Lindbergh Student Named One of Top 50 High School Writers

Look out, Stephen King, there is a young lady in Renton that just might give you a run for your money writing macabre stories some day. Or any stories, for that matter.

senior, Anna Tatelman, was named one of the top 50 writers in a creative writing national competition for high school students. Students compete in three rounds of writing competitions, and the three pupils who end up on top will win scholarship money.

Tatelman’s short story for the first round was written around the theme of the  “The Box.”  Her first story was entered in the horror/macabre genre. 

We won’t give away the plot—you have to read it and vote yourself—but one hint is that Tatelman’s box is a casket.  The tale she weaves is unique and the characters interesting, all set in a complex plot.

The submissions were judged by a jury and the top 50 were selected.

From now through March 15, you can read and vote for Anna’s submission online. The stories that garner the greatest number of votes will move forward to round two—where the pool of writers will reduce to 25.

Ladimer.com is a publisher/writer services website that connects authors who wish to be published with agents and editors.

Tatelman said that it might sound strange to non-writers, but she wrote the entire first paragraph in her head as she was driving home and then went forward with the rest of her story from there. For Tatelman, it was all about the characters in her story.

One of her favorite writers, is, in fact, Stephen King. She loves the way he is able to develop characters and make them come to life.

When asked if she advances to round two, if she will continue to write in this genre, she said she didn't know. 

"I try not to put myself into a specific genre," she said.

In fact, the editors of her first-round publication assigned that genre to her submission.

Tatleman, however, has dabbled in that genre in past. She has already written an unpublished novel about the after-life.

She has not started writing the second round submission. She'll wait to hear if she has in fact made it on March 15th, the date the voting ends.

The principal, secretaries, and attendance office staff at Lindbergh High School have all read and voted for Tatelman's story, and those are just a few of her fans.

Principal Tres Genger said "she's a very talented young lady."

Round two, if Tatelman makes it, will require another 1,000-3,000 word submission around the title “Mom, the cat died—again.” Tatelman has some ideas brewing, but her audience will just have to wait, for now.

The final round of the competition narrows the pool down to 10 young writers, who will compose a story around the theme “Positive.”

The winning writer is eligible for a $3,000 scholarship, second place receives $1000, and third place gets a $500 scholarship.