When students write for teachers, it can feel like an assignment. When they write for a real purpose, they are empowered! Student writing contests are a challenging and inspiring way to try writing for an authentic audience—a real panel of judges—and the possibility of prize money or other incentives. We’ve gathered a list of the best student writing contests, and there’s something here for everyone. Prepare highly motivated kids in need of an authentic writing mentor, and watch the words flow.
2024-2025 Student Writing Contests
1. The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
With a wide range of categories—from critical essays to science fiction and fantasy—the Scholastic Awards are a mainstay of student contests. Each category has its own rules and word counts, so be sure to check out the options before you decide which one is best for your students.
How To Enter
Students in grades 7 to 12, ages 13 and up, may begin submitting work in September by uploading to an online account at Scholastic and connecting to their local region. Entry fees are waived for students in need.
2. YoungArts National Arts Competition
YoungArts offers an annual national competition in the categories of creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story, and spoken word. Student winners may receive awards of up to $10,000 as well as the chance to participate in artistic development with leaders in their fields.
How To Enter
Check out the site for guidelines on writing modes, such as short stories and spoken word poetry, and sign up for updates so you’re ready when the applications open.
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3. The Edit
The Edit is a digital storytelling challenge from NBCU Academy and Adobe. Your middle or high school students will build critical communication and collaboration skills as they plan, script, and produce their own 90-second video news reports on wellness topics. Winning classrooms will be rewarded with prizes like GoPros, Fandango gift cards, and more!
How To Enter
It’s free to enter. All submissions must be received by March 3, 2025.
4. Write the World Competitions
Not only is Write the World one of my favorite places to find writing resources, but it also hosts free monthly contests with cash prizes. There are also opportunities for feedback, and lots of ideas to help students get started.
How To Enter
With a student account, young writers draft and submit their work on the website.
5. National Youth Foundation Programs
Each year, awards are given for Student Book Scholars, Amazing Women, and the “I Matter” Poetry & Art competition. This is a great chance for kids to express themselves with joy and strength.
How To Enter
The rules, prizes, and deadlines vary, so check out the website for more info.
6. American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest
If you’re looking to help students take a deep dive into international relations, history, and writing, look no further than this essay contest. Winners receive a voyage with the Semester at Sea program and a trip to Washington, D.C.
How To Enter
Students fill out a registration form online, and a teacher or sponsor is required. The deadline to enter is March 1, 2025.
7. Poets.org’s Annual Dear Poet Contest
Each year during National Poetry Month in April, students can write letters to famous poets in response to their work. In this interactive contest, all submissions receive a general letter and certificate, and winners receive a personalized response from the poet they wrote to. It’s a great way to #TeachLivingPoets, and kids get to ask questions about the creative process.
How To Enter
Return to the site in April to find the forms for submitting letters. A guardian or teacher must also provide a letter so the submissions can be published.
8. John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest
This annual contest invites students to write about an elected official’s act of political courage that occurred anytime after 1917, the year Kennedy was born. The winner receives $10,000, and 16 runners-up also receive a variety of cash prizes.
How To Enter
Students may submit a 700- to 1,000-word essay through January 12. The essay must feature more than five sources and a full bibliography.
9. WriteCause Competitions
These free quarterly contests accept a variety of written submissions, each based on a different quarterly theme. WriteCause also provides research links so students can learn about the topics before writing. Open to kids ages 13 to 18.
How To Enter
Check out the Compete link for contest information each quarter, and use the online submission form.
10. The Princeton Ten-Minute Play Contest
Looking for student writing contests for budding playwrights? This exclusive competition, which is open only to high school juniors, is judged by the theater faculty of Princeton University. Students submit short plays in an effort to win recognition and cash prizes of up to $500. (Note: Only open to 11th graders.)
How To Enter
Students submit one 10-page play script online or by mail. The deadline will be announced later this year.
11. Princeton University Poetry Contest for High School Students
The Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize recognizes outstanding work by student writers in 11th grade. Prizes range from $100 to $500.
How To Enter
Students in 11th grade can submit their poetry. Contest details will be published this fall.
12. The New York Times Tiny Memoir Contest
This contest is also a wonderful writing challenge, and the New York Times includes lots of resources and models for students to be able to do their best work. They’ve even made a classroom poster!
How To Enter
Submissions need to be made electronically by November 1.
13. The New York Times Contest Calendar
For students who want to extend beyond 100-word memoirs, the New York Times also provides competitive opportunities in areas including photography, opinion pieces, and podcasting.
How To Enter
Find an area that students are interested in and check out the rules and deadlines.
14. The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers
The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers is open to high school sophomores and juniors, and the winner receives a full scholarship to a Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop.
How To Enter
Submissions for the prize are accepted electronically from November 1 through November 30.
15. Jane Austen Society Essay Contest
High school students can win up to $1,000 and publication by entering an essay on a topic specified by the Jane Austen Society related to a Jane Austen novel.
How To Enter
Details for the 2024 contest will be announced in November. Essay length is from six to eight pages, not including works cited.
16. Rattle Young Poets Anthology
Open to students from 15 to 18 years old who are interested in publication and exposure over monetary awards.
How To Enter
Teachers may choose up to five students to submit up to four poems each on their behalf. The deadline is November 15.
17. The Black River Chapbook Competition
This is a chance for new and emerging writers to gain publication in their own professionally published chapbook, as well as $500 and free copies of the book.
How To Enter
There is an $18 entry fee, and submissions are made online.
18. YouthPlays New Voices
Young writers under 18 create new one-act plays for the stage. Winners receive cash awards and publication.
How To Enter
Scroll all the way down their web page for information on the contest, which accepts non-musical plays between 10 and 40 minutes long, submitted electronically. The entry period opens each year in January.
19. The Ocean Awareness Contest
The theme for the 2025 Ocean Awareness Contest is “Connections to Nature: Looking Inside, Going Outside.” Students are eligible for a wide range of monetary prizes up to $1,000.
How To Enter
Students from 11 to 18 years old may submit work in the categories of art, creative writing, poetry and spoken word, film, interactive media and multimedia, or music and dance, accompanied by a reflection. The deadline is June 13.
20. EngineerGirl Annual Writing Contest
Each year, EngineerGirl sponsors an essay contest with topics centered on the impact of engineering on the world, and students can win up to $500 in prize money. This contest is a nice bridge between ELA and STEM and great for teachers interested in incorporating an interdisciplinary project into their curriculum. The new contest asks for pieces describing the life cycle of an everyday object. Check out these tips for integrating the content into your classroom.
How To Enter
Students submit their work electronically by February 1. Check out the full list of rules and requirements here.
21. NCTE Student Writing Awards
The National Council of Teachers of English offers several student writing awards, including Achievement Awards in Writing (for 10th- and 11th-grade students), Promising Young Writers (for 8th-grade students), and an award to recognize Excellence in Art and Literary Magazines.
How To Enter
Deadlines range from October 28 to February 15. Check out NCTE.org for more details.
22. Narrative High School Writing Contest
The prompt for Narrative’s 10th Annual Writing Contest is “What I Cannot Say, I’ll Say Here.” Stories are limited to 600 words, and kids can also enter poems of no more than 50 lines. The website also provides different ideas and insights to help students approach the prompt.
How To Enter
Students in grades 9 through 12 submit their work through their teacher, who may submit up to 10 pieces.
23. US vs HATE Contests
Engage social media-savvy students with this creative contest that seeks messages of kindness, inclusivity, and bridge-building.
How To Enter
Check the website for an informational poster as well as guidelines and ideas about how students can submit their work.
24. National PTA Reflections Awards
The National PTA offers a variety of awards, including one for literature, in their annual Reflections Contest. Students of all ages can submit entries on the specified topic to their local PTA Reflections program. From there, winners move to the local area, state, and national levels. National-level awards include an $800 prize and a trip to the National PTA Convention.
How To Enter
This program requires submitting to PTAs who participate in the program. Check your school’s PTA for their deadlines.
25. World Historian Student Essay Competition
The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international contest open to students enrolled in grades K through 12 in public, private, and parochial schools, as well as those in home-study programs. The $500 prize is based on an essay that addresses one of this year’s two prompts.
How To Enter
Students can submit entries via email or regular mail before May 1.
26. Future Scholar Foundation Short Story Contest
Monthly contests, each with different themes, offer Amazon gift cards and publication as awards. It’s open to elementary and middle school students.
How To Enter
Check the site each month for the new theme. Submissions are due on the 28th.
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