Listed by month. Deadlines may change.

Page last updated April 12, 2022.

JANUARY

Storytellers of Tomorrow Contest

The Ringling College of Art and Design Creative Writing Program invites all high-school age students to submit unpublished, original English-language stories of up to 2,000 words in length for the 5^th Annual “Storytellers of Tomorrow” Contest. Students may submit in three categories: literary stories (fiction, flash fiction), genre stories (horror, fantasy, mystery, science fiction, thriller), and creative nonfiction stories (autobiographical essays, personal essay, travel writing, nature writing, science writing, biography). Open October 15, 2021–January 15, 2022.

Young Playwrights Competition

The Young Playwrights Competition, sponsored by the Theater Project, is open to high school students in New Jersey. Submit an original script, 10-20 pages, in a play format. Deadline: January 22, 2022.

Columbia College Chicago Young Authors Writing Competition

Columbia College Chicago’s Young Authors Writing Competition invites high school students to submit up to two entries in each category of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction. Deadline: January 30, 2022.

FEBRUARY

Arizona Mystery Writers Mary Ann Hutchinson Memorial Story Contest

Arizona Mystery Writers invites young writers ages 9–16 to submit a short mystery, thriller, or suspense story. Every entry receives feedback from the panel of judges. Deadline: September 1, 2021–February 1, 2022.

Bluefire $1000 for 1000 Words Writing Contest

Bluefire solicits entries of short fiction that are exactly 1000 words in length. Open to grades 6–12 (separate judging categories for middle and high school). Cash prizes of $1000 and $100. Deadline: February 1, 2022.

EngineerGirl Writing Contest

EngineerGirl invites girls in grades 3–12 to submit a piece of writing that celebrates engineering and its impact on the world. Contest is themed—see website for this year’s topic. Cash prizes of $500, $250, and $100 for each age group. Deadline: February 1, 2022.

Gannon University National High School Poetry Contest

High school students may submit up to 2 poems to Gannon University’s National High School Poetry Contest. Cash prizes available. Deadline: February 1, 2022.

Chapman University Annual Holocaust Art & Writing Contest

Middle and high school students are invited to submit one entry of poetry or prose to the Holocaust Art & Writing Contest. Entries must be inspired by survivor or rescuer testimony; see website for full details and links. Prizes include cash and an expense-paid study trip to Los Angeles. Schools can sponsor up to 3 students; email Flannery James to be sponsored on a first come, first served basis. Deadline: February 3, 2022.

Narrative High School Writing Contest

Narrative invites high school students grades 9-12 in the U.S. and abroad to submit a poem in response to the prompt: Blind Spots. Winners will receive cash prizes, mentorship, and publication in Narrative alongside the world’s great writers. Open January 4–February 4, 2022.

Davidson Fellow Scholarship in Literature

The Davidson Institute awards $50,000, $25,000 and $10,000 scholarships to extraordinary young people, 18 and younger, who have completed a significant piece of work. Submit a 60-75 page portfolio including 3 of these 4 genres: poetry, fiction, nonfiction and dramatic script; plus a table of contents, 2 application essays, 2 letters of recommendation from teachers familiar with your work, and a 10 minute video of you explaining your artistic vision. Open November 1, 2021–February 9, 2022.

NCTE Achievement Awards in Writing

The NCTE Achievement Awards are open to high school juniors. Schools must select one student to nominate for the awards. Entry requires two pieces of writing in any genre, one representing a student’s best work and the other responding to a theme. Email Flannery James and Mr. Reed by December 15, 2021 to apply. Deadline: February 15, 2022.

New York Times Profile Contest

The New York Times invites students ages 11–19 to enter the Profile Contest. Submit a profile of 700 words or fewer that contains an introduction, 3–8 questions and answers, and 1–3 photos. Open January 5–February 16, 2022.

Journalism Education Association High School Essay Contest

The Society of Professional Journalists and the Journalism Education Association invite high school students to increase their knowledge and understanding of the importance of independent media. Students in grades 9–12 may submit an essay of 300–500 words that responds to the following question: “How can student journalists use social media for free speech and amplifying voices, but still ensure ethical and responsible use of the platforms?” Deadline: February 19, 2022.

Ice Lolly Review Campaign Contest

The Campaign Contest, run by Ice Lolly Review, is a literary contest open to all writers ages 12–18. Its goal is to raise awareness of social movements and encourage youth activism. Entries of poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction are accepted. $50 prize. Deadline: TBA.

MARCH

Carl Sandburg Student Poetry Contest

Students in grades 3–12 are invited to submit a poem to the National Park Service’s Carl Sandburg Student Poetry Contest. Entries are judged within grade categories. This year’s theme is “Ambition.” Deadline: March 1, 2022.

HART Prize for Human Rights

The Humanitarian Aid Relief Trust invites young people to submit a research essay or a creative work about human rights or a humanitarian crisis to the HART Prize for Human Rights. There are three age categories (11–14, 15–18, and 19–25). Open November 1, 2021–March 1, 2022.

Hippocrates Young Poets’ Prize for Poetry and Medicine

The Hippocrates Initiative for Poetry and Medicine sponsors the Young Poets’ Prize for students ages 14–18. See website for details. Deadline: March 1, 2022.

Worldwide Plays Festival Competition

Writopia Lab invites playwrights in grades 1 through 12 around the world to submit their plays to the Worldwide Plays Festival Competition. All plays will be read by working theater professionals. Winning playwrights receive scholarship awards and will have their work produced at an off-Broadway theater by New York City theater professionals. Deadline: March 1, 2022.

DNA Day Essay Contest

The American Society of Human Genetics invites high school students to submit an essay about genetics to the annual DNA Day Essay Contest. Entries must respond to the given prompt. Deadline: March 2, 2022.

Cancer Unwrapped Teen Writing Contest

The Cancer Unwrapped Teen Writing Contest is open to high school students. Essays must be 500–1,000 words in length. Cash prizes available. Deadline: March 4, 2022.

New York Times STEM Writing Contest

The New York Times invites students ages 13–19 to write an essay about a STEM-related question, concept, or issue in 500 words or less. Open February 2–March 9, 2022.

Young Playwrights Festival

Each year, the Blank Theatre fully produces 12 of the best plays by young playwrights ages 9–19 through the Young Playwrights Festival. Writers may submit up to 3 plays or musicals of any length. Deadline: March 15, 2022.

Haiku and Senryu Competition

The Haiku Society of America invites students in grades 7–12 to submit up to 3 poems to the Nicholas A. Virgilio Memorial Haiku and Senryu Competition. Deadline: March 21, 2022.

Write the World Op-Ed Competition

Write the World invites young writers ages 13–18 to write an op-ed that responds to the following question: “What change would you like to see on a community, country, or global scale?” Open March 7–22, 2022.

Princeton University Ten-Minute Play Contest

Princeton University invites students in the eleventh grade to submit a short play (up to 10 pages) to the Ten-Minute Play Contest. The jury consists of members of the Princeton University Program in Theater faculty. Open January 1–March 31, 2022.

Sarah Mook Poetry Contest

Students in grades K–12 may submit up to 2 poems to the Sarah Mook Poetry Contest. Entries are judged within grade categories. Cash prizes available. Deadline: March 31, 2022.

Sejong Writing Competitions

The Sejong Cultural Society organizes annual poetry and essay contests to introduce writers to Korean culture, history, and literature. The contests are open to writers under 30, with separate categories for middle and high school students. Essay submissions must respond to the provided prompt. Deadline: March 31, 2022.

Villena-Aldama Art & Writing Contest

BreakBread Magazine invites young creatives under the age of 25 to submit prose up to 7,500 words or up to 4 poems to the Villena-Aldama Art & Writing Contest. Deadline: March 31, 2022.

WriteCause Contest

WriteCause is a volunteer-run organization that runs free quarterly writing contests for students ages 12–18 with prompts centered around major world topics. Submissions to this contest should respond to the theme of “our relationship with the environment.” Students may submit poetry, fiction, or nonfiction. Deadline: March 31, 2022.

Hunger Mountain International Young Writers Prize

Vermont College of Fine Arts invites high school students (ages 14–18) to submit poetry, fiction, or nonfiction to the International Young Writers Prize. Students in Vermont College of Fine Arts’ MFA Program in Writing & Publishing will judge submissions and choose an overall winner, as well as a finalist in each genre. The winner will receive $100 and online publication, and the finalists’ names will be listed online. Deadline: TBA.

APRIL

AFSA National High School Essay Contest

The United States Institute of Peace and American Foreign Service Association invite high school students to submit an essay to the National High School Essay Contest. See website for this year’s essay topic. Prizes include $2,500, an all-expense paid trip to D.C. to meet U.S. State Department leaders, and a full-tuition paid scholarship with Semester at Sea. Deadline: April 4, 2022.

New York Times Student Editorial Contest

The New York Times invites middle and high school students to submit short, evidence-based persuasive essays to their annual Student Editorial Contest. Submissions can be on any subject but must cite articles from the NYT and other publications. Open March 2–April 13, 2022.

The Art and Writing Environmental Awareness Contest

Run by Binsey Poplar Press, this contest is open to writers and artists ages 12–26. Entries can be poetry or prose, but must involve the environment/environmental awareness. Winners receive cash prizes and publication. Open February 15–April 15, 2022.

Listen to a Life Contest

The Legacy Project invites young writers ages 8–18 to submit an essay based on an interview with a grandparent or “grandfriend” to the Listen to a Life Contest. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

National Flash Fiction Day Youth Competition

The literary magazine fingers comma toes invites young writers up to age 18 to enter the NFFD Youth Competition. Writers may submit up to 3 pieces of up to 300 words each. Winners and short-listed entries will be published in fingers comma toes. Open February 15–April 15, 2022.

We the Students Essay Contest

The Bill of Rights Institute invites students ages 14–19 to submit an essay of 500–800 words to the We the Students Essay Contest. See website for essay topic. First prize—$7,500; runners-up—$1,500; honorable mentions—$500. Deadline: April 15, 2022.

Young Romantics Prize

The Keats-Shelley Memorial Association invites writers ages 16–18 to submit poetry (up to 30 lines) and essays (750–1,000 words) to the Young Romantics Prize. Poems must address the theme “Elegy”; essays must respond to one of two questions: “How does the poetry of Keats, Shelley and the Romantics live on in 2022?” or “Is the poetry of Shelley, Keats and the Romantics best enjoyed by young readers?” Deadline: April 24, 2022.

Skipping Stones Youth Honors Awards

The Youth Honor Awards recognize creative and artistic works by young people that promote multicultural, international and nature awareness. Skipping Stones invites young writers ages 7–17 to submit up to 5 pieces of creative writing (poems, short stories, essays, plays, or interviews) on the theme “Peace Within, Peace in Our World.” Deadline: April 25, 2022.

The Golden Die Contest

The makers of Metaphor Dice invite students ages 17 and under to submit a poem to the Golden Die Contest. Poems must use a metaphor crafted using the prompt on the website. $1,000 prize. Deadline: April 30, 2022.

The Adroit Prizes

The Adroit Journal invites high school and college students to submit up to 6 poems and/or up to 3 works of prose (combined word limit 3,500 words) to the Adroit Prizes. Winners receive $200 and publication in Adroit. Deadline: TBA.

Writing for Peace

Writing for Peace challenges young writers (ages 13-19) to expand their empathy skills by researching an unfamiliar culture and writing from the point-of-view of a character within that new world, while exploring social, political, and environmental pressures and universal themes. Writers may submit in poetry, fiction or nonfiction. Deadline: TBA.

MAY

Dear Poet Project

The Academy of American Poets invites students in grades 5–12 to celebrate National Poetry Month by writing a letter in response to a poem. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

Skipping Stones Haiku & Tanka Contest

Skipping Stones invites young writers ages 7–17 to submit a haiku or tanka (traditional Japanese poetry forms) to their annual contest. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

Voyage YA Anthology Contest

Voyage is accepting YA writing in any genre for the inaugural Voyage Anthology. Writers will be compensated $250–$500. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

World Historian Student Essay Competition

The World History Association invites students in grades K–12 to submit an essay to the World Historian Student Essay Competition. See website for essay topic. $500 prize. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

YouthPLAYS New Voices One-Act Competition for Young Playwrights

YouthPLAYS invites young playwrights age 19 years or younger to submit plays to their New Voices One-Act Competition. Plays may be any genre but must be suitable for school production and feature one or more youth characters in prominent, age-appropriate roles. $250 prize. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

William Faulkner — William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition

The Pirate’s Alley Faulkner Society sponsors the annual William Faulkner – William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition. High school students may submit a short story up to 2,500 words in length. $750 prize. Deadline: May 15, 2022.

Peace Islands Institute Essay Contest

New Jersey middle and high school students may submit an essay (an informative essay, a narrative story, or a true story) on the topic of “social media addiction” to Peace Islands Institute’s Essay Contest. Deadline: May 31, 2022.

A Voice for Animals Contest

The Humane Education Network invites students ages 14–18 to submit an essay to the Voice for Animals Contest. See website for essay topics. Deadline: May 31, 2022.

ACT-SO New Jersey

The NAACP’s Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics Competition is open to students of African American descent in grades 9–12. Students can enter contests in up to 3 of the 33 categories, which include essay, poetry, playwriting, short story, and performance poetry. Winners at the local level will be advanced to a national competition. Deadline: TBA.

The Junebug Journal Young Artists Contest

The Junebug Journal invites students ages 13–19 to submit prose or poetry to the Young Artists Contest. Deadline: TBA.

JUNE

Get to Know Contest

Sponsored by the Wild Neighbors Society, the Get to Know Contest encourages writers ages 19 and under to submit writing that is inspired by nature in any genre. Deadline: June 1, 2022.

Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest

High school students are invited to submit an analytical essay to the Jane Austen Society of North America’s Essay Contest. See website for essay topic. Cash prizes available. Deadline: June 2, 2022.

Ocean Awareness Contest

The Ocean Awareness Contest, sponsored by Bow Seat, invites submissions from students ages 11–18 in the categories of poetry, prose (fiction, personal narrative, journalistic writing, script, etc.), music, film, visual art, and multimedia. Cash prizes and scholarships from $100 to $1,500 will be awarded. This year’s theme is “Climate Hope: Transforming Crisis.” Deadline: June 13, 2022.

International Essay Contest for Young People

The Goi Peace Foundation organizes an annual essay contest for young writers under 25. The contest aims to “harness the energy, creativity and initiative of the world’s youth in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development. It also aims to inspire society to learn from the young minds and to think about how each of us can make a difference in the world.” Deadline: June 15, 2022.

Geek Partnership Society Writing Contest

The Geek Partnership Society invites young writers ages 16 and under to submit poetry or short fiction to the youth category of the Geek Partnership Society Writing Contest. Entries must be science fiction, fantasy, horror, supernatural, or alternate history. Deadline: June 30, 2022.

Poetry Screen

The Poetry Archive invites young people ages 25 and under to submit a short video poem to Poetry Screen. Entrants may use a recorded poem from the archive or write their own. Five winners will be published and will receive a cash prize. Deadline: TBA.

Gandhi Award

The Association of Indians in America – South Jersey Chapter runs an annual “Mahatma Gandhi Peace and Harmony” contest for high school and middle school students. The award recognizes New Jersey students that can best express a message of racial and religious harmony using their preferred medium of expression: essay, poetry, artwork or song. Deadline: TBA.

JULY

Barbara Mandigo Kelly Peace Poetry Awards

Writers ages 18 and under may submit up to three poems of up to 30 lines each in the youth category of the Peace Poetry Awards. Deadline: July 1, 2022.

I Matter Poetry Contest

The National Youth Foundation invites students in grades K–12 to submit a poem to the I Matter Poetry Contest. Entries must be on the topic of Black Lives Matter. Cash prizes available. Deadline: July 23, 2022.

Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award

The Foyle Young Poets Award is open to submission of original, unpublished poetry by anyone ages 11–17. Prizes include membership in The Poetry Society and a week-long intensive residential writing course. Deadline: July 31, 2022.

1455 Teen Poetry Contest

Details and deadline TBA.

Hominum Journal Young Writers Contest

Students ages 13–22 are eligible to submit poetry or prose to Hominum Journal‘s Young Writers Contest. Deadline: TBA.

AUGUST

Wintermute Spec-Fic Contest

Wintermute Lit invites young writers ages 14–19 to submit a short piece of speculative fiction. Winners receive cash prizes, books, and publication in Wintermute. Deadline: TBA.

OCTOBER

Earth Science Week Essay Contest

The American Geosciences Institute invites students in grades 6–9 to submit short essays to the Earth Science Week Essay Contest. Essays must be on the topic of “Geoscience for Sustainable Development Goals.” Deadline: October 14, 2022.

National YoungArts Awards

Students ages 15–18 or in grades 10–12 may submit to the National YoungArts Awards in Writing (nonfiction, novel, play/script, poetry, short story or spoken word) for a chance to win exclusive eligibility for recognition as a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts; the chance to attend master classes with world-renowned artists; access to scholarships, career opportunities, and professional contacts; and up to $10,000. Deadline: TBA.

New York Times Coming of Age Contest

The New York Times invites middle and high school students ages 13–19 to enter the multimedia Coming of Age Contest. Students may submit essays, diary entries, poems, songs, interviews, reported stories, letters, emails, text messages, photos, screenshots, visual art, comics, videos, podcasts, or anything else that tells a story. The entry must be accompanied by an artist’s statement. Submission period: TBA.

Teen Sequins Poetry

Teen Sequins showcases outstanding poetry by young writers ages 14–18. Submit two poems. Deadline: TBA.

Nancy Thorpe Poetry Contest

Hollins University’s Nancy Thorpe Poetry Contest invites submissions of poetry by female high school students in grades 10 and 11. Prizes include cash, scholarships, and free tuition and housing for the university’s summer creative writing program. Deadline: TBA.

Voice of Democracy Youth Scholarships

The Voice of Democracy audio essay program offers high school students scholarships up to $30,000. See website for essay topic. Deadline: TBA.

NOVEMBER

Bennington Young Writers Awards

The Bennington Young Writers Awards invites students in the 10th, 11th, or 12th grade to submit their original writing for the Bennington Young Writers Competition. First-place winners in each category are awarded a prize of $500; second-place winners receive $250. Students submit one of the following: poetry (a group of three poems), fiction (a short story or one-act play), nonfiction (a personal or academic essay). Deadline: TBA.

The Incandescent Review Art & Writing Contest

The Incandescent Review invites writers ages 13–22 to submit poetry and prose to the annual Art & Writing Contest. One entry per category. Winners receive $150; runners-up receive $50. Deadline: TBA.

Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize

The Leonard L. Milberg Poetry Prize, run by Princeton University, is open to students in the eleventh grade during the current academic year. Applicants may submit up to three poems. Deadline: TBA.

National Teen Storyteller Contest

The Center for Fiction and the Decameron Project invite young writers ages 13–18 to submit a short story (300–1,000 words) to the National Teen Storyteller Contest. The competition is themed; see website for this year’s theme. Deadline: TBA.

New York Times Personal Narrative Essay Contest for Students

The New York Times invites teenagers to submit personal narrative essays that “tell a meaningful and interesting story” to their contest. Essays must be under 600 words in length. Deadline: TBA.

Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers recognizes outstanding poetry by young writers and is open to high school sophomores and juniors throughout the world. The contest winner receives a full scholarship to the Kenyon Review Young Writers workshop. In addition, the winning poem and the poems of the two runners-up will be published in the Kenyon Review, one of the country’s most widely read literary magazines. Deadline: TBA.

DECEMBER

The Emerging Writers Contest

The Phoenix and the Piedmont Institute at Pffeifer University invite high school students to submit up to 5,000 words of prose or up to 5 poems to the Emerging Writers Contest. Deadline: December 1, 2022.

The Fitzgerald Museum Literary Contest

The Fitzgerald Museum invites high school students to submit short fiction, poetry, ten-minute plays, and multi-genres works to their annual Literary Contest. 10 pages maximum. The competition is themed; see website for this year’s theme. Deadline: TBA.

Kay Snow Student Writing Awards

Students in grades 7–12 are invited to submit fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or drama to the Kay Snow Student Writing Awards. Deadline: TBA.

New Jersey Youth Poet Laureate

Writers ages 13–19 are eligible to compete for the New Jersey Youth Poet Laureate title. Submit a portfolio of five original poems. All finalists will have the opportunity to perform at Newark Symphony Hall. The Poet Laureate will receive a fully funded reading tour and eligibility to compete for the National Youth Laureate title. Deadline: TBA.

New York Times Student Review Contest

The New York Times invites middle and high school students to submit original reviews of books, music, movies, theater, TV shows, fashion, architecture, dance, art, restaurants, comedy, hotels, technology, and video games to their annual Student Review Contest. Deadline: TBA.

NJCTE High School Writing Contest

The New Jersey Council of Teachers of English invites New Jersey students in grades 9-12 to participate in its annual Writing Contest. Categories include poetry (one poem, 50 line max), short story (up to 5 pages) and personal essay (up to 5 pages). Personal essays must respond to a prompt. Poetry and fiction have no required theme. Submissions must be sponsored by a teacher. Teachers may sponsor up to 10 students. Email Flannery James to be sponsored on a first come, first served basis. Deadline: TBA.

Rider University High School Writing Contest

High school students may submit a personal essay, a short story, and a poem to Rider University’s Annual High School Writing Contest. Prose may be up to 5 pages; poetry may be up to 50 lines. Deadline: TBA.

River of Words Contest

Every year, in affiliation with the Center for Environmental Literacy, River of Words sponsors a free international poetry and art contest for grades K-12 on the theme of the environment. Specialty prizes include the Shasta Bioregion Prize for an entry honoring a Northern California watershed; the Monkey’s Raincoat Prize for a short poem in the tradition of the Japanese haiku; and the One Square Block Prize, awarded to poems that examine city-scapes and the interaction between the manmade and the natural world. Deadline: TBA.

Scholastic Writing Awards

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards accepts submissions from students in grades 7-12. Students can earn opportunities for recognition, exhibition, publication and scholarships. Works designated as Gold Keys on the regional level are forwarded for national-level review where they can earn Silver Medals and Gold Medals. Categories include critical essay, dramatic script, flash fiction, humor, journalism, novel writing, personal essay/memoir, poetry, science fiction/fantasy, short story and writing portfolio (graduating seniors only). Deadline: TBA.

The Society of Classical Poets High School Poetry Competition

The Society of Classical Poets invites students ages 13–19 to enter up to 3 poems on any topic to their High School Poetry Competition. Poems must be metered. Deadline: TBA.

Student Poetry Award

The Poetry Society of America gives the Student Poetry Award to the best poetry by a high school student from the United States. Students may submit one unpublished poem. Deadline: TBA.

VSA Playwright Discovery Competition

The Playwright Discovery Program invites young writers with disabilities in grades 6–12 to submit their writing in the form of scripts, videos, screenplays, musical theater works, spoken word poetry, or other performance works. Writers are encouraged to craft short (10 minute) works from their own experiences and observations in the style of realism, through the creation of fictional characters and settings, or writing metaphorically or abstractly about any topic, including the disability experience. Deadline: TBA.

OTHER CONTESTS

New York Times Summer Reading Contest

The New York Times invites middle and high school students to submit their responses every Friday during the contest period to the questions “What interested you most in The Times this week? Why?” Winners will be published weekly. Contest dates: TBA.

Write the World Writing Competitions

Write the World offers monthly writing competitions for young writers (ages 13–18).

WriteCause

WriteCause is a volunteer-run organization that runs free quarterly writing contests with prompts centered around major world topics. Contests are open to young writers ages 12–18. Writers may submit any form of writing, including poetry, short stories, and essays. One entry per person per quarter.