Who do you write like?

Thanks to all the crazy authors on Twitter, I discovered this neat little tool. Go to I Write Like. . . and paste a few paragraphs of something you've written into the box. Click the Analyze button and voila! It tells you what writer you write like.

Granted, it is definitely not super accurate, but it's fun! Here's what I got for 4 different pieces of writing that I had Analyzed.

I write like
Stephen King

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Try it and let us know what you got!

Calling all writers!

Story Starters
Second Thursday of the month, 6-7:30 p.m.
Lake Arlington Branch Library

The Library hosts an exciting program to help you get started on that story you’ve always wanted to write. Teens between the ages of 12 and 18 are invited to join us on the second Thursday of each month for an evening filled with creativity, story writing and (of course) munchies!

Story Starters - teen writing group

Story Starters
Second Thursday of the month
6-7:30 p.m.
Lake Arlington Branch Library

This month's Story Starters meets: November 12.

The Library is hosting an exciting new program to help you get started on that story you’ve always wanted to write. Teens between the ages of 12 and 18 are invited to join us on Thursday for an evening filled with creativity, story writing and (of course) munchies!

College Admissions Essay Help

College Admissions Essay Help
November 17, 6:30-8 p.m.
George W. Hawkes Central Library, Community Room

Ask a REAL college admissions counselor the best way to write your college essay! High school students, as well as parents, are encouraged to attend this session to learn all about college admissions. A representative from University of Texas at Arlington’s admissions staff will be explaining the essay writing process and answering your questions. So come join in the discussion as we discover what makes a truly winning college admissions essay!

Due to seating restrictions, preregistration is required. Please call 817-459-6915 to sign up or click here and sign up online.

Win $100! Short Story Contest for Teens

Did you know the City of Arlington wants every citizen to participate in One Book, One Arlington? This year focus on Jim Dent's Twelve Mighty Orphans, which follows the story of the Mighty Mites High School football team from low prospects to state champions. Read the book and join in the discussion this fall!

To celebrate One Book, One Arlington teens can send in submissions to a short story contest addressing the topic: Sports: A Life Changing Experience.  The deadline is quickly approaching so check out the rules here and see if you can win One Hundred Bucks!!!

Get a Hobby!

It's summer and you've got some free time, so why not do something constructive!? Check out many of the crafts, technology programs, and summer fun we're having at the library and, while you're participating, take a look at some of the awesome teen hobby books we have!

Two more Poetry Programs left!

Poetry Month is almost over and there are only two more Poetry Programs left!

Teen Poetry Workshop
Tuesday, April 28, 5 p.m.
Woodland West Branch
Want to write poetry? This workshop will give you tips on improving your writing skills and provide information on how to submit your work to literary journals and magazines. Free for teens in grades 7-12. Space is limited so registration is required. Please call 817-277-5265 to register.



Make Your Own Magnetic Poetry!
Thursday, April 30, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Lake Arlington Branch
Do you like to create poetry, but sometimes have trouble finding the right thing to say? Well, here’s your chance to make sure you’ve always got a few words to spare. Come join us for an evening of creative, poetic fun as we construct our very own sets of magnetic poetry – perfect for the fridge, your school locker, and tons of other metallic surfaces!

"A poem begins with a lump in the throat" - Robert Frost

It doesn't matter if you spend all your free time writing, or if you've never written a line of poetry in your life. If you'd like to try your hand at poetry, the Arlington Library has four different programs at four different branches in the month of April (National Poetry Month). There's Video Poetry, Blank Slate Create and Take, a Teen Poetry Workshop, and Make Your Own Magnetic Poetry. Click here to get more info.

Poetry is often what and how we define it. This means that we can find poetry everywhere, even in the most unlikely of places. Like this. . .



For this year's Free Verse Project, Poets.org wants you to capture poetry in a photo. Their site says:

Write lines from a favorite poem on a sandy beach, assemble twigs on a hillside, or chalk the sidewalk. Take a photo before it disappears and post it in the Free Verse group page on Flickr, or on the Academy's Fan Page on Facebook, or email your photo to freeverse@poets.org. Include the source of your lines in the photo caption.

All photos of poems posted by April 15 will be entered in a drawing. Check out Free Verse Project for more info.

For all of our Writers!

Sonya Sones, the author of What My Mother Doesn't Know and a wonderful selection of other books is hosting a writing contest! Here's the information culled from her FaceBook account:


WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN'T KNOW just came out in paperback. Yay! And to celebrate, my publisher is having an awesome writing contest.

The winner of the WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN'T KNOW writing contest will win a free six-week online writing class from Gotham Writers' Workshop. And the winning entry will be posted on my website. 10 runners-up will receive a year's subscription to Teen Ink and an autographed copy of the book.

To enter the contest all you have to do is read WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN'T KNOW, and when you get to the very last poem, write a continuation of the story. Keep it short but sweet - ten pages or less. And, of course, write it in the same style as WHAT MY GIRLFRIEND DOESN'T KNOW - in a series of poems.

You can read about how to submit your entry right here: www.Writingclasses.com/Sonyacontest .

The contest ends April 3rd. I hope you'll enter!