DECATUR — Teens interested in winning $100 are encouraged by local library officials to enter the Southwest Michigan Teen Creative Writing Challenge.

Students in grades 7 through 12 may submit entries in the categories of fiction, poetry, cover art and, new this year, comics. The submission period ends at midnight Friday, April 12.

A cash prize of $100 is awarded to the first-place winners, $50 to second place and $25 for third. The winning artist receives $100. A panel of 11 judges determines a total of 28 awards.

This year’s fiction judges are Rich Frantz, Dowagiac; Jenny Phillips, Lawrence; and Elaine Stephens, South Haven. Judging poetry are Christine Heppermann, New York, and Ron Koertge, Los Angeles. The comics judges are Jake Rodhy, Dowagiac, and Kenjii Jumanne-Mars and Paul Sizer, Kalamazoo. Leslie Helakoski, Lawton, and Tom Hageman are judging cover art.

The Challenge, now in its fourth year, is made possible through a partnership between Cass District Library, Dowagiac District Library, Hartford Public Library, Lawton Public Library, Marcellus Township Wood Memorial Library, Paw Paw District Library and Van Buren District Library.

Any student interested in participating needs to register prior to submitting work to the Challenge. Registration forms are available at all participating libraries and online at teencreativewritingchallenge.wordpress.com/registration.

For more information, contact any participating library or email info@vbdl.org. The Challenge is also made possible with support from the Friends of the Bloomingdale Library and the Friends of Van Buren District Library.