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Ray Bradbury Summer Writing Contest

2025-07-01 00:00:00 2025-07-01 23:59:00 America/Chicago Ray Bradbury Summer Writing Contest Write a short story based on your favorite poem and turn it in before August 8th for a chance to win prizes. Waukegan Public Library - Main Floor Lobby

Tuesday, July 01
All day

Add to Calendar 2025-07-01 00:00:00 2025-07-01 23:59:00 America/Chicago Ray Bradbury Summer Writing Contest Write a short story based on your favorite poem and turn it in before August 8th for a chance to win prizes. Waukegan Public Library - Main Floor Lobby

Waukegan Public Library

Main Floor Lobby

Write a short story based on your favorite poem and turn it in before August 8th for a chance to win prizes.

The Waukegan Public Library is proud to announce the return of the annual Ray Bradbury Creative Contest! From July 1st to August 8th, Lake County residents are invited to submit a short story for a chance to win prizes! 


Ray Bradbury based several of his stories off of poems, including "I Sing the Body Electric" (based on a poem of the same name by Walt Whitman) and "There Will Come Soft Rains" (based on a poem of the same name by Sarah Teasdale). Now, we're looking for participants to do the same. Pick a poem that you like or means a lot to you and create a short story inspired by it.


Adults and students (3rd-12th grade) are welcome to submit their best pieces for a chance to win a cash prize ($100 for first place winners, $50 for second place winners).


Only one submission is permitted per person. Submissions can be in English or Spanish (we will have judges who can read Spanish). They must be saved as a word document or PDF and must be no longer than five pages, single-spaced. The format should be 12 pt. Arial or Times New Roman font. Make sure the file is titled: Bradbury-LAST NAME; FIRST INITIAL. Email the submission as an attachment to reference@waukeganpl.info along with the following information: 
First and last name 
Phone number and/or email address 
Title of the submission (include name of inspiration poem)
Age group (Adult, 7th-12th, 3rd-6th) 


PLEASE NOTE: If the submission isn’t formatted as required or the above information isn’t included or the entrant is not from Lake County, the submission will be disqualified. 


Winners will be announced on August 22nd, after which they can come by the library to pick up their prizes

AGE GROUP: | All Ages |

EVENT TYPE: | Arts and Crafts |

TAGS: | |

Waukegan Public Library

Phone: (847) 623-2041

Hours

Today's hours

We're open 10:00AM to 8:00PM

Mon, Jun 23 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Jun 24 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Wed, Jun 25 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Thu, Jun 26 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Fri, Jun 27 10:00AM to 6:00PM
Sat, Jun 28 1:00PM to 5:00PM
Sun, Jun 29 1:00PM to 5:00PM

About the branch

The Main Library is located on the corner of County and Clayton St in downtown Waukegan. The Library provides internet access, public access computers, collaborative workstations, study rooms, and meeting rooms. 

Upcoming events

Tue, Jun 24, All day
Registration is now closed

Tue, Jun 24, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Main Floor Computer Lab

Tue, Jun 24, 10:00am - 8:00pm

Tue, Jun 24, 10:30am - 11:00am
Early Learning Center (ELC)

Tue, Jun 24, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Youth & Teen Services Department

Tue, Jun 24, 4:00pm - 7:00pm
MakerSpace

Tue, Jun 24, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
Lower Level Classroom

Tue, Jun 24, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Classroom AB

Wed, Jun 25, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Main Floor Computer Lab

Wed, Jun 25, 10:00am - 8:00pm

Wed, Jun 25, 10:00am - 4:00pm

Wed, Jun 25, 10:30am - 11:00am
Early Learning Center (ELC)

Wed, Jun 25, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Youth & Teen Services Department

Wed, Jun 25, 1:00pm - 6:00pm

Wed, Jun 25, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
MakerSpace

Wed, Jun 25, 2:00pm - 3:00pm
Outside Courtyard

Wed, Jun 25, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Lower Level Computer Room

Wed, Jun 25, 5:30pm - 6:30pm
Study Room 4

Wed, Jun 25, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Lower Level Classroom

Thu, Jun 26, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Main Floor Computer Lab

Thu, Jun 26, 10:00am - 8:00pm

Thu, Jun 26, 10:30am - 11:00am
Early Learning Center (ELC)

Thu, Jun 26, 11:00am - 1:00pm
Lower Level Classroom

Thu, Jun 26, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Youth & Teen Services Department

Thu, Jun 26, 1:00pm - 6:00pm

Thu, Jun 26, 1:00pm - 4:00pm
MakerSpace

Thu, Jun 26, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Classroom AB

Fri, Jun 27, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Main Floor Computer Lab

Fri, Jun 27, 10:00am - 6:00pm

Fri, Jun 27, 10:15am - 11:15am
Classroom AB

Fri, Jun 27, 10:30am - 11:00am
Early Learning Center (ELC)

Fri, Jun 27, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Outside Courtyard

Fri, Jun 27, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Youth & Teen Services Department

Fri, Jun 27, 3:00pm - 4:00pm
Classroom AB

Fri, Jun 27, 4:00pm - 6:00pm
Lower Level Computer Room

Sat, Jun 28, 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Sun, Jun 29, 1:00pm - 5:00pm

Mon, Jun 30, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Main Floor Computer Lab

Mon, Jun 30, 10:00am - 8:00pm

Mon, Jun 30, 10:30am - 11:00am
Early Learning Center (ELC)

Mon, Jun 30, 11:15am - 12:00pm

Mon, Jun 30, 12:00pm - 4:30pm
Study Room 3

Mon, Jun 30, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Youth & Teen Services Department

Mon, Jun 30, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Main Floor Computer Lab

Mon, Jun 30, 6:00pm - 7:00pm
Classroom AB

Mon, Jun 30, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Lower Level Classroom

Tue, Jul 01, All day
Main Floor Lobby

Tue, Jul 01, 10:00am - 8:00pm

Tue, Jul 01, 10:00am - 12:00pm
Main Floor Computer Lab

Tue, Jul 01, 10:30am - 11:00am
Early Learning Center (ELC)

Tue, Jul 01, 12:00pm - 1:00pm
Youth & Teen Services Department

Tue, Jul 01, 12:00pm - 4:30pm
Study Room 3

Tue, Jul 01, 4:00pm - 7:00pm
MakerSpace

Tue, Jul 01, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Main Floor Computer Lab

Tue, Jul 01, 6:00pm - 7:30pm
Classroom AB