Deadline Approaching for Marley & Me Creative Writing Contest

/PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- What can the world's worst dog possibly be thinking? Weekly Reader Custom Publishing wants to know. Twentieth Century Fox and Weekly Reader Custom Publishing are still accepting entries for its Marley & Me Creative Writing Contest for grades seven through nine.

Marley & Me, which opened at $14.7 million on Christmas Day alone and grossed $37 million that weekend, is about life, love, family -- and the world's most rambunctious dog. The film stars Owen Wilson, Jennifer Aniston, Eric Dane and Alan Arkin. It was directed by David Frankel, from the screenplay by Scott Frank and Don Roos, based upon the best-selling book by John Grogan.

This original classroom program builds on the appeal of the movie to encourage students to write a story up to 300 words from the point of view of an animal. Entrants 13 years or older are encouraged to log onto www.weeklyreader.com/marley to submit their entry online. Entries can also be mailed. Deadline is January 30, 2009.

"We are excited to host the Marley & Me Writing Contest," said Elizabeth Gabler, President, Fox 2000 Pictures. "The contest will give children the opportunity to express themselves by showing their literary creativity. I'm looking forward to seeing all of the imaginative and original ideas coming from entrants. Who knows, maybe there is a budding screenwriter out there."

The grand prize winner will receive a $2,000 Best Buy gift card and have a $500 donation made in their name to their animal charity of choice. One first prize winner will receive an $800 Best Buy gift card and one second prize winner will receive a $500 Best Buy gift card. Five Runner Up Winners will receive $50 Best Buy gift cards. Teachers who encourage their students to enter are also eligible to win prizes.

This original writing contest, coordinated by Weekly Reader Custom Publishing, meets national language arts standards for grades seven through nine.

Submissions will be judged on creativity and originality; relevance to contest theme; language mechanics (grammar and spelling); and adherence to contest rules.

Enter by January 30, 2009 at www.weeklyreader.com/marley or by mail.

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