Contests for Young Writers

Updated April 1, 2020.

April 

Adroit Prizes for Poetry & Prose

Hosted by: The Adroit Journal
Eligibility: Open to all high school, college, and university students from around the world.
Genre: Poetry, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction
Fee: $12/entry, fee waivers available
Prize: Winners will be awarded $200, and their work—along with the work of runners-up—will be featured in the Adroit Journal. Runners-up and finalists will receive a copy of their judges’ latest book.
Deadline: April 1, 2020 11:59pm PT

Kay Snow Writing Contest

Hosted by: Willamette Writers
Eligibility: Open to all (different age group categories available from 1st grade to college student)
Genre: Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, young adult and middle grade fiction, screenplay
Fee: $15 for general public, $10 for college student category, free for student category
Prize: For student category: for each grade division, $50 for first place, $20 for second place, $10 for third place; for other categories: $100 and admission to Willamette Writers Conference for first place, $25 and admission to Willamette Writers Conference for second place, $50 for third place
Deadline: April 1st, 2020

The American Foreign Services Association (AFSA) High School Essay Contest

Hosted by: American Foreign Service Association & The United States Institute of Peace
Eligibility: U.S. students in grades 9-12
Genre: Nonfiction essay
Fee: Free
Prize: For first place, $2,500, a trip to Washington, D.C., and a Semester at Sea trip; for second place, $1,250 and a scholarship for National Student Leadership Conference
Deadline: April 6, 2020 EDT

We the Students Essay Contest

Hosted by: Bill of Rights Institute
Eligibility: All United States citizens or legal residents who are students who no older than 19 and no younger than 14 as of the end of the Contest Period, who (1) attend school in the United States, one of its territories or districts, or an American Armed Forces School Abroad, and (2) are in grades 8 -12 attending public, private, religious, or charter schools, (3) are enrolled in a GED or correspondence school program, or (4) are attending a home school program.
Genre: Essay
Fee: Free
Prize: A National Grand Prize of $7,500 and a scholarship to Constitutional Academy, five Runners Up prizes of $1,500 each, and eight Honorable Mention prizes of $500 each
Deadline: April 15, 2020 at 11:59 pm PT

Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest

Hosted by: Penguin Random House
Eligibility: 11th and 12th grade full-time matriculated students who are attending high schools located in the fifty United States and the District of Columbia, or homeschooled students between the ages of 16-18 who are residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia at time of entry
Genre: Nonfiction Essay
Fee: Free
Prize: Five cash prizes of $1,000 each are awarded to winners, with each winner’s school library also receiving a Signet Classics Library.
Deadline: All entries must be postmarked by April 15, 2020 and received on or by April 22, 2020, 11:59 EST.

Wow! Women on Writing 2019 Creative Nonfiction Essay Contest

Hosted by: Wow!
Eligibility: Open to all writers
Genre: Creative Nonfiction Essay
Fee: $12
Prize: $500 and publication
Deadline: April 30, 2020 PT

Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize

Hosted by: University of Pittsburgh Press
Eligibility: open to any poet writing in English who has not had a full-length book of poetry published previously
Genre: Poetry
Fee: $25
Prize: $5,000
Deadline: April 30, 2020

Dear Poet Project

Hosted by: Poets.org
Eligibility: Grades 5-12
Genre: Letter to poet
Fee: None
Prize: Publication and personalized responses from poets
Deadline: April 30, 2020 by email or post

Friends of Falun Gong Poetry Contest

Hosted by: The Society of Classical Poets & Friends of Falun Gong
Eligibility: High school students and older, must specify which category when applying
Genre: Poetry
Fee: None
Prize: $500, $250, and $100 to adults; $250 and $100 to undergraduate students, $100 and $50 to high school students
Deadline: April 30, 2020, 12:00 AM EST

Claudia Ann Seaman Awards for Young Writers

Hosted by: Polyphony Lit
Eligibility: Instead of submitting directly to the awards, works that are accepted to publication are considered. No age restriction specified on the website.
Genre: Poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction
Fee: None
Prize: One winner in each category receives $200
Deadline: April 30 of every year

May 

New Voices One-Act Competition for Young Playwrights

Hosted by: YouthPLAYS
Eligibility: Authors age 19 and under
Genre: Playwriting
Fee: None
Prize: The winner receives $200 in addition to representation of their play through YouthPLAYS publishing. The runner-up receives $50.
Deadline: May 1, 2020

2020 Leapfrog Fiction Contest

Hosted by: Leapfrog Press
Eligibility: Adult, young adult (YA) and middle grade (MG) novels, novellas, and short story collections are accepted.
Genre: Fiction
Fee: $33
Prize: publication contract offer from Leapfrog Press, with an advance payment, plus the finalist awards: $150 and one or two critiques of the manuscript from contest judges; permanent listing on the Leapfrog Press contest page as a contest finalist, along with short author bio and description of the book.
Deadline: May 1, 2020

Geek Partnership Society Writing Contest

Hosted by: Geek Partnership Society
Eligibility: Open to any age (youth categories available)
Genre: Short story, poetry, graphic novel
Fee: Free
Prize: $75 Amazon gift certificate to short fiction winner, $50 Amazon gift certificate to all other winners (for youth divisions, schools also receive $50)
Deadline: May 1, 2020, 11:59 CDT

World Historian Student Essay Competition

Hosted by: World History Association
Eligibility: Grades K-12
Genre: Essay
Fee: No mention
Prize: $500 and one-year membership in WHA
Deadline: May 1, 2020

Miami Book Fair / De Groot Prize 

Hosted by: Miami Dade College
Eligibility: Open to all writers
Genre: Novella
Fee: None
Prize: Winner will receive $6,000 and publication by Melville House, an expense-paid trip to the Miami Book Fair after publication, and a chance to read/participate in programs at the fair. The two runners-up will each receive $3,000, an expense-paid trip to the 2022 Miami Book Fair, and a chance to read/participate in programs at the Fair. The three winners work will be publicized in print and online media.
Deadline: May 10, 2021 (biennial)

A Voice for Animals

Hosted by: Humane Education Network
Eligibility: Middle or high school students less than 19 years old
Genre: Essay, essay with photo
Fee: No mention
Prize: Varies ($200 – $500, depending on category and award level)
Deadline: May 31, 2020, 11:59pm PDT

June

Recognizing Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines (REALM)

Hosted by: National Council of Teachers of English
Eligibility: Middle and high schools in the U.S., Canada, Virgin Islands, and American schools abroad, magazine published between September of previous year and July of entry year
Genre: Literary magazine
Fee: $25 (waived for first-time submissions)
Prize: Certificate sent to teacher advisor, mention on the NCTE website
Deadline: June 15, 2020

National Scholastic Press Association Individual Awards (High School)

Hosted by: NSPA
Eligibility: Any student on staff of a NSPA member publication. Submissions must have been published during the 2018-2019 academic year
Genre: Broadcast, Cartoon, Design, Digital Story, Photography, Story, Social Justice Reporting, Portfolio, Social Media
Fee: Free
Prize: Publication in NSPA publications and website
Deadline: June 19, 2020

National Scholastic Press Association Individual Awards (Middle School)

Hosted by: NSPA
Eligibility: Any student on staff of a NSPA member publication. Submissions must have been published during the 2018-2019 academic year
Genre: Design, Story, Photography
Fee: Free
Prize: Publication in NSPA publications and website
Deadline: June 19, 2020

National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker 

Hosted by: NSPA
Eligibility: Any NSPA member publication published before dates on entry form
Genre: Online, Yearbook, Newspaper, Magazine, Broadcast
Fee: Free
Prize: Publication in NSPA website
Deadline: Newspaper: June 19, 2020 Broadcast: June 19, 2020 (other deadlines passed)

Ocean Awareness Student Contest

Hosted by: Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Program
Eligibility: International students aged 11-18, written in English or accompanied by an English translation
Genre: Poetry, Prose, Multimedia
Fee: Free
Prize: Prizes range from $100-$1,500
Deadline: June 15, 2020 at 11:59 PM Eastern Time (ET)

Narrative Prize 2020

Hosted by: Narrative Magazine
Eligibility: Open to all new or emerging writers
Genre: Several Genres
Fee: Nominal reading free
Prize: $4,000
Deadline: June 15, 2020

Get to Know Your Wild Neighbors

Hosted by: U.S. Forest Service
Eligibility: Ages 19 and under
Genre: Art, writing, film, video and music
Fee: None
Prize: Sponsor-based prize packages (varies)
Deadline: June 1, 2020, 11:59 PM PST

Student Essay Contest

Hosted by: Fraser Institute
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, graduate students
Genre: Themed Essay
Fee: No mention
Prize: $1,500 for first place, $1,000 for second place, $500 for third place in each age group
Deadline: June 1, 2020

Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest

Hosted by: Jane Austen Society of North America
Eligibility: High school, undergraduate, graduate students
Genre: Themed Essay
Fee: No mention
Prize: $1,000 scholarship and two nights’ lodging for JASNA Annual General Meeting for first place, $500 for second place, $250 for third place
Deadline: June 1, 2020

Short Fiction Prize

Hosted by: Stony Brook Southampton
Eligibility: Undergraduate enrolled in US or Canadian universities; students with Asian background strongly encouraged
Genre: Short fiction
Fee: Free
Prize: $1,000 scholarship and scholarship to the 2021 Southampton Writers Conference
Deadline: June 1, 2020

Young Writers Contest

Hosted by: Writing for Peace
Eligibility: Ages 13-19
Genre: Poetry, fiction, nonfiction
Fee: Free
Prize: $200 to grand prize winner; publication and invitation to Youth Summit for first to third place
Deadline: June 1, 2020

International Essay Contest for Young People

Hosted by: Goi Peace Foundation
Eligibility: Writers 25 or younger
Genre: Essay
Fee: Free
Prize: For each category, 100,000 Yen and an expenses-paid trip to Tokyo to receive the Minister of Education Award to first place, 50,000 Yen to second place, Certificates and gifts for 3rd Prize and Honorable mentions
Deadline: June 15, 2020, 11:59 at your local time

Medalist Critique

Hosted by: Columbia Scholastic Press Association
Eligibility: Members of the CSPA
Genre: Student Publications (Middle School, High School, College)
Fee: Membership
Prize: Professional evaluation
Deadline: Spring Publications: June 15th for 2019 Fall Yearbooks: October 1 for 2019

Crown Awards

Hosted by: Columbia Scholastic Press Association
Eligibility: Members of the CSPA
Genre: Student Publications (Middle School, High School, College)
Fee: Membership
Prize: Gold or Silver Crown
Deadline: Once a year, unlisted

July

Writing, Art, and Film Contest

Hosted by: Holocaust Center for Humanity
Eligibility: Grades 5-12, residents from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, and Alaska
Genre: Narrative, poetry, argumentative, or explanatory writing
Fee: No mention
Prize: $200 first place, $100 second place, $50 third place (for each category)
Deadline: July 1, 2020, 11:59 PT

Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award

Hosted by: The Poetry Society
Eligibility: Must be 11-17 years old at the time of the closing date; work must be previously unpublished, written in English
Genre: Poetry
Fee: Free
Prize: Eighty-five commended poets receive invitations to the awards ceremony and online publication; fifteen winners receive invitations to the ceremony, print publication, and week-long residential workshop in the UK.
Deadline: July 31 2020, 12:00 AM BST

Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Awards 

Hosted by: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
Eligibility: Open to all
Genre: Poetry
Fee: $15 for adults, $5 for youth 13 to 18, free for 12 and under
Prize: $1,000 for adult winner, $200 for youth winners
Deadline: July 1, 2020

Gold Circle Awards

Hosted by: Columbia Scholastic Press Association
Eligibility: CSPA members as part of the Regular Membership, Associate Membership or Basic Membership
Genre: Journalism
Fee: 30 entries with membership, $12 each after
Prize: Certificate, possible reprinting
Deadline: For print news and magazines, July 15 for 2019, for digital media and yearbooks, October 4 for 2019

Platt Family Scholarship Prize Essay Contest 

Hosted by: The Lincoln Forum
Eligibility: Full time undergraduate students in an American college or university
Genre: Essay
Fee: No mention
Prize: $1,500 for first place, $750 for second place, $500 for third place
Deadline: July 31, 2020

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