The Big List of Student Writing Contests for 2022-2023

When learners write for instructors, it can sense like an assignment. When they generate for a serious function, they are empowered! Scholar composing contests are an simple and inspiring way to consider composing for an reliable audience—a actual panel of judges—and the possibility of prize income or other incentives. We’ve gathered a listing of pupil writing contests below. From poetry to performs, essays to science fiction, there is a thing for anyone. See if any of them match your curriculum, and get prepared to see some determined learners!

With a broad selection of categories—from essential essays to science fiction and fantasy—you’ll find one thing for practically just about every scholar. Just about every category has its own rules and term counts, so be positive to verify out the alternatives before you choose which a person is ideal for your students.

How to Enter

Learners in grades 7-12, ages 13 and up, may possibly commence publishing do the job in September by uploading to an on line account at Scholastic. There are entry service fees, but people can be waived for pupils in need to have.

This finishes shortly, but if you have students who are all set to submit, it is worthy of it. YoungArts offers a nationwide competitors in the types of inventive nonfiction, novel, participate in or script, poetry, quick story, and spoken word. University student winners may perhaps acquire awards of up to $10,000 as perfectly as the possibility to participate in artistic enhancement with leaders in their fields.

How to Enter

YoungArts accepts submissions in every group as a result of Oct 14. Pupils post their get the job done on the internet and fork out a $35 cost (there is a rate waiver choice).

If you are seeking to support learners consider a deep dive into global relations, historical past, and producing, appear no further more than this essay contest. Winners get total tuition to the Semester at Sea plan as nicely as a excursion to Washington, DC, to satisfy with a chief at the Office of State.

How to Enter

A new prompt is posted each individual September. The deadline to enter is the first week of April.

This once-a-year contest invitations pupils to produce about a political official’s act of political bravery that transpired right after Kennedy’s birth. The winner gets $10,000 as well as a trip to Boston to take the award.

How to Enter

Learners must submit 700-to-1,000-phrase essays concerning September and January. The essays should attribute more than five resources and a whole bibliography.

Bennington Faculty provides competitions in 3 categories: poetry (a group of 3 poems), fiction (a shorter story or one-act engage in), and nonfiction (a own or academic essay). Initially-location winners acquire $500. Seize a poster for your classroom below.

How to Enter

The contest operates from September 1 to November 1, so stay tuned to the web site for information about how to post entries.

Searching for pupil writing contests for budding playwrights? In this competition, judged by the theater faculty of Princeton University, pupils submit brief performs in an work to win recognition and cash prizes of up to $500. (Observe: Only open up to 11th graders.)

How to Enter

Eleventh-grade pupils submit just one 10-web page play script on the internet or by mail. The deadline is the close of March. Contest particulars will be published this tumble.

The Leonard L. Milberg ’53 Significant University Poetry Prize recognizes fantastic do the job by pupil writers in 11th quality. Prizes selection from $100 to $500.

How to Enter

Students in 11th quality can post their poetry. Contest specifics will be released this fall.

The deadline for this contest is the conclusion of Oct! Sponsored by Hollins College, the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest awards prizes for the very best poems submitted by younger ladies who are sophomores or juniors in substantial college or preparatory school. Prizes incorporate hard cash and scholarships. Winners are picked by college students and faculty users in the imaginative composing application at Hollins.

How to Enter

Learners could post either just one or two poems.

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Youthful Writers is open up to high university sophomores and juniors, and the winner gets a total scholarship to a Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop.

How to Enter

Submissions for the prize are approved electronically from November 1 by means of November 30.

Superior college students can get up to $1,000 by entering an essay on a specified matter associated to Jane Austen novels.

How to Enter

Facts for the 2023 contest will be introduced in November. Essay length is from six to eight internet pages, not which include functions cited.

Open up to college students in between 15 and 18 who are interested in publication and exposure above financial awards. Submissions can occur through teachers or directly from college students.

How to Enter

Post up to 4 poems electronically. The deadline is November 15.

This is a prospect for new and emerging writers to acquire publication in their very own skillfully published chapbook.

How to Enter

There is a $17 entry payment, and submissions are manufactured on the net.

For students below 18, the YouthPlays one-act level of competition is developed for young writers to create new operates for the stage. Winners get funds awards and publication.

How to Enter

Non-musical plays involving 10 and 40 minutes extended can be submitted electronically. The web-site has more details about recommendations.

This exceptional level of competition invitations college students to use their creativeness to make a change for our world. As the creators share on their web site, “Our contest is a call for younger artists, conservationists, makers, thinkers, and activists who are concerned about the long run of our blue planet.” Learners are suitable for a wide selection of monetary prizes.

How to Enter

Learners may well submit function in the categories of artwork, inventive creating, poetry and spoken word, film, interactive and multi-media, or tunes and dance, accompanied by a reflection. The deadline is June 13.

Each individual calendar year, EngineerGirl sponsors an essay contest with topics centered on the effects of engineering on the environment, and pupils can get up to $500 in prize cash. This contest is a nice bridge concerning ELA and STEM and excellent for lecturers intrigued in incorporating an interdisciplinary task into their curriculum. The new contest asks for items that demonstrate how woman and/or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enrich engineering’s excellent achievements. Look at out the educator’s web site for extra information and facts about how to assistance this contest at your college.

How to Enter

Learners post their work electronically. Test out the comprehensive checklist of guidelines and prerequisites listed here.

The Countrywide Council of Lecturers of English presents several university student composing awards, which include Accomplishment Awards in Composing (for 10th- and 11th-quality pupils), Promising Younger Writers (for 8th-grade learners), and an award to understand Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines.

How to Enter

Deadlines range from February 15 to July 31. Check out the regulations for extra facts.

Little ones of incarcerated mom and dad can submit artwork, poetry, images, movies, and additional. Submissions are absolutely free and the web-site has a fantastic selection of past winners.

How to Enter

Students can submit their entries by using social media or e mail by Oct 23.

The Adroit Journal, an education-minded nonprofit publication, awards annual prizes for poetry and prose to remarkable higher faculty and university students. Adroit charges an entry rate but also gives a type for financial help.

How to Enter

Signal up at the site for updates for the upcoming round of submissions.

The Nationwide PTA gives a wide range of awards, which includes 1 for literature, in their once-a-year Reflections Contest. College students of all ages can post entries on the specified subject to their community PTA Reflections plan. From there, winners move to the neighborhood place, condition, and national degrees. Countrywide-amount awards incorporate an $800 prize and a trip to the National PTA Conference.

How to Enter

This method necessitates publishing to PTAs who take part in the software. Examine your school’s PTA for their deadlines.

The Earth Historian Scholar Essay Levels of competition is an worldwide competitiveness open up to students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, non-public, and parochial faculties, and those in house-study applications. The $500 prize is primarily based on an essay that addresses the challenge: In what way has the analyze of entire world history affected my knowing of the environment in which I stay?

How to Enter

Pupils can submit entries just before May perhaps 1.

The National Modern society of Significant School Scholars awards a few $2,000 scholarships for the two poetry and fiction. They settle for poetry, limited stories, and graphic novel producing.

How to Enter

Implement online by October 31.

Whether or not you permit your college students weblog, commence a podcast or movie channel, or enter pupil creating contests, giving them an authentic viewers for their do the job is constantly a potent classroom preference.

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