As a creative writing teacher, I’ve seen firsthand how writing competitions can transform high school students from hesitant writers into confident storytellers. These contests offer more than just prizes – they provide valuable platforms for young writers to showcase their talent and gain recognition for their work.
I’ll never forget watching my students’ faces light up when they discovered opportunities to share their stories with a broader audience. Writing competitions not only motivate teens to polish their craft but also connect them with like-minded peers who share their passion for storytelling. Plus they look fantastic on college applications and can even lead to scholarship opportunities.
Key Takeaways
- Writing competitions offer high school students valuable opportunities to develop their craft, gain recognition, and potentially win prizes ranging from $100 to $10,000
- Major competition types include poetry contests, short story competitions (1,500-5,000 words), novel writing programs (30,000-50,000 words), and essay contests (800-2,500 words)
- Students can find competitions through national programs like Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, local libraries, school districts, and online platforms like NewPages and Poets & Writers Database
- Successful competition entries require strict adherence to guidelines, including word counts, formatting requirements, and submission deadlines
- Building a support system through teachers, writing clubs, and critique groups is essential for getting valuable feedback and improving submission quality
Creative Writing Competitions for High School Students
Creative writing competitions offer high school students valuable opportunities to develop their craft while gaining tangible rewards. These contests create structured environments for young writers to flourish and grow.
Building Confidence and Skills
Writing competitions enhance students’ creative abilities through practical application and focused feedback. I’ve observed participants improve their storytelling techniques, character development abilities, and narrative pacing through regular contest submissions. Students learn to:
- Meet specific word counts
- Follow submission guidelines
- Edit work under deadlines
- Accept constructive criticism
- Polish drafts for publication
Recognition and Rewards
Writing competitions provide concrete acknowledgment of students’ literary achievements. Top performers receive:
| Award Type | Typical Value |
|---|---|
| Cash Prizes | $100-$5,000 |
| Publication | Digital or Print |
| Scholarships | Up to $25,000 |
| Certificates | Professional Grade |
| Mentorship | 3-6 Months |
Competition winners gain exposure through:
- Publication in literary magazines
- Features on competition websites
- Recognition at award ceremonies
- School newspaper coverage
- Social media spotlights
These accolades strengthen college applications by demonstrating initiative, creativity, and writing proficiency. Professional recognition validates students’ talents and motivates continued participation in literary pursuits.
Types of High School Writing Competitions
High school writing competitions span diverse genres to accommodate different creative interests. These contests offer specialized categories that challenge students to excel in specific forms of literary expression.
Poetry and Short Story Contests
Poetry competitions focus on various forms including sonnets, free verse, haiku collections. Students participate in contests like the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards’ poetry category, offering prizes up to $10,000. Short story contests typically accept submissions between 1,500-5,000 words, with competitions like Young Authors Fiction Contest providing detailed feedback from professional writers. Notable platforms include:
- Princeton Poetry Contest for High School Students
- The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers
- Bennington Young Writers Awards
- Smith College High School Poetry Contest
Novel Writing Programs
Novel writing competitions encourage sustained creative effort over extended periods. The National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) Young Writers Program challenges students to complete a 50,000-word novel in 30 days. Year-round opportunities include:
- Scholastic Novel Writing Contest
- Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award for Young Authors
- Write the World Novel Writing Competition
- Novel Writing Intensive Programs by Iowa Young Writers’ Studio
- Library of Congress Essay Contest
- Profile in Courage Essay Contest ($10,000 prize)
- American Foreign Service Essay Competition
- Young Writers Essay Competition Series
| Competition Type | Average Word Count | Typical Prize Range | Annual Submission Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Poetry | 100-500 | $100-$1,000 | September-November |
| Short Story | 1,500-5,000 | $250-$2,500 | January-March |
| Novel | 30,000-50,000 | $500-$5,000 | June-August |
| Essay | 800-2,500 | $1,000-$10,000 | February-April |
How to Find Writing Competitions
Writing competitions for high school students exist across multiple platforms with varying entry requirements, submission deadlines, and prize structures. I’ve identified several reliable methods to discover these opportunities through both national programs and local initiatives.
National Writing Programs
The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers manages the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards program, accepting submissions from September through December annually. I regularly monitor websites like NewPages, Poets & Writers Database, and Young Writers Scene which list competitions with deadlines throughout the academic year. These national platforms provide:
- Free monthly newsletters from Literative featuring upcoming contest deadlines
- Regular updates on Poetry Society of America’s youth competitions
- Digital subscriptions to Writer’s Digest student contest alerts
- Competition listings on National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE) portal
- Updates from Library of Congress Letters About Literature contest
- Public library bulletin boards displaying seasonal writing contests
- School district newsletters announcing county-wide competitions
- Regional arts council websites listing youth writing programs
- State humanities council calendars featuring writing events
- Local newspaper sponsored essay contests
- Community college creative writing department announcements
- Independent bookstore writing competition postings
| Competition Level | Average Prize Range | Typical Entry Period |
|---|---|---|
| National | $500-$10,000 | 3-6 months |
| Regional | $100-$1,000 | 1-3 months |
| Local | $25-$500 | 2-4 weeks |
Preparing a Strong Competition Entry
Creating a compelling competition entry involves meticulous attention to detail from initial concept to final submission. Success in creative writing competitions depends on thorough preparation, precise adherence to guidelines, and rigorous editing.
Understanding Contest Guidelines
Competition guidelines establish essential parameters that impact every aspect of your entry. Here are critical elements to review:
- Word count limits: Track your word count from the first draft to stay within specified ranges
- Formatting requirements: Apply correct margins, font type, spacing, and header formats
- Submission deadlines: Mark calendar dates for early submission to avoid technical issues
- Theme compliance: Align your narrative with contest-specific themes or prompts
- Entry categories: Select the appropriate category based on your writing style and genre
- Eligibility criteria: Verify age restrictions, geographic limitations, and academic requirements
- Rights retention: Review copyright terms and publication agreements before submitting
- Complete initial edits 2-3 weeks before deadlines for thorough revision
- Print physical copies to spot errors missed on screen
- Read content aloud to identify awkward phrasing or rhythm issues
- Remove redundant words, clichés, and unnecessary adjectives
- Check grammar, punctuation, and spelling with digital tools
- Verify consistent point of view throughout the piece
- Create character and plot outlines to ensure narrative cohesion
- Request feedback from teachers or writing group members
- Implement targeted revisions based on specific critique points
- Format final drafts according to submission guidelines
Tips for Competition Success
Success in creative writing competitions requires strategic preparation combined with attention to detail. Here’s how to maximize your chances of winning through effective planning and support systems.
Meeting Deadlines and Requirements
I track competition deadlines using a digital calendar with automated reminders set 4 weeks 2 weeks 1 week before submissions close. Digital platforms like Trello Google Calendar offer effective deadline management tools. Each competition entry includes these essential components:
- Submit entries 48 hours before deadlines to avoid technical issues
- Format documents according to specific guidelines (font size spacing margins)
- Include required personal information (name grade school contact details)
- Check word counts using document processing tools
- Proofread submissions for grammar spelling punctuation
- Save files in requested formats (.doc .pdf .rtf)
- Label submissions with designated file naming conventions
Getting Feedback and Support
Writing communities provide valuable perspectives for polishing competition entries. Specific feedback sources include:
- English teachers offer technical writing guidance
- Writing club members share peer reviews
- Online critique groups provide diverse perspectives
- Beta readers identify plot holes character inconsistencies
- Writing mentors suggest structural improvements
- Family members check for clarity readability
- Writing center tutors assist with editing revisions
- Implementing suggested revisions
- Addressing conflicting feedback
- Making final edits
- Conducting final proofreading
- Creating clean submission copies
| Feedback Timeline | Action Items |
|---|---|
| 3 weeks before | Distribute drafts to reviewers |
| 2 weeks before | Collect feedback implement changes |
| 1 week before | Final revisions proofreading |
| 48 hours before | Submit polished entry |
Word count limits
I’ve seen firsthand how creative writing competitions can be transformative experiences for high school students. These contests do more than just offer prizes – they create stepping stones toward literary excellence and personal growth.
From enhancing college applications to building confidence these competitions serve as powerful catalysts for young writers to discover their voices. Whether you’re crafting poetry experimenting with short stories or diving into novel writing there’s a contest out there waiting for your unique perspective.
I encourage every aspiring young writer to take that first step and enter a competition. The journey of preparing polishing and submitting your work will teach you valuable lessons that extend far beyond the page. Your story deserves to be told and these competitions provide the perfect platform to share it with the world.
