Whidbey Island Writers’ Association welcomes entries in its third annual writing contest. Celebrate Writing categories are: poetry, original poetry in free verse or form, not to exceed 24 lines); short fiction, a complete short story or a representative segment of a longer work, not to exceed 1,500 words; essay, informational, persuasive or descriptive essay on any subject, not to exceed 800 words; life history essay, autobiographical essay on any subject, not to exceed 800 words; children’s literature, any prose written for children, not to exceed 1,200 words, or if a picture book, 24 pages.

Entry forms are available at Whidbey Island libraries and at senior services in Oak Harbor and Bayview. Entry deadline is Saturday, Jan. 26, 2002. Manuscripts can be submitted at any Whidbey Island library Jan. 14-26.