

  • Kindergarten and first grade stories must have a minimum of 50 words and a maximum of 200 words.
  • Second and third grade stories must have a minimum of 100 words and a maximum of 350 words.
  • The word count includes “a,” “an,” and “the,” but not the words on non-story pages such as the title page or those that enhance the illustrations.
  • Text must be printed or written legibly or typed.
  • Children who cannot write may dictate their story to be printed, written legibly or typed.
  • Text may be integrated into the illustration pages or on separate pages.
  • Non-English text must be translated on the same page and the translated text (English text) must adhere to word count.
  • Invented spelling is accepted. 

Format & Illustrations

  • Stories must have at least 5 original, clear and colorful illustrations.
  • Original art can include drawings, collages, and 3-D created by the author or photographs taken by the author.
  • Stories submitted by mail must be created on one side of the paper and numbered on the back of each page.

 Official Entry Form

  • Each entry must include the official PBS KIDS GO! Writers Contest Entry Form, with the required signature of a parent/guardian (and, if appropriate, the optional signature of the sponsoring teacher), confirming that the story and art are original, and granting certain rights to the entry materials.
  • The entry form must be complete and legible.

 Judging, Awards & Notification

Entries will be judged on originality, creative expression, storytelling and integration of text and illustrations. OETA - The Oklahoma Network will judge local submissions.  All decisions of the judges are final and not subject to appeal or review.  Local prizes for the 2011 Contest are determined by OETA - The Oklahoma Network. Prize recipients must allow a minimum of 4 to 6 weeks from notification to delivery.  Prizes are non-transferable. Submissions will be judged on the following criteria:

  • 40% Creativity and originality of plot and/or themes,
  • 40% Story structure and use of literary devices,
  • 20% Relevance, quality and originality of illustration.

Return of Entries

The Contest administrators will make every effort, but are not required, to return entries only if accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope of an appropriate size. OETA is not responsible for late, lost, stolen, misdirected, damaged, mutilated, incomplete or illegible entries, or postage-due mail.

Rights Associated with Contest

Submission of the Entry Form constitutes permission for OETA/PBS to use the participants’ name, likeness, biographical information, information and materials contained in the Entry Form, photographs, and any statements or remarks made about the Contest in advertising and promotion without further compensation or permission, except where prohibited by law.  All entries, and any copyrights therein, become the sole property of OETA/PBS.  By entering, entrants agree to abide by the above stated rules, and warrant that their entry is their original work and does not infringe upon or violate rights of any third party, and grant to OETA/PBS the right to edit, publish, promote, and otherwise use their entry materials without permission, notice or compensation.  No royalties will be paid at this or any time.

By submitting an entry and Entry Form, each participant (and parent or guardian) assigns all right, title, and interest in and to the entry and Entry Form to OETA/PBS and warrants that the participant (and parent or guardian) have the authority to assign such right, title, and interest. In the event that any applicable law requires certain formalities to be fulfilled to effectuate such grant of rights, each participant (and parent or guardian) agrees to cooperate with OETA/PBS to achieve fulfillment of such formalities.

By submitting an Entry Form, each participant (and parent or guardian) agree to be bound by these Contest Rules.  Each participant (and parent or guardian) agrees to release and hold OETA, PBS, and its employees, officers, directors, shareholders, agents, representatives, subsidiaries, parent companies, or other affiliated companies harmless from any and all damages, losses, claims and liabilities arising out of participation in the Contest or resulting from acceptance or claiming of any prize hereunder. OETA/PBS reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to terminate, suspend or otherwise cancel the Contest at any time.  Income and all other taxes are the responsibility of the prize recipient.  OETA/PBS is not responsible for any expenses incurred in connection with participation in the Contest.

Privacy:  Unless otherwise specified, any and all information connected in connection with this Contest will be used by Sponsor solely for the purpose of administering the Contest.  To understand how PBS uses, stores, manages, and discards private information, visit the PBS privacy policy at: http://www.pbs.org/about/policies/privacy-policy/.