"Our Young Authors" is a writing project held each spring semester at the Cambridge Elementary-Junior High School (Wisconsin) open to all children in the school. Begun in 1978, the program is thriving, with over 90% of the students having participated in the competition in 1982. Students create their own books according to timelines and guidelines distributed by the school. These guidelines cover format, possible topics, and contest procedures. Classroom teachers choose 5 stories to send on to the judges, for a total of 15 stories at each grade level. Stories are judged for organization, clarity, grammar, transitions, originality, word choice, descriptions, characters, title, length, and neatness. Each entrant receives a certificate of merit, and the authors of the five best stories in each grade level receive a ribbon award presented during a special assembly. Other schools can institute the same program by getting the support of their administrators, finding someone willing to be the project coordinator, and following the rest of the procedures used in this writing project. (JL)