Columnist Lisa Ferguson: Trends, April 24, 2000

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, April 24, 2000 | 8:57 a.m.

Rhyme for the cause

In the mood for a bit of friendly competition? Then you're in luck. Spring, it seems, is the season of contests.

Poetry junkies, listen up: Montel Williams is looking for a few good penners of verse.

The talk show host, who has multiple sclerosis, recently announced "The Cure for Multiple Sclerosis Poetry Contest," which is open to amateur poets. Entries should be 20 lines or less and about any subject (not necessarily about the disease).

Send poems to the Montel Poetry Contest, 1 Poetry Plaza, Owing Mills, MD 21117, or enter online at www.poetry.com/montel. The winner will be awarded an all-expense-paid trip to New York for Williams' show and $1,000 from the International Society of Poets (www.poetry.com), which will donate $1 to the Montel Williams MS Research Fund in the name of each entrant.

Teeny scribes

On a much lighter note, MH-18, a new magazine/website, is also searching for writers -- teen journalists, actually.

A "nationwide talent search" is on for junior and senior high school students, ages 13-18, to contribute story ideas and articles for the site, set to debut this summer, and other print publications. Besides seeing their names in print, winning teens will also be awarded prizes including CDs, sporting gear and video games.

Teens should submit a biography (50 words maximum and including their name, age, phone number and/or e-mail address, hobbies and interests) with an essay (no more than 200 words) on one of these topics: "Welcome to my most embarrassing day"; "The one thing I don't understand about girls ..."; and Part A, "The thing that drives me craziest about my dad/mom is ..." with Part B, "What I admire the most about him/her is ... ."

Entries, which must be received by May 15, should be sent to MH-18 Field Reporters, 33 East Minor St., Emmaus, PA 18098, or e-mailed to info@rodale.com.

Sloppy superiority

Finally, if you're looking to throughly embarrass a buddy and win prizes at the same time, then Sunlight Dishwashing Detergent's third annual "Expose Your Messy Friend" contest is the one for you.

The company is searching for the untidiest kitchens in the country -- and the folks who are willing to reveal them. The mission: capture the pigsty, er, kitchen, on video or in a photo and explain why it needs a good cleaning.

Embarrassing? Probably. But the payoff seems worth it: Five grand-prize winners (and their camera-toting friends) will receive the free housecleaning services of the Molly Maid company twice a month for a year.

Send submissions by Sept. 15 to Sunlight "Expose Your Messy Friend" Contest, P.O. Box 1952, Young America, MN 55594-1952.