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Application Tips & Tricks

Infrarrealista Informal Session

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Agenda

PRESENTATION TITLE

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Free-write

Application Reminders

Cover Letters 101

Other Helpful Info

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Free-write

Take 5 minutes to write five positive affirmations to yourself.

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For example:

  • Every time I walk into a room, I bring light with me.
  • I love how much I care for my friends.

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Application Reminders

Deadline to submit: Sept 22

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App needs to include:

  1. A cover letter addressed to Natalia Trevino
  2. A bio: 50-200 words
  3. A statement of purpose: 200-500 words
  4. 15-20 pages of poems: pdf, each piece should be on its own page. 12 pt., sans serif font

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What should I include in a cover letter?

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Introduce yourself to Natalia Trevino and talk a little bit about yourself.

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Mention Hays Youth Poet Representative position you are applying for

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Mention your skills and experiences that would make you a great candidate for this poetic position

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Finish with a call of action (like…”I look forward to meeting you in person to talk about poetry.”

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Talk about what you like to write about, what inspires your poetry (what you like to write about), what does being a youth poet mean to you, what does it mean to represent your county etc.,

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How long should a cover letter be?

Make sure to stay on topic; keep it sweet and to the point.

No more than a page.

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What else should I know about the cover letter?

Start with a greeting to the judge. For example, “Dear, Naomi Shihab Nye”

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Make sure that you organize your ideas into separate paragraphs.

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End with a salutation like “Sincerely, [your name]” or “Poetically yours, [your name]”!

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Tips to write bios

  • Should be 50-200 words
  • Write it in third person (referring to yourself with your pronouns: he, his, her, hers, their, theirs, etc.,)
  • Start with your name
  • Include where you grew up, what you like to do for fun, what kind of poetry you like to write/read, how many pets you have.
  • The sky is the limit! Include the information that makes you unique!

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Example of a bio:

Beck Guerra Carter (they/she) is a nonbinary lesbian poet from Austin, Texas. They have their MFA from Texas State University and have been published in Lavender Review, the lickety~split, and Odes and Elegies: Eco-Poetry from the Texas Gulf Coast. Their life is more than a list of failures and accomplishments. So is yours.

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Statement of Purpose

  • 200-500 words
  • Discuss the type of books, movies, music, etc, that inspires you and your poetry
  • Why do you write? Why is poetry so important to you?
  • What would being a Youth Literary Representative mean to you? How would you honor that title?
  • What are you most excited about when you think about being the Youth Literary representative of Hays County?

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Question: Why Poetry? Answer:

10 mins

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Tip:

Have fun with your application requirements! Of course, make sure you fulfill the overall format requirements but when it comes to content, don’t think too hard about it! Show off your personality! Live off the page! Naomi Shihab Nye doesn’t know you personally, but make it so that after she reads your application, she feels like she does know you!

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