Matilda Rogers took first place in the University of Alaska-Anchorage/Anchorage Daily News 32nd Annual Creative Writing Contest’s nonfiction category for grades 3-6.
The third-grader’s winning story, “How to Be a Big Sister,” made the front page of the ADN’s Sunday newspaper “Life” section.
The story is also scheduled to be posted on LitSite Alaska, a literary website hosted by UAA.
Rogers hopes her story helps readers get along with, take care of, and enjoy being around their younger siblings.
She wrote it as part of a class writing assignment given by Haines teacher Kristin White.
“I was delighted to see that Matilda had won, but I wasn’t surprised,” White said. “She’s incredibly talented. I knew it from the moment she started writing in my class…She always takes her writing to another place. She’s extra creative.”
Earlier in the school year, Rogers showed White samples of her writing that she’d done over the summer, including a story called “Marybeth,” which they published through a student self-publishing website.
When the statewide contest came up, White, who shares “that particular interest” in writing, decided to enter some of Rogers’ work. “I said, ‘Hey, let’s give this a shot.'”
The duo spent a couple weeks this winter working together during lunch, excited just to enter.
Rogers, who also earned a cash prize, said that she was “blown away” when she heard that she won.
She said that she has always enjoyed writing.
“We go through a lot of paper,” said father Manuel Rogers. For Christmas, he and wife Laura gave Matilda an “old-school” typewriter, which she immediately started using. He said that Matilda seems to be inspired by books written by British author Roald Dahl, which include the children’s novel “Matilda.”
“Maybe it’s because we called her Matilda,” he said.
In her four-chapter short story, Rogers gives tips on everything from teaching your younger siblings how to somersault to providing comfort when they’re sad.
She also outlines the rules of various games to play with a sibling. She used most of the techniques on her little brother, Maddox, 6. “They work pretty well,” she said.
“(Matilda) is a well-organized writer, clearly understands the technical aspects of a story, and had some very creative and entertaining ideas on how to manage a younger sibling!” said a contest judge.
To read “How to Be a Big Sister,” go to the ADN’s online edition at http://www.adn.com/creative-writing-contest/.