On November 15 we celebrated the launch of The Dream Catcher’s Diary – a special collection featuring selected works from the last five editions of the Bulgarian Creative Writing Competition. Together with the talented students and their families and friends, teachers and partners we marked the 15th anniversary of the competition. We were honored to have Eric Brassil (Cultural and educational affairs officer at US Embassy), Maria Stefanova (PR expert and National Jury member), and Elitsa Hristova (Illustrator of The Dream Catcher’s Diary) as our special guests at the event. We held an interesting and thought-provoking discussion on the importance of storytelling with the teachers – Anastasia Dimitrova from Chelopech and Julia Venkova from Varna, and their students – Nasko Fotev and Lyubomir Yanchev who are now university students. This unique anthology captures the vivid imaginations, heartfelt stories, and poetic expressions of young writers from across the country. The students whose works are included in the book are Adelina Zlateva, Adrian Georgiev, Alexandra Stoyanova, Ameli Kolarski, Ana Dimitrova, Andrea Ivanova, Asen Avramov, Boryana Bozhanova, Christian Georgiev, Elmira Taneva, Gabriela Neycheva, Georgi Ivanov, Ida Atanasova, Ivan Georgiev, Ivana Doncheva, Ivana Stoyanova, Ivaylo Dimitrov, Jeren Apti, Kalina Hristova, Lyubomir Yanchev, Lyubov Yanakieva, Marina Nikolova, Maya Palmova, Mihail Palmov, Nasko Fotev, Neda Hristova, Nicholas Brintnol, Niya Balcheva, Rada Gavrailova, Roan Gochev, Teodor Matuski, Valeria Kodzhaivanova, Vesela Marinova, Victoria Panayotova, Yong Park, and Zlatimira Milcheva. We had the pleasure to witness creativity in action by listening to three students reading their works published in the book. Adrian Georgiev from Sofia read The concert of the happy forest, Nasko Fotev from Chelopech read The future in a jar, and Teodor Matuski read The kiss reminded him of chemistry lessons in school. As a special highlight, we presented The Wings of Imagination Award, which honors students for their exceptional creativity and dedication to the craft of writing. In the 15-year history of the competition there have been only 15 students who have been among the winners more than once. The awarded students are Alexandra Parvanova, Alexandra Stefanova, Alexandra Stoyanova, Gabriela Neycheva, Daniela Koleva, Iva Bankova, Ivona Ivanova, Maria Tsakova, Mihaela Mihaylova, Nadezhda Zlatareva, Nasko Fotev, Nicholas Brintnol, Niya Pehlivanova, Preslava Gyuzeleva, and Roan Gochev. You can order the book The Dream Catcher’s Dairy and support our mission at: https://www.creativewriting-bg.com/online-store

On November 9th, the spotlight at Central Halls Stage was reserved for the winners of the Literary Delights Contest. As part of the Bulgarian Creative Writing Competition, we invited students from across Bulgaria to explore their imagination and love for food by crafting narratives around culinary themes. Meeting these talented young writers and experiencing their works live was truly inspiring. The young writers took us on a delightful journey that left the audience captivated by the creativity and insight of the new generation. We were impressed with their courage to express their ideas and emotions, making this gathering a memorable moment. For those who could not attend, you can still experience the talent of our young writers! We invite you to explore the booklet featuring all the winning works, available at: https://www.creativewriting-bg.com/assets/Literary-Delights-booklet_compressed.pdf

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Literary Delights Contest. The competition received an overwhelming response from schools across Bulgaria, with 112 students sharing their unique perspectives on the intersection of culinary arts and creative writing. Participants submitted works ranging from whimsical tales of magical recipes to poignant poems about family traditions centered around food. These talented young authors have crafted extraordinary stories and poems that blend the art of writing with culinary inspiration, serving up a feast for the imagination. The Bulgarian Creative Writing Competition team has selected the following outstanding entries as winners of the Literary Delights Contest: Alexandra Krumova – Yoan Ekzarh Foreign Language High School, Varna Danaya Zlatinova – P. K. Yavorov Profiled High School, Petrich Dzhuneyd Dzhuvalekov – St. St. Cyril and Methodius Secondary School, Rudozem Erika Gigova – Dimitar Hadjivasilev State High School of Economics, Svishtov Esil Ahmedova – Prof. Nikola Marinov II Secondary School, Targovishte Hristiyana Ilieva – Frederic Joliot-Curie IV Language High School, Varna Ida Atanasova –Konstantin Preslavski National High School of Humanities and Arts, Varna Iren Nedzahtieva – Ekzarh Joseph Foreign Language School, Razgrad Lachezar Tuparov –Yane Sandanski Profiled High School, Sandanski Milan Stankov – P. K. Yavorov Profiled High School, Petrich Pavel Stefanov – John Atanasov Vocational High School of Electronics, Sofia Sergei Khoroshulia– G. S. Rakovski Romance Languages Profiled High School, Burgas Yeliz Myumyun – N. Y. Vaptsarov Secondary School, Momchilgrad Yoana Yaneva – Bertolt Brecht Language High School, Pazardzhik Zornitsa Manahilova – First English Language High School, Sofia We have the pleasure to invite you to join us for an afternoon of creative storytelling as our winning authors present their work at Central Halls Stage in Sofia. This special showcase event promises to be a celebration of young literary talent and culinary creativity. Date: November 9th, 2024Time: 15:00Venue: Central Halls Stage, Sofia (25 Knyaginya Maria Luisa Blvd.)Admission: Free and open to the public For more information about the event visit: https://fb.me/e/5sBo2pOxO

At the Bulgarian Creative Writing Competition, we believe in the power of human imagination and the unique capacity of individuals to express their thoughts, experiences, and emotions through writing. While artificial intelligence can certainly aid in developing concepts and offering structural support, it cannot replace the depth of human creativity and the personal experiences that give writing its soul. For this reason, we celebrate original work that comes directly from the minds and hearts of our participants. To ensure the integrity of the competition and the authenticity of the submissions, all works will be subject to AI detection software. We encourage all contestants to explore their own creative potential, to take risks, and to trust in their ability to craft stories that reflect their individuality. AI can serve as a resource, but the true beauty of creative writing lies in its human element—thoughts and emotions shaped by unique perspectives. AI has revolutionized writing by providing innovative tools that enhance both efficiency and creativity. As you explore the world of AI-assisted writing, you’ll come across a range of tools specifically designed to support every stage of the writing process. Writers can now use AI to brainstorm ideas, structure stories, and refine their writing with greater ease. Far from replacing human creativity, AI empowers writers to explore new creative territories and expand their expressive capabilities. We have developed the booklet The Future of Storytelling: How AI Transforms Creative Writing to guide you through the process of using AI in the creative writing process.  Let’s continue to nurture and honor the originality that defines the essence of creative writing!

The Bulgarian Creative Writing Competition is back for its 15th edition, offering young writers across the country an exciting opportunity to unleash their creativity. This year’s competition brings a new twist with the special Literary Delights contest, inviting students to craft imaginative prose or poetry inspired by culinary themes. About the Contest: The Literary Delights contest encourages participants to explore creative interpretations of food-related topics. Writers can submit tasty stories featuring unusual ingredients, poems about the flavors of memories, culinary adventures and sweet tales. This competition aims to highlight young writers’ originality while offering a fun, flavorful challenge. Showcase Event: The winners of the contest will have the chance to present their work live at a public reading event on November 9th, 2024, at the Central Halls Stage in Sofia. This platform will allow the young authors to share their talent with a broader audience and celebrate their literary achievements. Who Can Participate: All students from grades 6-12 from schools registered for the Bulgarian Creative Writing Competition can enter the contest. Submissions must follow these guidelines: Word file format, Times New Roman, size 12 font, up to 1000 words. Submission Deadline: All entries must be submitted via email to creativewriting@corplus.org by October 27th, 2024.

On February 9th, 2024 in Barter Community Hub we celebrated the talent and creativity of this year’s winners! All participants cherished the opportunity to meet other young writers and exchange ideas and inspiration. Before the official ceremony, this year’s winners and their English language teachers visited the US Embassy where they were greeted by Deputy Chief of Mission Andrea Brouillette-Rodriguez and Eric Brassil – the Cultural and Educational Affairs Officer. The students showed impressive knowledge during the American Literature Quiz and enjoyed listening to the excerpts from the favorite books of some of the embassy staff members. As we had such talented writers this year, we gave out special awards! The first ones were from the American University in Bulgaria – Teodor Matuski received a spot in the AUBG educational summer camp and Ameli Kolarska and Daniela Koleva won AUBG merch. Nasko Fotev won the special award from Cynthia Phoel, who is a writer and former Peace Corps volunteer in Bulgaria. The special award in honor of Tim Steflik, who was also a Peace Corps volunteer in Bulgaria, was given to Lora Angelova. Simona Karaivanova, Ivana Stoyanova and Lora Angelova received special prizes from Zaeshka Dupka Academy. On February 10th, we had the pleasure to take part in a literary walk organized by Reading Sofia Foundation. The guide – Albena Todorova, shared with the participants interesting information and useful tips on how to be better writers. We explored Sofia’s hidden treasures for inspiration. You can read the collection of this year’s winning works at https://www.creativewriting-bg.com/assets/Final-BCWC-24-booklet.pdf Congratulations to all winners and see you next year!