ESSAY SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

If you know a young lady between the ages of 13 and 18, and who is dealing with the challenge of growing up in a home without the presence of their biological father, then the DISCOVERING ME...WITHOUT YOU Personal Essay Contest for Teen Girls is an excellent opportunity for them to share their story while instigating their own personal healing and fueling resilience.

4th Annual Essay Contest presented by Esther Productions, Inc in partnership with The Anacostia Coordinating Council and The Black Student Fund.

NOW - October 31, 2022.

If your essay is selected by the judges, you could receive a cash award

$1500 (for those between the age of 15 and 18)

OR

$500 (for those between the age of 13 and 14)

Anyone not selected for the top prizes will receive a $15 cash gift certificate

Email to estherproductionsinc@gmail.com

Info: estherproductionsinc.com/contest 
SOMETIMES PERSONAL OR FAMILY CHALLENGES CAN GIVE US

STRENGTH

​
Each year Esther Productions Inc. presents cash prizes for the best essay
written by teen girls who are facing the challenge of father absence.
​
Write an essay of not less than 750 and not more than 1500 words telling us
how you have faced that struggle while discovering yourself and your
resilience.
​
If your essay is selected by the judges, you could receive a cash award

$1500 (for those between the age of 15 and 18)

OR

$500 (for those between the age of 13 and 14)

Anyone not selected for the top prizes will receive a $15 cash gift certificate
​
REVISED ELIGIBILITY
​YOU MAY SUBMIT AN ESSAY IF:
● you live in the District of Columbia;
● you are between the age of 13 and 18; AND
● you are growing up in a home without the daily presence or active
engagement of your biological father because your parents are divorced; or
are separated and no longer live together; or they have never lived together;
or your father is incarcerated.
​
​
Tell us how you have faced the challenge of father absence to achieve self-discovery, to
recognize your resilience and to attain self-empowerment.
​

​
SUBMISSIONS ARE ACCEPTED NOW THROUGH OCT. 31, 2022

(MIDNIGHT)

ESSAY SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
​
● Only one essay may be submitted per individual.
● The essay submission must include a cover page with the author’s name, age,
name of school, home address and email contact.
● The name of the author may not appear on any page of the essay OTHER THAN
THE COVER PAGE.
● The length of the essay must be not less than 750 words and not more than 1500
words.
● The essay submission must be written in 12-point font and must be double-
paced.
● The essay must be written in English.
● The essay should be free of typos and grammatical errors.
● The essay should be a word document or PDF.
​
​​
JUDGING CRITERIA:
​
ORIGINALITY—Maximum 20 POINTS: The author demonstrates through her
writing that the essay is based on her original story.
​
POWER AND CONSISTENCY OF VOICE—Maximum 15 Points: The author’s
voice, as a storyteller, commands and sustains the reader’s/judge’s attention.
​
STRENGTH OF WRITING--Maximum 20 POINTS: The author has a mastery of
the personal essay as a literary genre; presents well-constructed sentences and
paragraphs; demonstrates a strong use of language; presents work that uses grammar
properly and is free of typos.
​
ARTICULATION OF ISSUES AND THE CHALLENGES RELATED TO
FATHER ABSENCE—Maximum 25 POINTS: The author explains in clear
coherent sentences and language the challenge she faced or is facing growing up in the
home where her father is absent.
​

EVIDENCE OF GROWTH AND RESILIENCE--Maximum 20 POINTS: The
author presents evidence within the essay that she has faced the challenge of father
absence, she has witnessed person growth and demonstrated resilience.
​
YOU MAY SUBMIT YOUR ESSAY FOR CONSIDERATION IN ONE OF TWO
WAYS
1. Regular Mail: Hard-copy or printed essays may be sent by regular United States Post
Service mail to Esther Productions Inc. at 1629 K St. NW—Suite 300, Washington, DC
20006
OR
​
2. Electronically: E-mail submissions may be sent to info@estherproductionsinc.com
Please write Discovering Me in the subject line.

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