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.
Bennington College Young Writers Competition (grades 9-12)
Deadline: November 1
Entry fee: N/A
Cash prize: $250-$1000
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
Cash prize:
● Virtual class visit from award-winning author, Nora Shalaway Carpenter
● A class set of a rural book
● Publication on the Literacy in Place website
● Entire series of Reading Rural YAL dedicated to their story, complete with author interview
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
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
One Teen Story Contest (ages 13-19)
Deadline: December 2
Entry fee: N/A
Cash prize: $500 and publication in One Teen Story
Website: One Teen Story Contest
The Kenyon Review: Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers (Grades 10-11)
Deadline: November 30
Entry fee: N/A
Cash prize: Full scholarship to Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
Website: Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers
VFW Patriot’s Pen
Deadline: Oct. 31
Cash Prize: $500 - $5000
Website: https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarship
Bennington College Young Writers Competition (grades 9-12)
Deadline: November 1
Entry fee: N/A
Cash prize: $250-$1000
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
Cash prize:
● Virtual class visit from award-winning author, Nora Shalaway Carpenter
● A class set of a rural book
● Publication on the Literacy in Place website
● Entire series of Reading Rural YAL dedicated to their story, complete with author interview
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
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
One Teen Story Contest (ages 13-19)
Deadline: December 2
Entry fee: N/A
Cash prize: $500 and publication in One Teen Story
Website: One Teen Story Contest
The Kenyon Review: Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers (Grades 10-11)
Deadline: November 30
Entry fee: N/A
Cash prize: Full scholarship to Kenyon Review Young Writers Workshop
Website: Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers
VFW Patriot’s Pen
Deadline: Oct. 31
Cash Prize: $500 - $5000
Website: https://www.vfw.org/community/youth-and-education/youth-scholarship