Los Angeles Public Library :: Writer To Writer 2017

Writer to Writer

READ:  Summer 2018

Writer to Writer is a statewide writing challenge for adult learners in public library literacy programs. Adult learners are invited to read a book of their choice and then write a personal letter to the author of that book, sharing with the author their thoughts and opinions as to how the book affected them.

This year, 86 learners participated in the Writer to Writer challenge. Out of those 86, two learners from the Los Angeles Public Library Adult Literacy Program were recognized for their courageous and inspiring letters: Level 2 Runner-Up Magdalena Ortega and Level 3 Winner Elaheh Kazempour. Here are their award winning submissions!

Magdalena’s letter to Mr. Keyes Dear Mr. Keyes, Your book Flowers for Algernon was brought to my attention by my daughter who is reading it in middle school. She told me the main character named Charlie wanted to be smart. And I can relate to the character because I feel this way also. So as I began to read the story I felt as if it was me you were writing about. I always feel dumb. I decided to read the book because I wanted to know if Charlie had a good outcome. I can relate to Charlie because I struggle with wanting to be smart and I avoid having conversations with people because I am afraid I won’t understand what they might be talking about.

Elaheh’s letter to Charlotte Bronte Dear Charlotte, When I was a teenager, I remember well that I was reading your book Jane Eyre on a cold winter night. I was standing at the window watching snowflakes falling slowly on the ground. Everyone was sleeping. I opened the door and went to the yard. I lay down on the ground with snow sitting on my body and face. It was midnight, and I was very scared. I was wet, cold, and hungry too. Jane, Helen, and all other orphans at Lowood must have felt the same. Through darkness and snow, I saw a figure. It looked like the ghost of a woman. I thought it was you Charlotte. Was it really you or was I imagining things? Were you trying to tell me something? I ran back to my room, and hid under the blanket.  READ MORE >>

Writer To Writer Award Ceremony & Brunch :: March 7 2015

Writer To Writer Award Ceremony & Brunch

March 7, 2015 . . . 10:30 AM

Radisson Hotel – Newport Beach

Guest Speaker : : Greg Lucas, California State Librarian

SCLLN is excited to announce the winners and runners-up for the 2014 Writer to Writer Challenge! -Please join other writers, tutors, coordinators and their guests at a wonderful brunch to be held Saturday,March 7, at the Radisson Newport Beach. The winners will read their letters, and winners and runners-up will each receive a cash prize and a certificate. All writers will receive a certificate of participation.

We encourage all coordinators to invite and sponsor all of your writers and their tutors for this special event. The registration fees are an appropriate use of CLLS grant funding and would be an excellent way to recognize our writers and their tutors. Congratulations to all of our letter writers!

Be Inspired by our Learner's Letters

Meet our State Librarian

Enjoy a Delicious Brunch

$25.00 per person ::: Adult Learners - $10.00

Emerging Category :: Winner—PJ R

Carlsbad City Library Learning Center

Goodman’s Five-Star Stories—Travels: 8 Stories from Around the World with Tests to Help You Read and Write by Burton Goodman

Runner-Up—Greg P, National City Library  Rescue-Mania! By Caroline Bingham

Runner-Up—Karen G, READ/OrangeCounty  Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

Beginning Category :: Winner—Maria N

READ/OrangeCounty

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

Runner-Up—Sonia A, Corona Library  Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford

Runner-Up—Anon, READ/SanDiego  Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man by Steve Harvey

Intermediate Category :: Winner—Loretta B

Huntington Beach Library

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

Runner-Up—Denis D, Newport Beach Library  A World of My Own by Robin Knox-Johnston

Runner-Up— Marnalee L, Newport Beach Library  Latina Magazine by Lauren Michaels

Advanced Category :: Winner—Isis G

Upland Library

The Traveler’s Gift: 7 Decisions that Determine Personal Success by Andy Andrews

Runner-Up—Jai K, Newport Beach Library  My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor

Runner-Up—Blanca F Beaumont Library District  Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions & Transform Your Life by Judith Orloff

We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, March 7th.

Again, Congratulations!

Carrie Scott

Carlsbad City Library Learning Center

Writer to Writer Chair

For More Info, Call:

Carrie:  760/931-4515

Diane Moseley:  714/375-5086

Cherall Weiss:  949/717-3875

SCLLN received a large response—79 entries—and the quality of the letters was amazing! We are so proud of all of the learners who wrote letters. We are also grateful to the coordinators and learner judging panels at Huntington Beach Public Library, Newport Beach Central Public Library, San Diego Public Library and Carlsbad City Library Learning Center for donating their time to judge the letters.

Orange Co Library : : Two READ/OC Learners Honored For Their Writing!

Book & Author Celebration:

Two READ/OC Learners Honored For Their Writing!

READ Writes: April 2015

California State Librarian, Greg Lucas, congratulates READ/OC Learners Karen and Maria for their winning entries in the annual “Writer-to-Writer” competition hosted by the Southern California Library Literacy Network.  Maria and Karen chose books to read with their tutors, Mikelle Fish and Susan Gregory.

Then, with their tutors’ encouragements, each wrote a letter to the author of the book they read.  Then their letters were submitted to the “Writer-to-Writer” competition and were selected by the judging panel to be recognized, along with other learners from Southern California Library Literacy programs.

READ/OC also congratulates all of the READ/OC learners and tutors who participated in this year’s annual “Writer-To-Writer” opportunity. Much appreciation also goes to Friends of READ/OC for their continued support of such encouraging, learning adventures, as “Writer-To-Writer,” to be possible for READ/OC learners and their tutors.

Read Karen's Letter

Hatchet

Read Maria's Letter

Diary of a
Young Girl

Huntington Beach Library :: SCLLN Writer To Writer Challenge

Writer to Writer

Literacy Volunteers-HBPL Blog: 5.23.2019

Writer to Writer is a unique writing challenge through the Southern California Library Literacy Network (SCLLN). Writer to Writer invites adult literacy learners to write a letter to an author whose writing has changed the way they think about life. A group of learners from Literacy Volunteers-HBPL participated in the challenge this year. We hope you enjoy some of their letters!

Dear Mr. Gary Chapman,

I read your book The Five Love Languages of Teenagers and I want to say that this is a wonderful book.  This book is having a good impact on me.  It’s taught me many things, like how parents focus more on the errors of their teenagers and the parents forget to give affirmation words.  Parents are hurting who they most love.  Parents and teenagers both battle with each other and both end up hurt.  Another thing that as parents we forget to do is the right thing when the teenager makes mistakes.  Love your teenager when they fail.  This book helped me understand my teenager.  My relationship with my daughter now is better.  I’m trying to be a better mother following the advice from this book.

The next book that I’m reading is The five Love Languages of Children.  Then I hope I can read The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts.  I think both books are great.  Overall, thank you for writing this kind of book Mr. Gary Chapman.  I learned a lot.  This book was very helpful.  My daughter and I became friends but sometimes I have to remind her I’m her mother.

Sincerely,

J. A.

READ MORE >>

Writer To Writer 2009

2009 Writer-to-Writer Awards- at CLA Conference – Literacy Interest Group –

October 31 @ Bar Celona Restaurant

This year 188 adult learners entered the Challenge from 43 library literacy programs all over California. Their letters, based on their writing skill levels, were divided into four categories: Emerging, Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced. [see earlier Post for more information !]

The letters of the winners will appear as a Four-part Series by the Literacy Interest Group E-newsletter.

Winner: Advanced Writer
Sima T - Berkeley Public Library

Dear Paulo Coelho,

I am honored by "my good fortune of the world," as you would say to be able to read your novel The Alchemist in two different languages, Farsi and English. I read the Farsi version of The Alchemist almost one decade ago when I had started to work as an architect and instructor. I read the English version of your novel when my English tutor, Judy bought it for me one very pleasant morning this June in Berkeley. Maybe one day I will have a chance to read it in your language which I am sure will be the best to understand fully all of the magic of the book.  READ MORE !

2009 Writer to Writer Challenge Winners & Runners Up

Emerging Level Winner:
Anonymous, Alhambra Civic Center Library
wrote to Anne Frank - Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl.

Runners Up:
Nick F, Downey City Library wrote to Gary Paulson - Hatchet.
Esbeida C, Altadena Library District wrote to Fernando Javier Galan - A Long Road.

Beginning Level Winner:
Evonne M, Hemet Public Library
wrote to Dave Pelzer - A Child Called It.

Runners Up:
Ramon G, Carlsbad City Library wrote to Clement Clark Moore - The Night Before Christmas.
Camila R, Carlsbad City Library wrote to Cheri Huber - Be the Person You Want to Find.

Intermediate Level Winner:
Larry E, Palmdale City Library
wrote to Sidney Poitier - The Measure of a Man.

Runners Up:
Blanca M, Riverside County Library wrote to Dr. Jorge Erdely - Pastors Who Abuse.
Laurie H Hemet Public Library wrote to Judy Blume - Deenie.

Advanced Level Winner:
Sima T, Berkeley Public Library
wrote to Paulo Coelho - The Alchemist.

Runners Up:
Juan S, San Diego Public Library wrote to Lance Wubbels - If Only I Knew.
Sharon Z, Contra Costa County Library wrote to Alan Brennert - Moloka’i.

The letters of the 2008 winners and finalists @

SCLLN Writer to Writer Awards Brunch :: Feb 25

Writer to Writer Awards Brunch

February 25, 2017

Keynote Speaker

Greg Lucas,

California State Librarian

Radisson Hotel Newport

4545 MacArthur Blvd

Newport Beach, CA 92660

SCLLN is excited to announce the winners and runners-up for the 2016 Writer to Writer Challenge!  We had a great response—85 entries—and the quality of the letters was amazing!  We are so proud of all of the learners who wrote letters.  Every letter was a beautiful expression of the learners’ thoughts and feelings.

Please join other writers, tutors, coordinators and their guests, as well as our State Librarian Greg Lucas, at a wonderful brunch to be held Saturday, February 25, at 10:30 a.m. at the Radisson Hotel in Newport Beach. The winners and runners-up will each receive a cash prize and a certificate, and all letter writers will receive a certificate of participation.

Congratulations to all of our letter writers!

Emerging Category  ::  Winner

Rowshon A Placentia Library District

Gandhi, Demi

Runners-Up

Chris M, READ/San Diego – San Diego Public Library

The Boys in the Boat, Young Readers Adaptation, Daniel James Brown

Albert S, Los Angeles Public Library

The Diary of a Young Girl, Anne Frank

Beginning Category  ::  Winner

Rosio P, A.K. Smiley Public Library

Who Was Harriet Tubman?, Yona Zeldis McDonough

Runners-Up

Nyla M. H, Carlsbad City Library

The Way it Works, William Kowalski

Mary Y, Placentia Library District

Jonathon Livingston Seagull, Richard Bach

Intermediate Category  ::  Winner

Maria A, READ/San Diego – San Diego Public Library

Abraham Lincoln, Ingri & Edgar Parin d’Aulaire

Runners-Up

Frank M, Los Angeles Public Library

Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom

Yoko E, Newport Beach Public Library

Gift from the Sea, Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Advanced Category  ::  Winner

Grace W, Newport Beach Public Library

When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi

Runners-Up

Hee Min Y, Los Angeles Public Library

Ariadne’s Story, Joyce Hannam

Anonymous, Beverly Hills Public Library

999 Tadpoles, Ken Kimura

Join SCLLN as we recognize over 80 learners from around southern California who participated in the 2016 Writer to Writer Challenge !

Listen to writers from each of the 4 categories read their winning letters ! 

Be inspired by our learners’ letters !

Enjoy a delicious brunch and meet Greg Lucas, California State Librarian

$25 for SCLLN members; $45 for non-members

Please register along with payment made out to SCLLN, to:

Carrie Scott - Carlsbad City Library

3368 Eureka Pl, Carlsbad, CA 92008

Phone: (760) 931-4510

Carlsbad Library :: 17th Annual Writer to Writer Challenge

17th Annual Writer to Writer Challenge :: Carlsbad Library

Learning Connection: Mar/Apr 2017

The Way it Works

William Kowalski

Congratulations to Carlsbad Library learner, Nyla H., for having her letter selected as a Runner-up for the Writer to Writer Beginning Writer category!

The Writer to Writer Challenge is an annual competition for adult learners in public library literacy programs. Learners write a letter to an author of a book or magazine telling them how their lives were influenced by what they read.

The competition is sponsored by the Southern California Library Literacy Network (SCLLN).

The winners and runners-up were recognized at an awards ceremony on February 25 during a brunch sponsored by SCLLN and the California State Library. Winners in each category had an opportunity to read their letters during the ceremony, and all winners and runners-up received a copy of a book that has been published with their letters.

All learners who submitted a letter received a certificate for their participation. There were 85 entries from 11 libraries throughout Southern California.  READ MORE @

Upland Library :: Writer To Writer - Congratulations to Upland Library's own Isis Gomez!

Congratulations to Upland Library's own Isis Gomez!

Upland Adult Literacy: 3.09.2015

Isis Gomez, Kathy Pruitt, Greg Lucas

Isis won 1st place in the Advanced Category of the 15th annual Writer to Writer contest. Isis was honored at the Writer to Writer event at the Newport Radisson Hotel on Saturday March 7. California State Librarian Greg Lucas was the Keynote Speaker. Writer to Writer is a writing challenge for all learners enrolled in Literacy Programs throughout the state. The challenge consists of.Adult Learners writing a letter to an author (living or deceased) of a book that they have read that has impacted their life in a meaningful way. Isis wrote her letter to Andy Andrews author of "The Traveler's Gift". If you would like any information about the Adult Literacy Program, please call Literacy Coordinator Liz Barbee at UPL. 909-931-4211.

Advanced Category

Winner—Isis Gomez, Upland Library
The Traveler’s Gift: 7 Decisions that Determine Personal Success by Andy Andrews

Runner-Up—Jai Bok Kim, Newport Beach Library
My Beloved World by Sonia Sotomayor

Runner-Up—Blanca Flores Beaumont Library District
Emotional Freedom: Liberate Yourself from Negative Emotions& Transform Your Life by Judith Orloff

SCLLN Literacy Conference :: Writer To Writer Award Presentation :: April 14

SCLLN Literacy Conference 

& Writer To Writer Presentation

April 14, 2018

Holiday Inn Buena Park

Early Bird Registration Fee

$35.00:  Volunteer or Staff

$15.00:  Adult Learner

Lunch only; $35.00 by early-bird for members

Early Bird :: DEADLINE :: March 30, 2018

After Mar 30 or @ Conference

$ 50.00: SCLLN Member Tutors and Staff

$ 20.00: SCLLN Adult Learners

Non-Members - $ 75.00

NO REFUNDS AFTER APRIL 9

If you would like to Sponsor the

Conference

Writer To Writer Challenge

or support SCLLN, please contact: Diane Moseley

Check in and Continental Breakfast:  8:00 - 9:00

Strand 1:   9:00 am — 10:15 am

Strand 2:   10:30 am — 11:45 am

Lunch & Writer To Writer Presentations

Strand 3:   2:00 pm — 3:15 pm

Workshops

 W2W Panel; a how-to workshop for staff

 USCIS, The Naturalization Process

 Technology – How to get the best use out of apps

 Roles & Goals

 Tutor Panel – tips and tricks to get out of one’s comfort zone

 Writing workshop (repeated if needed)

 Pronunciation Practice (repeated)

 Setting Goals in a Visual Way, Learner Strand

 W2W Panel. Workshop on writing and entering the Challenge,

Learner Strand

 Additional topic TBD, Learner Strand

Carlsbad Library :: Writer to Writer Awards

Writer-to-Writer

Learning Connection: March/April 2016

Congratulations to the four—yes four!—winners from Carlsbad Library Learning Center in the Writer to Writer Challenge!

Emerging Category Writers:

 Winner:  Carmen C. I am Malala by Malala Yousafzai

Beginning Category Writers:

 Runner-Up:  Lilia Z. Mother Teresa by Margaret Holland

Advanced Category Writers:

 Winner:  Carolina O. Adventures in the Anthropocene by Gaia Vince

 Runner-Up:  Rosario C. Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

The Writer to Writer Challenge is an annual competition for adult learners in public library literacy programs. Learners write a letter to an author of a book or magazine telling them how their lives were influenced by what they read.

The competition is sponsored by the Southern California Library Literacy Network (SCLLN), and the winners and runners-up were recognized at an awards ceremony on March 5 during the SCLLN conference. Winners in each category had an opportunity to read their letters during the ceremony, and all winners and runners-up received a copy of a book that has been published with their letters.

All learners who submitted a letter received a certificate for their participation. There were 97 entries from 16 libraries throughout southern California.  READ MORE @