The deadline is coming up for the Apricot Fiesta Poetry and Prose Writing Contest for this year.

Submissions must be postmarked by March 29 or hand-delivered to the Patterson Joint Unified School District office by 4 p.m. Thursday, March 28.

Entries will be read and scored by a panel of judges. The top 100 selections will be submitted for publication in the annual Apricot Fiesta Poetry and Prose Review book.

Submissions must meet the following rules:

•Entries should be typed on 8½-by-11-inch paper with a 1-inch margin.

•Poems, prose works and short stories can be about any topic but should be no more than 500 words.

•Each writer’s name and phone number must be included on the entry. Students must also include their homeroom number and teacher’s name.

•Illustrations are encouraged.

Entries may be mailed to the Apricot Fiesta, c/o Karen Willard, P.O. Box 442, Patterson, CA 95363; or to Patterson Joint Unified School District, 510 Keystone Blvd., Patterson, CA 95363.

Entries may also be dropped off at the school district office from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For information: Karen Willard, chairwoman and editor, 404-6044