The festival’s annual student writing contests support a goal to attract youth to the potential of the written word. This year, students are asked to write about a book that helped them reimagine and improve a situation in their life. Entries to the Century Fence sponsored poetry and essay contests are due October 1 to info@sewibookfest.com. The contest is open to middle and high school students in Waukesha and Milwaukee counties. The Duane Stein Short Story contest is open to all Wisconsin high school students. Email shortstorymatch@gmail.com for details. Entries are due October 1.