nonfiction | Young Writers Project

Jun 03

The Soccer Bee 48

Hungry

I am hungry for knowledge. I alway want to learn. The only downfall is I want knowledge on thing I want to learn about. So if you tell me to learn about some I don’t want to learn about I am going to Half ass it. But when I learn some thing about a thing I like to learn about. Then I will keep digging for more knowledge.
For example in first through third grade I was obsessed with anacondas which are a kind of snake. I kept learning. I was a computer of knowledge on anacondas. Now I am thirsty for understanding of World War two. From memwoirs to historical fiction I am continuing to read and inform myself on this horrific topic.
I can’t compare to my hunger for knowledge to anything else.

Posted: 06.03.19

Oct 18

nonfiction

Thetford Academy

A Quiet Winter Day

The snow crunches softly beneath my boots as I trudge up the hill. Small delicate snowflakes land on my fuzzy hat. I tilt my head back to catch them in my mouth. Out of the corner of my eye, a male cardinal dashes from tree to tree, his red feathers bright against the white snow. When I get to the top of the hill, I pause to look around at the snow covered trees, and listen to how peaceful it is. Dropping my sled on the wet snow, I climb on and slide down the hill, going down easily on top of the smooth and icy snow. The cool wind blowing in my face, smiling to myself. Winter makes me feel serene and content.

Posted: 10.18.18

Jun 28

nonfiction

Lights Out

On June 27, after a heart-warming dinner with the Young Writers Project board (thank you Kathy), after hearing (thank you Susan) the startlingly kind words sent to me from many of you and your predecessors on how much this little project and community has meant, does mean, to you, I shut off the office lights for the last time after 12 years as YWP's executive director.

To you and the 110,000 kids we have touched in that time, thank you for opening your souls; thank you for sharing your ideas and observations, your flights of fancy and moments of bewilderment. Thank you for taking such creative risk.

You have enriched my life. You've opened my eyes to what you see and feel and experience and think and believe. And you have enriched the lives of thousands upon thousands of others -- your readers.

Posted: 06.28.18

Oct 19

nonfiction

Mrs_Mango3340

Crush

Crush, everyone in the young life will experience this at some point, and I'm not talking about smashing something or the sad feeling of being crushed but that intense, good feeling you can get for someone meaning you like them romantically.
A crush is by definition: Puppy love, also known as a crush, is an informal term for feelings of romantic or platonic love, often felt during childhood and early adolescence.
I have this for someone. It's terrifying. There's something about them that makes me want to be with them all the time and I don't understand it.
I really like this person and I wouldn't even say it's a crush anymore at this point.
And the best part is,
THEY LIKE ME BACK!

Posted: 10.19.21

Oct 17

nonfiction challenge: General/Free Write

Peter Gustafson

My summer

My Summer

This summer me and my family got to go to Maine. We get to go every summer. But this year was special for multiple reasons. We got to do more things because we had to skip last summer because of covid.

One of the things we don't usually do is go to Funtown Splashtown. It is really fun. It's a mix of a water park and an amusement park. But we only went to the water park. I had so much fun there, I never wanted to leave.

One of my favorite slides there is called The Tornado. It's when you go in this tube that can fit up to four people. They push you down one part of the slide. Then you go down this pretty high part of the slide. Once you go down that,you are in this big round thing where you go up, and back down, and so on until you reach the end and you go through another little part, and there's the end of the slide (it's kind of like a toilet). That was only one of the multiple slides I went on.

Posted: 10.17.21

Oct 15

nonfiction challenge: Red

Annie Hesser

Vinni

She only wore it once. Her fingernails bled from the red nail polish as it was thrown across the table.
It was chilly out and everyone was inside with Vinni. She wanted her nails done like always. Vinni had always hated not having her nails colored. She thought they looked ugly without it. It was almost like a safety net for her. I suppose I wouldn’t know. Vinni liked this dark burnt red. She wore this color a lot. She liked getting her nails done in this color, she dyed her hair this color. Everything had to be red. I appreciate the color red, but not in a special way like Vinni. To me it's just a color visible through my eyes. It's meaningless to those who see nothing.

Posted: 10.15.21

Oct 15

nonfiction challenge: General/Free Write

[email protected]

Over The Weekend

Over the weekend my brothers and I went to our dad’s. My mom and my step dad got new pets. They got a bearded dragon, a python and tarantula. When my mom and step dad went to go get the pets my brothers and I went to the park. We went to the town of Castleton and it was fun. They had exercise equipment, slides and a tire swing. The swings are fun because one time I went to go on it and it went side to side. It was so cool that I went on it again.

There was a red thing that spun me and my brothers went on it then we left but me, my dad, step mom and brothers went back. My step mom and my dad pushed us and I could not put my head up. When I tried to, I got so dizzy that I almost fell off.

I would like to go to this park again some day. I haven't gotten to see the pets yet but I can't wait to see them.

Posted: 10.15.21

Oct 14

nonfiction challenge: Guess

noshe19

Todd

This is a very peaceful but slightly scary path. This forest of bamboo trees has nice sounds like birds chirping, water dripping, sticks breaking squirrels running, children screaming. People walk down this path and feel cleansed. One thing about this path is humans always feel they are being followed. They're always hearing an extra set of footsteps or hearing a voice that they don't recognize but they always shrug it off. Little do these homo sapiens know they are being followed. They're being followed by a bloodthirsty neon yellow orangutang named Todd. Todd kills for game. Todd is the king of the forest. If you see a bright yellow object while in the forest don't even bother to fight or run. The best thing you can do is take off your shoes and socks and offer yourself sacrifice. Todd will hopefully recognize that you are giving up and he might spare you but most likely no.

Posted: 10.14.21

Oct 09

nonfiction challenge: Inside Cat

Peter Gustafson

Willow

Lia Wolinsky

The energetic and white, soft kitten

Looked me in the eyes and gave me a cuddle

Her name is Willow

She makes me so happy

And she sleeps on my pillow

Oh my little Willow

Meow meow prrrrrrrrr

As I scratch my little Willow’s forehead

Meow meow prrrrrrrr

Meow meow prrrrrrrr

The best part of summer

Was getting my little Willow

She makes life funner

Even through I am a runner I always make time for her

“Willow Willow” shake! Shake !

As I shake the treats my little willow comes running to me

My little Willow will sleep on my pillow

My little Willow will go meow meow purr when I scratch her head

My little Willow runs to me when I shake the treats

I love my little Willow

Posted: 10.09.21

Oct 06

poem, nonfiction challenge: Taste

Geri

San Diego: A History in Taste

San Diego. My home away from home. Salty spray stinging my toungue. Playing with my hair and flirting with my face. A spicy two-step mirrors my heartbeat. Echoing off Spanish missions and stucco roofs.

My first summer there reminds me of chocolate. A kind lady with deep wrinkles saw my beaming birthday face, guided me to the candy store, and let me fill my arms with sweets. And there was chocolate. Melting in my mouth, gliding down my throat, leaving me with the rich, classic flavor. Already I was begging for more. More chocolate, more days spent, drowning in summer's bliss.

I was drunk on it. Bright and sharp as champagne. Wearing rose tinted glasses in an already golden world.

I didn't know reminiscing would become a fickle thing. Sifting through a layer of wistfulness like sprinkled sand.

Posted: 10.06.21

Sep 30

nonfiction challenge: Heavens

[email protected]

Heaven

Our family dog, Sugar, passed away three years ago. She was so sweet and protective. A lot of people said she looked like a coyote. She had whitish gray fur and sea blue eyes. Sugar was a medium sized dog. She had a hard time as a puppy because she didn’t have a great owner before we adopted her. Sugar was three years old when she experienced some trauma that changed her life forever. Sugar's trauma caused her not to like loud noises. Gunshots and thunder would make Sugar shake and cry. My mom who lived alone at the time decided she needed a companion, so my mom adopted Sugar. When my mom first got her, she thought Sugar was a nuisance. After a while she noticed she was protective and the dog she was looking for.

All of us had tears for our loved one, Sugar. She had lived with us for seventeen years. My parents made the right choice to stop her from suffering. My mom has ashes of Sugar in a container in her room.

Posted: 09.30.21

Sep 30

nonfiction challenge: Taste

alexander.pearl

Chill Winter Air

Up here in New England, we are very fortunate to have different seasons. We have spring, summer, fall, and the best, winter. Being outside on a cold day activates all five senses. You can feel the briskness, smell the air, hear the whoosh of the wind, and see the snow drifting across the ground.

But to taste winter is the ultimate experience. You can taste winter in both a literal and a figurative sense. Picure being a kid, running outside to the freshly fallen snow, taking a heaping handful, and stuffing it in your mouth. Your head starts to hurt. A brain freeze. Breathing in, the wind going down your throat, filling your lungs and stomch with brisk air. It is a refreshing feeling.

Posted: 09.30.21

Sep 27

nonfiction challenge: Heavens

helina.torres-d...

The Knight

A new constellation has been added to the night skies, The Knight, was what people called him, and this is his story.

Long ago, a boy lived alone, his life was cursed by the neverending war. The village he lived in had been tarnished, nothing was left but ash and smoke. He stood in the broken, empty house, there was nothing left for him in this place. He was never shroud by hate or resentment, he was the only survivor but he knew hate would surely drive him to insanity. Instead he grabbed what little he could find in the remains, a few burnt pieces of bread, grain, an old ragged blanket. After he tied his belongings, he prayed one last time to his family's graves and left the village.

Posted: 09.27.21

Sep 26

nonfiction

Forever young

Ordinary Thursday

I stood at the bus stop, like every Thursday. An umbrella unfurled above my head. Raindrops rolled down it, like tears tracing magenta cheeks. Frigid air bit me through my jacket, but I resisted. I had to stay.

Like every Thursday, I see you come to stand beside me out of the corner of my eye, a silhouette of warm shadow. As I turned to smile, I froze when you stared back at me, face unreadable. Your eyes were angry, bright hot against the downpour. Yet I could see flashes of silvery sadness, disappointment. I spoke, but words meant nothing. Just sounds travelling across the growing gap between us.

“What?”

Your lips tightened, eyes still glaring. I felt a sinking, tugging feeling in my chest. Like a hand reaching up, and twisting my heart with an iron grip. Finally, painfully, you opened your mouth to speak.

“I don’t think we can be friends anymore.”

Posted: 09.26.21

Sep 24

nonfiction challenge: Possession

smcdonough

Possession

My English saddle is my favorite possession. If I could, I would live in the black leather saddle. It's comfortable to jump and gallop because it fits me. The saddle is important to me because I love horses and I love to ride. When I am in the saddle, I feel like I can do anything.

Posted: 09.24.21

Sep 24

nonfiction challenge: Possession

smcdonough

Teddy Bears

My teddy bears are named Tabo, Timber, and Piggy. They are furry and cute. Tabo is light brown and is a bear. Timber is also a bear and he is dark brown. Since Timber is older, he is less fat. Piggy is a pig; he is pink with brown spots. They are brothers, and all medium size, about 1foot tall. They hang out together on my bed all day. Even though Piggy is a stuffed animal, he sheds a lot of hair. They are important to me for different reasons. Tabo was my first stuffed animal; he is special because he has been with me my whole life. Timber is special because he was my grandfather’s teddy bear. Though he didn’t have Timber for a very long time, only 3 or 4 years, when he died, Timber was given to me. Piggy is just special.

Posted: 09.24.21

Sep 24

nonfiction challenge: Possession

smcdonough

My Dirt Bike

My dirt bike is an XR 100 Honda 4-stroke with a 5 speed transmission. It has a red and black seat. It also has gray Ranthal grips with Dunlop tires and a gray chain. It does not have a lot of suspension. It also used to be my Dad's bike. My race number is 61. We also have a track and my fastest lap time is 1.31 seconds. My bike is so cool.

Posted: 09.24.21

Sep 24

nonfiction challenge: Possession

smcdonough

Possessions

My iPad model 6 is outstanding and I love it. It's been with me through thick and thin although it's very old and slow. It has a red and blue case to match my Nintendo Switch. I play 75% of my games on it though the screen is miniscule. it's not a big problem when playing games, but when I'm watching videos, it gets annoying. I play Minecraft and Roblox and I watch Youtube to name just a few applications I use. It's my favorite out of my 2 devices, which are my iPad and my Switch, (Rest in peace PS4.). My iPad is perfect for me.

Posted: 09.24.21

Sep 24

nonfiction challenge: Possession

smcdonough

My Coloring Kit

My coloring kit has an imaginary cover. For example it has cats with fish tales, a giraffe parachuting and other crazy things. If you open it you will find markers, crayons and colored pencils. It has every color you need for things like birthday cards, coloring and drawing, but every color is different. If I don't know what to do, I just go find my kit.

Posted: 09.24.21

Sep 22

nonfiction challenge: Taste

Emmadoesntread

2nd Grade friendships

The memory I'm thinking of would taste like a sourpatch kid, sour at first but good at the same time. The memory takes place in 2nd grade, 7 years ago. It was a warm summer day and it was my 2nd week in a new town, new state, new house, new everything pretty much. I was at summer camp before 2nd grade started and I ended up being bullied by 2 boys that looked to be going into 1st grade maybe. A girl named Sophia was walking by and saw them and came over to us, she yelled at them and told them to leave me alone and they did. We hugged, me being the cringy 7 year old I was said "we're gonna be best friends forever". Then at orentation for the new students to meet a person in their class and their teacher, low and behold the person to show me around was Sophia, we had our parents meet and we also started hanging out most weekends and we did become Best Friends. Now, 7 years later we and still close and still talk alot we just don't see eachother often.

Posted: 09.22.21

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