Writing Contests For Teens
CAUTION: While reading and entry fees are required for many contests for adult/mature writers, Young writers should NEVER be asked to pay a submission fee, entry fee, publication fee, or any kind of fee at all. If you encounter a listing requesting “pay-to-publish” navigate away from it immediately and discuss the situation with a trusted adult. Young writers are also welcome to forward the listing in question to [email protected] for assistance. We’ll do our best to help.
Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest
Deadline: Oct. 31
Cash Prize: $350
Website: https://www.hollins.edu/academics/pre-college-experiences-camps/nancy-thorp-poetry-contest/
National YoungArts Competition
Deadline: Oct. 17
Cash prize: $250
Website: https://youngarts.org/apply/
Polyphony Lit
VFW Patriot’s Pen
Deadline: Oct. 31
Cash Prize: $500 - $5000
Website: https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships
● Bennington College Young Writers Competition (grades 9-12) Deadline: November 1
Entry fee: N/A
Scholarship: $100,000 total
Website: Bennington Young Writers Awards
● Lions International Peace Essay Contest (ages 11-13)
Deadline: November 15
Entry fee: N/A
Cash prize: $5,000
Website: International Peace Essay Contest
● Literacy in Place Rural Teen Writing Contest (grades 6-12)
Deadline: December 1
Entry fee: N/A
Prize:
● Publication on Literacy in Place
● A virtual author visits from Rob Costello (see below)
● A signed book from each judge for the winner’s teacher’s classroom library
● A guest spot on the Reading Rural YAL podcast
Website: Literacy in Place
● The Lyric: College Poetry Contest (undergraduate students)
Deadline: December 31
Entry fee: N/A
Cash prize: $100-$500
Website: College Poetry Contest
● One Teen Story Contest (ages 13-19)
Deadline: December 1
Entry fee: N/A
Cash prize: $500 and publication in One Teen Story
Website: One Teen Story Contest
● Kenyon Review: Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers (Grades 10-11)
Deadline: November 30th
Entry Fee: N/A
Cash Prize: Full scholarship to Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
Website: Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers
Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest
Deadline: Oct. 31
Cash Prize: $350
Website: https://www.hollins.edu/academics/pre-college-experiences-camps/nancy-thorp-poetry-contest/
National YoungArts Competition
Deadline: Oct. 17
Cash prize: $250
Website: https://youngarts.org/apply/
Polyphony Lit
- Latin Heritage Contest
- Deadline: Oct. 31
- Website: https://www.polyphonylit.org/submission-guidelines
- Fall Contest
- Deadline: Oct. 31
- Website: https://www.polyphonylit.org/submission-guidelines
VFW Patriot’s Pen
Deadline: Oct. 31
Cash Prize: $500 - $5000
Website: https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarships
● Bennington College Young Writers Competition (grades 9-12) Deadline: November 1
Entry fee: N/A
Scholarship: $100,000 total
Website: Bennington Young Writers Awards
● Lions International Peace Essay Contest (ages 11-13)
Deadline: November 15
Entry fee: N/A
Cash prize: $5,000
Website: International Peace Essay Contest
● Literacy in Place Rural Teen Writing Contest (grades 6-12)
Deadline: December 1
Entry fee: N/A
Prize:
● Publication on Literacy in Place
● A virtual author visits from Rob Costello (see below)
● A signed book from each judge for the winner’s teacher’s classroom library
● A guest spot on the Reading Rural YAL podcast
Website: Literacy in Place
● The Lyric: College Poetry Contest (undergraduate students)
Deadline: December 31
Entry fee: N/A
Cash prize: $100-$500
Website: College Poetry Contest
● One Teen Story Contest (ages 13-19)
Deadline: December 1
Entry fee: N/A
Cash prize: $500 and publication in One Teen Story
Website: One Teen Story Contest
● Kenyon Review: Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers (Grades 10-11)
Deadline: November 30th
Entry Fee: N/A
Cash Prize: Full scholarship to Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
Website: Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers