The Nature of Words has announced the third year of the Rising Star Creative Writing Competition for young writers. Winners of the competition will receive awards at the fourth annual literary festival, to be held Nov. 5-9 in Bend. Prizes will be awarded in fiction, literary nonfiction and poetry in two age categories: 15-18 and 19-25. Winners will receive a cash prize, recognition at the awards ceremony and a scholarship to one of The Nature of Words workshops in their winning genre.

Some of the rules and guidelines are as follows:

• The competition is open to writers in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

• All entrants must be a member of one of the eligible age categories.

• Submitting writers who have won in the past two years may not submit in their winning genre(s).

• Submitting writers may not have published a first book or chapbook, but may have had individual stories, essays or poems in print.

• Electronic entries must be received and mailed entries must be postmarked by May 10.

For a complete list of guidelines, visit www.the natureofwords.org/writing-contest/default.aspx.

Contact: www.thenatureofwords.org, info@the natureofwords.org or 330-4381.

— From staff reports