Willie Walleye will be 50 years old in 2009! In honor of this event, the Lake of the Woods Historical Society is sponsoring a story competition to gather creative stories about Willie Walleye that can be shared during the birthday celebration in June. The purpose of the story competition is to engage people of all ages in thinking about a unique landmark that has represented our community for fifty years by encouraging them to write about Willie Walleye to make him bigger than life (more than just a landmark). We are inviting people of all ages to write a tall tale with Willie Walleye as the main character! For more information about the contest: Call 218 634 1200 (L/Woods Historical Society) or (218 634 1973) Jody Horntvedt Post your question to our contest blog: http://willie50walleye.blogspot.com/
Have you started writing your story yet? For those of you who need a bit of inspiration, here’s some ideas to get you started!

What’s a Tall Tale?
In its simplest definition, a tall tale is a special kind of story. Two definitions of tall tales found on a tall tales website (http://42explore.com/talltale.htm), give us these two definitions:

Simple Definition : Throughout history people have told and written stories about their heroes. A tall tale is a special kind of hero story because the heroes of tall tales are 'larger than life'. They are bigger or stronger than real people, even when the tall tale is based on a real person. Tall tale heroes solve problems in funny ways that are hard to believe.

Deeper Definition:
A tall tale is a uniquely American story form that features:
1. A larger-than-life, or superhuman, main character with a specific task
2. A problem that is solved in a humorous or outrageous way
3. Exaggerated details that describe things larger than they really are
4. Characters who use everyday language. Many tall tales are based on actual people or on a composite of actual people. Exaggeration is the major element in tall tales.

Where can I find examples of tall tales?
Read about Johnny Appleseed, Paul Bunyan or Pecos Bill. These are just three “tall tale characters” you might get inspired by. You can search for them on the internet. Or, better yet, check out these books at the Baudette Public Library:
Pecos Bill: A Tall Tale, retold by Steven Kellogg
John Henry, by Julius Lester
Sally Ann Thunder Ann Whirlwind Crockett: A Tall Tale, retold by Steven Kellogg
The Bunyans, by Audrey Wood
My Sister’s Rusty Bike, by Jim Aylesworth
Library Lil, by Suzanne Williams
Alligator Sue, by Sharon Arms Doucet
Paul Bunyan’s Sweetheart, by Marybeth Lorbiecki
The Great Texas Hamster Drive: An Original Tall Tale, by Eric A. Kimmel
Widdermaker, by Pattie Schnetzler
Big Jabe, by Jerdine Nolen

Where can I learn more about Willie Walleye?
The Lake of the Woods Historical Society’s website has several pictures in their photo gallery. You can view them at http://lakeofthewoodshistoricalsociety.com/photogallery.html and read some of the history of Willie Walleye there.

The Tall Tails of Willie Walleye Contest Details.

Guidelines:
•Stories MUST portray Willie Walleye as the main character and can focus on any part of Willie’s life (how he got his name, where he came from, how he got to Baudette, his many adventures, etc.)
• Stories may be accompanied by an illustration (however, illustrations will not be included in the contest judging)
• Stories MUST be no more than 500 words. Those exceeding 500 words will be disqualified.

Judging:
Stories will be judged in five categories:
• Adult, Family (with children up through Grade 1)
• Youth (Grades 9 through 12)
• Youth (Grades 7 and 8)
• Youth (Elementary by individual Grades 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6)
Stories will be judged on three merits: story content (clarity and coherence), creativity and imagination, and good writing (grammar, spelling and compositional structure).

Important Notes:
Stories MUST be received by May 18, 2009 and MUST include category (see judging above for categories)
Stories MUST include your name, mailing address and/or email address, phone number at the END of your story.
Elementary school entries should include teacher s name.
Stories will NOT be returned and will become the property of Lake of the Woods Historical Society.

Winners:
• Winning stories will be printed as a story booklet, posted around Baudette, printed in local newspapers and/or featured in the Historical Society summer newsletter.
• Authors of winning entries will be invited to public readings in various locations around town and/or read on local radio stations during Willie Walleye celebrations (June 2009) in Baudette.
Submit Stories: Via -mail to:
Willie Walleye Contest
206 8 th Avenue SE
Suite 150
Baudette, MN 56623
Via blog (by creating a new post) at http://willie50walleye.blogspot.com/