reported by Brian Scott, FictionFanatic.com

The Grey School of Wizardry has launched the 2007 Apprentice Wizard Essay Contest. The theme of this year's Contest is "Why I Want To Be A Wizard." The Contest is open to all aspiring Wizards between the ages of 11 and 17 years old (as of October 1, 2007). Contestants do not have to live in the United States of America; entries are welcome from all countries worldwide. The purpose of the Contest is to promote magickal scholarship in young people, and it is free to enter and submit an essay.

All Essays must be typed (not handwritten) in English, and be between 400 and 500 words long. Contest entries must be new, original, and unpublished essays. Essays will be judged on how well they fit the theme, how convincing they are, and the overall writing skill.

Entry Deadline: All Essays must be received between July 10 and August 30, 2007. Winners will be announced on October 10, 2007. There will be one Winner for each age category: 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17. All seven winning essays will be published in a special edition of the school magazine, Whispering Grey Matters.

The seven winners will each receive a scholarship to the Grey School of Wizardry, good for one "year-level" (24 credits). They will also each receive a copy of the primary Grey School textbook, Grimoire for the Apprentice Wizard--personally autographed to them by author and Headmaster Oberon Zell-Ravenheart. Each Winner will also receive a beautiful Magic Wand from Willowroot Real Magic Wands.

The online Grey School of Wizardry was founded in 2004 by Oberon Zell-Ravenheart and the Grey Council, and is a California nonprofit educational institution. The school currently offers over 200 classes in magickal, esoteric, and arcane lore, in 16 Departments of Majors and Minors. Classes are developed and taught by a faculty of 40 highly-qualified teachers. There are seven "year-levels," corresponding to junior high through high school in the United States public education system. Students range in ages from 11 to 73, and are sorted socially into Youth Houses and Adult Lodges. Graduates will be certified as "Journeyman Wizards."

The Grey School heartily encourages all magical youths to join in the fun and enter the 2007 Apprentice Wizard Essay Contest. Full information and contest rules are available at www.GreySchool.com.