Elizabeth Bishop Society of Nova Scotia

Part of the mission of the Elizabeth Bishop Society of Nova Scotia is to educate Nova Scotians and the world about Elizabeth Bishop’s deep and abiding connection to the province. As the EBSNS Board discussed what it might do to mark the Elizabeth Bishop Centenary in 2011, what sort of events or activities it could sponsor which would both honour Bishop and reflect this mission, a writing competition and a writers’ festival emerged as ideal choices.

Throughout 2011 and across Nova Scotia, artists of many disciplines (writers, musicians, painters, composers, photographers, filmmakers, publishers, etc.) will be engaged in many projects, events and activities, to celebrate Elizabeth Bishop’s 100th birthday. One of the principle intentions behind celebrating this important anniversary is to encourage these artists to create new work inspired by her life and art, which will reflect her continuing relevance and influence.

It was in Great Village, N.S., where Elizabeth Bishop learned to read and write, where she had her first formal pedagogical experience. The EBSNS felt that a writing competition focused on Nova Scotia elementary, junior and senior high school students was a good way not only to introduce young readers to Bishop’s work, but also to foster creativity and writing skills.

Moreover, it will produce a tangible legacy, the most obvious product of which will be a publication of winners of the competition.

Because this competition is a one-time event, the EBSNS Board thought carefully about it parameters. Since there are many writing competitions across Canada and since the Board wants to raise awareness and educate young people about Elizabeth Bishop, it choose a short-prose writing competition inspired by one of Bishop’s most beloved stories, “In the Village,” a lyrical memoir about her childhood in Great Village.

This story is about many things: home, identity, memory, place, geography and history (both personal and communal). It is autobiographical and universal at the same time. It is prose which reads like poetry. It is a masterpiece of imaginative remembering. Each of us has a story about where we live, where we come from, who we belong to, how we see our home, our town, our province, our country. Expressing these stories is what the “‘In the Village — The Elizabeth Bishop Centenary Writing Competition” is about.

The EBSNS Board has also thought carefully about guidelines for the competition. While the EBSNS will receive some funding from various groups (see the competition brochure), essentially, the competition is run by volunteers, including judging (judges will, however, receive a small honorarium).

While the EBSNS Board wants to encourage all elementary, junior and senior high students to participate, it was decided that rather than have the competition open to individual submissions from every student in the province, we would ask that each school which participates select the top three entries (and honorable mentions — unlimited) from each class of each Grade. (That is, if a school has multiple Grade 7s, then submissions as outlined can be submitted from each class of Grade 7).

Being the first time any such contest has taken place, the EBSNS Board has no idea what the response will be. Would opening the competition to all students invite a flood of submissions, overwhelming our committee and volunteer judges (all of whom are writers, educators and other professionals)? Would setting a limit of the top three (with honorable mentions) from each class, seem too restrictive a condition? Who in each class would choose those top three? It will, of course, fall to the teachers and any other school or community members who might be willing to help. Would this added work discourage teachers from participating? The EBSNS Board and competition organizers hope this will not be the case.