how to win an essay writing contest

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How to Win an Essay Contest

Last Updated: July 18, 2024 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by Daniel Santos . Daniel Santos is a College Admissions & Career Coach and Prepory's co-founder and CEO. Prepory is a leading college admissions consulting firm that has guided over 9,000 students from 35 countries through the US college admissions process. Prepory is a member of the National Association for College Admissions Counseling and a trusted admissions counseling partner to several competitive high schools across Florida. Prior to founding Prepory, Daniel worked at various leading law firms and the United States House of Representatives. Daniel has been featured as a college admissions and career coaching expert across several major publications, including the Wall Street Journal, FORTUNE, and The Harvard Crimson. There are 9 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 176,806 times.

If you're hoping to write an essay that will win a contest, there are several ways to make your writing stand out. Before you start writing, make sure you read the essay guidelines so that you're following all of the rules. Come up with a topic that fits the contest's theme and craft a detailed, descriptive, and interesting essay. By making your essay original and error-free, you'll be much more likely to win the contest.

Crafting and Editing the Essay

• If you don’t follow one or more of the rules when writing and submitting your essay, your essay may be disqualified, so make sure to read over the rules several times if necessary.
• It’s a good idea to print out the guidelines so that you can refer to them as you’re writing.

• It’s super important to stick with the theme when you’re writing and not get off-topic.
• For example, if the contest asks you to write about a person who has influenced you, make a list of the people that have had a big impact on your life and choose the person who you can write lots of descriptive examples about.

• It’s okay if you have several different drafts of one essay.
• Make an outline of your essay before you start to help you organize your thoughts.

• Ask a friend or family member to read over your essay to see if it’s interesting and makes sense.
• It may help you to put the essay aside for a day or two after you’ve written it so that you can revise it again with a fresh perspective.

• It may help to ask another person to read over the essay to see if they spot any mistakes.

• Check to see when the submission deadline is in the contest’s guidelines and rules.
• It may help you to put the essay deadline on your calendar so that you don’t forget when it is.
• If you're sending the essay by mail, make sure you send it far enough in advance that it will reach the judges in time.

Making Your Essay Stand Out

• An example of an attention-grabbing introduction might be, “I held my breath for 82 seconds before I was yanked out of the water,” or “Sarah walked slowly up to the door, her body drenched in nervous sweat, before firmly knocking.”

• The title should give the reader a glimpse of what your essay is about while leaving them intrigued.
• For example, if you’re writing an essay about a lemon picker, you might title the essay, "Living with Sour Fingers."

• Instead of saying, “The wheelbarrow fell down the hill,” you could say, “The rusty wheels of the wheelbarrow skidded over smooth rocks and sharp blades of grass until it skidded to a stop at the edge of the water.”

• Read over your essay and look for sentences or ideas that would likely not be found in another person's essay.
• If you're having trouble figuring out if you have an original element, have someone else read over your essay and tell you which parts stand out.

• Review the essay guidelines to see if there’s a special way they’d like the essay formatted.

Expert Q&A

• If you don't win, take a look at the winning entries if possible and see what they did that you didn't. Try to learn from this and incorporate it into your next essay. Thanks Helpful 20 Not Helpful 2
• If you have difficulty understanding the topic or the guidelines, try to get in touch with the judges. Thanks Helpful 16 Not Helpful 2
• Don't be afraid to ask for help if you have a hard time! As long as your work is original, getting feedback from others is a great way to make your writing stronger. Thanks Helpful 14 Not Helpful 2

• Failure to follow the format requirements may disqualify your essay. Thanks Helpful 44 Not Helpful 8
• Be aware of the deadline to ensure you get your essay submitted in time. Thanks Helpful 18 Not Helpful 3

You Might Also Like

Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you'd like to learn more about essay contests, check out our in-depth interview with Daniel Santos .

• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/brainstorming/
• ↑ https://mlpp.pressbooks.pub/writingsuccess/chapter/8-3-drafting/
• ↑ https://writingcenter.unc.edu/tips-and-tools/revising-drafts/
• ↑ https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/writingprocess/proofreading
• ↑ https://advice.writing.utoronto.ca/planning/intros-and-conclusions/
• ↑ https://writing.umn.edu/sws/assets/pdf/quicktips/titles.pdf
• ↑ https://owl.purdue.edu/owl/general_writing/academic_writing/essay_writing/descriptive_essays.html
• ↑ https://www.oxford-royale.com/articles/write-original-essay/
• ↑ https://facultyweb.ivcc.edu/ramboeng2/handout_essayformat.htm

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Essay Papers Writing Online

Engaging in competitive essay writing – how to excel in essay writing competitions.

Essay writing competitions can be a great opportunity to showcase your writing skills and win accolades for your creativity and thoughtfulness. Whether you are a seasoned writer or just starting out, competition can be fierce, so it’s vital to have a winning strategy in place.

In this article, we will discuss top tips and strategies that can help you stand out from the competition and increase your chances of winning essay writing competitions.

From identifying the right competition to crafting a compelling thesis statement and polishing your final draft, there are several key steps you can take to improve your chances of emerging victorious. Let’s dive into these tips and strategies to help you succeed in essay writing competitions!

Prepare Your Essay

1. Understand the topic: Before you start writing your essay, make sure you completely understand the topic. Research and gather relevant information to build a strong foundation for your argument.

2. Develop a clear thesis statement: Your thesis statement should clearly convey the main point of your essay. It will serve as the guiding principle for the rest of your writing.

3. Create an outline: Organize your thoughts and arguments by creating an outline. This will help you structure your essay in a logical and coherent manner.

4. Write a compelling introduction: Start your essay with a compelling introduction that captures the reader’s attention and clearly presents your thesis statement.

5. Support your arguments with evidence: Back up your arguments with reliable evidence, examples, and research. This will strengthen your essay and make your points more convincing.

6. Craft a strong conclusion: End your essay with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces your thesis statement. Leave a lasting impression on the reader.

7. Edit and revise: Once you have completed your essay, take the time to edit and revise it. Check for spelling and grammatical errors, ensure your arguments flow smoothly, and make any necessary revisions to improve clarity and coherence.

Research Your Topic

One of the most important steps in preparing for an essay writing competition is to thoroughly research your topic. Ensure that you understand the key concepts, arguments, and perspectives related to the subject matter. Use credible sources such as academic journals, books, and reputable websites to gather information and support your arguments.

Understand the Competition Guidelines

One essential aspect of winning essay writing competitions is understanding the competition guidelines. Before you start writing your essay, carefully read and follow the rules and requirements provided by the competition organizers. Pay attention to the word count, topic restrictions, formatting guidelines, submission deadlines, and any other specific instructions.

By familiarizing yourself with the competition guidelines, you can ensure that your essay meets all the necessary criteria for consideration. Failure to adhere to the rules could result in disqualification, so it is crucial to read and understand the guidelines thoroughly before you begin your writing process.

Develop Your Writing Skills

Improving your writing skills is essential if you want to succeed in essay writing competitions. Here are some tips to help you develop your writing skills:

• Read extensively: Reading a variety of books, articles, and essays can help you improve your writing style and vocabulary.
• Practice writing regularly: The more you write, the better you will become. Set aside time each day to write and experiment with different writing techniques.
• Seek feedback: Ask teachers, peers, or writing professionals to provide feedback on your writing. Constructive criticism can help you identify areas for improvement.
• Study grammar and punctuation: Understanding the rules of grammar and punctuation is crucial for producing high-quality writing. Take the time to study these rules and apply them to your writing.
• Learn from successful writers: Study the works of successful writers and analyze their writing techniques. Try to incorporate some of these techniques into your own writing.

Practice Regularly

One of the key ways to improve your essay writing skills and increase your chances of winning competitions is to practice regularly. Writing is a skill that improves with practice, so make time each day to write essays, articles, or even short stories. Set aside dedicated time to work on your writing, and challenge yourself to explore different topics and styles.

By practicing regularly, you’ll not only improve your writing technique but also build confidence in your abilities. This confidence will show in your competition entries and set you apart from other participants. Remember, practice makes perfect, so the more you write, the better you’ll become.

Seek Feedback and Editing

Getting feedback on your essay is crucial to improving it and making it stand out in competitions. Don’t be afraid to ask teachers, peers, or writing tutors to review your work and provide constructive criticism.

Consider joining a writing group or workshop where you can share your essay and receive feedback from other writers. This can help you identify weak points in your argument or areas where you can improve your writing style.

After receiving feedback, be open to making edits and revisions. Polish your essay by fixing grammar and punctuation errors, tightening up your arguments, and ensuring your ideas flow logically and cohesively.

Remember, the more eyes you have on your essay, the better it will become. Don’t hesitate to seek feedback and editing to make your essay the best it can be.

Hook Your Readers

One of the most important aspects of winning an essay writing competition is grabbing the reader’s attention right from the start. Your introduction should be compelling and draw the reader in, making them want to continue reading. Here are some effective ways to hook your readers:

• Start with a powerful quote: Using a thought-provoking quote at the beginning can set the tone for your essay and intrigue your readers.
• Pose a question: Asking a question can engage your readers and make them curious to find out the answer, encouraging them to keep reading.
• Provide a shocking statistic: Sharing a surprising statistic can capture your readers’ interest and make them want to learn more about the topic.
• Share a personal anecdote: Connecting with your readers on a personal level by sharing a relevant anecdote can make your essay more relatable and engaging.
• Use descriptive imagery: Painting a vivid picture with descriptive language can transport your readers into the world you’re describing, making them more invested in your essay.

By hooking your readers from the beginning, you set the stage for a captivating essay that will leave a lasting impression on the judges of the competition.

State Your Thesis Clearly

One of the most important aspects of winning an essay writing competition is to state your thesis clearly in the introductory paragraph. Your thesis is the main argument or point you will be making in your essay, and it serves as the foundation for your entire piece. Make sure your thesis is specific, debatable, and concise. Avoid vague statements and ensure that your thesis directly addresses the prompt provided for the competition.

Tip: Your thesis should be strong and compelling, drawing the reader in and establishing the purpose of your essay from the start. It should be clear enough that your reader can easily understand what you will be arguing throughout the rest of your essay.

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How to Win Essay Contests: A Step-by-Step Guide

10 Steps to Writing Contest-Winning Essays

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Did you know that you can win prizes with your writing skills? Essay contests are a fun way to turn your creativity and your command of the written word into great prizes. But how do you give your essay the edge that gets it picked from among all of the other entries?

Here's a step-by-step guide to writing essays that impress judges. Follow these steps for your best chances of winning writing contests.

Read the Essay Contest Rules

The first thing that you should do to win essay contests is to read the rules thoroughly. Overlooking one small detail could be the difference between winning the contest and wasting your time.

Pay special attention to:

• The contest's start and end dates.
• How often you're allowed to enter.
• The word or character count .
• The contest's theme.
• The criteria that the judges will use to pick the winners.
• Who the sponsoring company is, and what their branding is like.
• And any other details the sponsor requires.

It might help you to print out the sweepstakes rules and highlight the most important elements, or to take notes and keep them close at hand as you write.

If you summarize the relevant rules in a checklist, you can easily check the requirements off when you've finished your essay to ensure you haven't overlooked anything.

Brainstorm Your Essay Ideas

Many people want to jump right into writing their essay, but it's a better idea to take some time to brainstorm different ideas before you start. Oftentimes, your first impulse isn't your best.

The Calgary Tutoring Centre lists several reasons why brainstorming improves your writing . According to their article, brainstorming lets you:

"Eliminate weaker ideas or make weaker ideas stronger. Select only the best and most relevant topics of discussion for your essay while eliminating off-topic ideas. Or, generate a new topic that you might have left out that fits with others."

For a great brainstorming session, find a distraction-free area and settle in with a pen and paper, or your favorite method to take notes. A warm beverage and a healthy snack might aid your process. Then, think about your topic and jot down quick words and phrases that are relevant to your theme.

This is not the time to polish your ideas or try to write them coherently. Just capture enough of the idea that you know what you meant when you review your notes.

Consider different ways that you can make the contest theme personal, come at it from a different angle, or stand out from the other contest entries. Can you make a serious theme funny? Can you make your ideas surprising and unexpected?

Write down all your ideas, but don't judge them yet. The more ideas you can come up with, the better.

Select the Essay Concept that Best Fits the Contest's Theme and Sponsor

Once you've finished brainstorming, look over all of your ideas to pick the one you want to develop for your essay contest entry.

While you're deciding, think about what might appeal to the essay contest's sponsor. Do you have a way of working the sponsor's products into your essay? Does your concept fit the sponsor's company image?

An essay that might be perfect for a Budweiser contest might fall completely flat when Disney is the sponsor.

This is also a good time to consider whether any of your rejected ideas would make good secondary themes for your essay.

Use a Good Hook to Grab the Reader's Attention

When it's time to start writing your essay, remember that the first sentence is the most important. You want to ensure that your first paragraph is memorable and grabs the reader's attention.

When you start with a powerful, intriguing, moving, or hilarious first sentence, you hook your readers' interest and stick out in their memory when it is time to pick winners.

Writer's Digest has some excellent tips on how to hook readers at the start of an essay in their article, 10 Ways to Hook Your Reader (and Reel Them in for Good) .

For ideas on how to make your essay unforgettable, see Red Mittens, Strong Hooks, and Other Ways to Make Your Essay Spectacular .

Write the First Draft of Your Essay

Now, it's time to get all of your thoughts down on paper (or on your computer). Remember that this is a first draft, so don't worry about perfect grammar or if you are running over your word count. 

Instead, focus on whether your essay is hitting the right emotional notes, how your story comes across, whether you are using the right voice, and if you are communicating everything you intend to.

First drafts are important because they help you overcome your reluctance to write. You are not trying to be good yet, you are trying to simply tell your story. Polishing that story will come later.

They also organize your writing. You can see where your ideas fit and where you need to restructure to give them more emotional impact.

Finally, a first draft helps you keep your ideas flowing without letting details slow you down. You can even skip over parts that you find challenging, leaving notes for your next revision. For example, you could jot down "add statistics" or "get a funny quote from Mom" and come back to those time-consuming points later.

Revise Your Essay for Flow and Organization

Once you've written the first draft of your essay, look over it to ensure that it flows. Is your point well-made and clear? Do your thoughts flow smoothly from one point to another? Do the transitions make sense? Does it sound good when you read it aloud?

This is also the time to cut out extraneous words and ensure you've come in under the word count limit.

Generally, cutting words will improve your writing. In his book, On Writing , Stephen King writes that he once received a rejection that read: "Formula for success: 2nd Draft = 1st Draft – 10%." In other words, the first draft can always use some trimming to make the best parts shine.

If you'd like some tips on how to improve your first draft, check out these tips on how to self-edit .

Keep an Eye Out for "Red Mittens"

In her fantastic book, The Prize Winner of Defiance, Ohio , Terry Ryan talked about how her mother Evelyn used "red mittens" to help her be more successful with contest entries.

As she put it:

"The purpose of the Red Mitten was almost self-explanatory -- it made an entry stand out from the rest. In a basket of mittens, a red one will be noticed."

Rhyme, alliteration, inner rhyme, puns, and coined words were some of the red mittens that Evelyn Ryan used to make her entries pop. Your essay's red mitten might be a clever play on words, a dash of humor, or a heart-tuggingly poignant story that sticks in the judges' minds.

If your first draft is feeling a little bland, consider whether you can add a red mitten to spice up your story.

Put Your Contest Entry Aside

Now that you have a fairly polished draft of your essay contest entry, put it aside and don't look at it for a little while. If you have time before the contest ends, put your essay away for at least a week and let your mind mull over the idea subconsciously for a little while.

Many times, people think of exactly what their essay needs to make it perfect... right after they have hit the submit button.

Letting your entry simmer in your mind for a while gives you the time to come up with these great ideas before it's too late.

Revise Your Essay Contest Entry Again

Now, it's time to put the final polish on your essay. Have you said everything you wanted to? Have you made your point? Does the essay sound good when you read it out loud? Can you tighten up the prose by making additional cuts in the word count?

In this phase, it helps to enlist the help of friends or family members. Read your essay to them and check their reactions. Did they smile at the right parts? Were they confused by anything? Did they connect with the idea behind the story?

This is also a good time to ensure you haven't made any grammar or spelling mistakes. A grammar checker like Grammarly is very helpful for catching those little mistakes your eyes gloss over. But since even computer programs make mistakes sometimes, so it's helpful to have another person — a good friend or family member — read it through before you submit it.

Read the Essay Contest Rules One Last Time

If you've been following these directions, you've already read through the contest rules carefully. But now that you've written your draft and had some time to think things over, read them through one more time to make sure you haven't overlooked anything.

Go through your checklist of the essay requirements point-by-point with your finished essay in front of you to make sure you've hit them all.

And now, you're done! Submit the essay to your contest, and keep your fingers crossed for the results !

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Daily Writing Tips

20 tips for winning writing contests.

Submitting stories to writing contests (Reedsy has an updated list with over 300 contests ) can be quite lucrative if you know the tricks of the trade. At the same time it is easy to make an avoidable mistake and miss out.

Many books published now use single quotation marks for speech. I followed this format for an entry in an American contest. After the contest I received an email from the main judge which said: You may have done well in this contest but for the fact that I could not get past the abominable use of apostrophes instead of quotation marks .

Don’t let this happen to you. Worse, you will probably never know why you were not among the winners.

Tip 1 . Always adhere to traditional standards of correctness (see above). A contest is not the time to throw the rule book away. This applies most strongly in writing contests which are run by universities or colleges.

Tip 2 . If it says Literature contest , that’s what it means. They are looking for subtlety, depth, a subtext, creativity, and clever (even poetic) use of language; an emphasis on interesting often dark characters, and setting rather than plot.

Tip 3 . If it says Writing competition , well written popular fiction is what will win. Now your emphasis must be on plot. You need a great opening line and an absorbing plot. Plot follows your main character’s conflict . Give this person an interesting difficult tussle of some kind. Your story ends when your character has resolved the conflict against all odds.

Tip 4 . If it states a particular theme in the rules, then that theme must be intrinsic to your story.

Tip 5 . Whatever kind of work you are writing, title is everything. The title is the judge’s first impression of your work. Spend time thinking of something relevant to the story that is eye catching and appealing.

Tip 6 . Use your delete key. Read and reread your work. That paragraph you really like that you spent hours over. Does it advance your story? No? Then delete it. Does your story only get going on the second page? Delete page one.

Tip 7 . Short stories work best from a single point of view. Don’t confuse the judge.

Tip 8 . Does your entry use the right tense? Present tense may be fashionable but it doesn’t work for every story. If your story is immediate and all is happening now, use present tense. If it spans a time period coming up to the present use past tense.

Tip 9 . Strive for active rather than passive voice.

Tip 10 . Do not use real people for your characters. Real people in fiction are boring. Your main character should be larger than life yet still believable.

Tip 11 . Do not use exclamation marks except possibly for a single word exclamation such as “Ouch!”

Tip 12 . Beware of clichés. It is easy to use one without noticing.

Tip 13 Use strong verbs rather than adverbs. Likewise avoid strings of adjectives and NEVER write “suddenly.”

Tip 14 . Try to write something DIFFERENT. Think of the poor judge reading hundreds of stories set in her home country; then she gets to a well written entry set in Antarctica.

Tip 15 . If you know who the judge will be, read his work; try to read the entries of previous winners. Do everything you can to fit your entry to the contest.

Tip 16. Use the entry form for all your details. NEVER put your name on the manuscript.

Tip 17 . Font: Use 12 point Times New Roman or Arial unless the rules ask for something else.

Tip 18 . Some contests give you a choice between paper or online entry. Choose paper whenever you can and pay the postage. Emailing submissions (unless as a Word attachment) can play havoc with your careful formatting.

Tip 19 . Please do not decorate your manuscript or add that nice picture of your pet dog or the photo of yourself. All that work to end up shredded. Don’t add a cute little note for the judge (Yes some people do).

Tip 20 . Proofread, proofread and do it again. If entering online print out to check your work. Read it out loud to yourself. If judges can’t decide between two entries and one is missing a comma or has a word spelled incorrectly and the other has been submitted perfectly set-out without typos; guess which one will win?

Stop making those embarrassing mistakes! Subscribe to Daily Writing Tips today!

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8 thoughts on “20 Tips For Winning Writing Contests”

…unless as a Word attachment…

No. Sending any form of word processor files (.doc, .docx, .odt) is about the worst thing you can do if you want to preserve your formatting. A file can look completely different on different computers, even if the program used is completely identical (down to a build version). There is a format that’s explicitly intended for looking exactly the same everywhere, and that’s pdf (and it’s an open format, too).

A relevant topic to ask this question?

Can a story have more than one theme?

I’m passing this on:

This is a nice genuine inexpensive Oz competition the 8 line poem contest is open until February and they take PayPal

Diana Thurbon

I think that’s overstating it. Different versions of Word will rarely produce documents that look “completely different”. Mostly they will look the same I’d say. What you should do, of course, is follow the instructions provided by the competition rules.

“At the same time it is easy to make *an avoidable mistakes and miss out.”

Proofread, proofread and do it again…

DOH! I should have caught that one.

Quoting Simon Kewin “Different versions of Word will rarely produce documents that look “completely different”. Mostly they will look the same I’d say.”

An oft-overlooked setting which does cause havoc to any Word file is the default printer. For reasons totally beyond common sense, Word links the layout of the page to the printing settings of the default printer. Change your current printer to a new one and you can get quite some money by betting on the layout having changed. We have two suppliers of printers in our office and just moving up or down one floor does make the same document look different.

Add this the rules for widows, orphans and if the font is available on the judge’s computer and yes, documents can look very different indeed. Pdf is a great format, the document will be displayed exactly the same be it on Windows PC, Linux or Mac.

Great tips on winning writing contests. I used to entry poetry contests, and I entered a short story contest. Winning a contest can depend on what the judges like to read.

Leave a Comment

5 Writing Contest Strategies to Improve Your Winning Chances

by Guest Blogger | 0 comments

Fear, anticipation, and self-doubt are just a few emotions I felt during my first writing contest.

Maybe you’re in the same place now. Wondering if you have a chance among the many entrants. Uncertain if it’s worth the time and effort.

Short answer—it is.

And that holds true whether you win or lose. We’ll get into that more below.

But I also want to reveal five tips for improving your winning chances in a writing contest. See, I won the Short Fiction Break 2020 Summer Writing Contest with my story Dark Time . So the editorial staff at The Write Practice asked me to share strategies I think helped my entry.

My author career is in its infancy, so I’m speaking from limited experience. But I believe the resources and tips below will give you a better chance at snagging the next grand prize.

Want to take your chance at a grand prize and put these tips to the test? Check out our next writing contest!

Discover Writing Contests

Why Enter a Writing Contest?

Besides the obvious benefit of “If I win it’ll be awesome and I get prize money,” here are a few other perks I experienced.

These apply whether or not you place.

You'll become a better writer. A short story is the perfect format to practice writing. You experience the entire process in a short time. Rough draft, revision, critiques, polishing and publishing. With longer works, that journey might take months instead of days or weeks.

You'll pad your portfolio. Even if you don’t win, being published in a competition boosts your credibility. When you point readers, agents, or authors to your published work, they regard you as a more legitimate writer. It’s marketing for the brand of YOU.

You'll connect with other writers. A contest gives you an excuse to comment on the work of other writers. Since you’re all in the same competition, they’ll likely respond. That’s a new connection, and potential collaborator, for your writing career.

You'll experience BEING a writer. Entering a writing contest, producing a story, then submitting makes you feel like a writer. It’s challenging and rewarding. Short story contests are a simple way to live the writer’s life.

Five Strategies That Worked For Me

Here are some top strategies I believe helped me win the 2020 Summer Writing Contest.

1. Review Short Story Best Practices

I began by reviewing several articles on short story best practices. This is important, since it gets you planning how to tell a great story from the beginning.

Having best practices in mind as I brainstormed ideas and wrote the first draft heavily influenced the outcome.

Here are two incredible resources from The Write Practice. I referred to these articles often during my writing and revision process:

How to Write a Short Story From Start to Finish

10 Critical Mistakes Writers Make in Writing Contests

2. Use the MICE Quotient

I debated including this, because it teeters on the edge of being helpful or confusing. But I found it useful, so maybe you will too.

It’s too detailed to describe here, so I’ll just direct you to the source.

Brandon Sanderson and Mary Robinette—hosts on the podcast Writing Excuses — hosted a lecture on writing short stories . In it, they explain the MICE Quotient . This is a strategy to create satisfying stories by focusing on the type of conflict involved.

There’s also a formula (yes, writers—MATH), which helps estimate your final word count. Knowing that number in advance saves time and headache. Especially if the story you want to tell looks to be 5000 words, and the limit is 1500.

You can find the lecture on YouTube here .

3. Focus on Theme

The contest I entered offered few constraints. A limit of only 1500 words and a theme of isolation .

In a sea of great entries, I knew the judges would seek an exemplary take on the theme to make their final decisions.

I asked myself, how can I best get the reader to FEEL isolation? Short stories, in my opinion, are a mix between prose and poetry. Emotional impact is one of their defining features.

In my story, I attempted this by layering many levels of isolation. My character progressed from self-imposed solitude, to getting stranded alone, to potentially being the last human alive.

Ask yourself, how can you write a narrative that delivers on the theme with an emotional gut punch ?

4. Spend Most of Your Time Revising

I took two mornings to plan my story, then wrote it over two more.

I spent the next week revising.

During that revision process, the story changed a lot and shrank from over 2300 words to just under 1500.

While much of the final version lived in that first draft, the heart and soul were missing. For example, revision helped clarify my protagonist’s motivations and character arc.

Here are a few specific lessons I learned along the way.

Accept the process will be messy. I often had no idea what to include, what to delete, or what to change. I moved sections around only to move them back. Revision is chaotic, and that’s okay. Giving yourself a break from your draft helps. Just an hour away can clarify story blocks. Also, try re-working sections. You may not keep the changes, but at least you’ll have something to compare the original passages against.

Listen to your gut feelings. As a new writer, I often distrust my writing sensibilities. In Dark Time, my first draft had the protagonist, lonely and confused, talking for paragraphs to his flashlight. It was cute and lighthearted. But I wanted the tone dark and tense. So although it kinda worked, I scrapped it. If you have an instinct about your story, listen to it. You’re probably right.

Do multiple polish passes. I revised Dark Time to a point it seemed “done.” Then I kept going. To my surprise, a lot changed after this point. I switched words to be more descriptive. Others I adjusted to better reflect theme and symbolism. I obliterated instances of passive voice. I also eliminated most forms of verbs like “is,” “was,” “were,” etc. So keep polishing, even after the story works.

5. Supercharge Your Draft Using Critiques

Sometimes, it’s difficult to know if a part of your story doesn’t work. After all, you understand what you’re trying to get across.

Until someone NOT you reads it, how do you know if you succeeded?

In my case, turns out I didn’t always hit the mark. Sections of my story received multiple comments expressing confusion. Obviously, something wasn’t working. So if several people get stuck on a part in your story, you’ll want to re-work it.

Critiques also help you discover which passages affect readers, and which don’t. This allows you to tweak structure and supercharge your story’s impact.

For example, I found my ending didn’t touch readers emotionally. Critiques helped me uncover why.

In the last scene, the protagonist fears never seeing his family again. Yet I hadn’t mentioned them until that point. Referring to his relatives earlier in the story fixed the issue.

Critiques may seem scary, but they’re not. The outside perspective I received from workshopping helped me win the competition. No doubt.

Where Will Your Story Take Us?

As I grow in my writing career, I’ve discovered no two authors have the exact story to tell. Your unique perspective, your voice, is what will draw readers to you.

Short story contests are an excellent way to develop that voice and share it with others. That can lead to new opportunities and new readers.

So use the tips above and get started on your next contest entry. Whether or not you take the grand prize, you’ll likely enjoy the experience and walk away a better writer.

Ready to enter a writing contest yourself? We'd love for you to join our next contest! It's your turn to write a story, get feedback, get published , and maybe even take home the grand prize:

Enter the Next Contest

Have you ever won a prize for your writing? What strategies did you use to write a winning piece?   Let us know in the comments .

For today's practice, we'll focus on Demi's third strategy: focus on theme. Here's the theme of the Fall Writing Contest:

Boundless. When your characters are limitless, what will they do?

First, take five minutes to brainstorm. What could boundless mean for a story, and how can you express it? Here are some questions to get you started:

• What does “boundless” mean?
• What could “boundless” mean for a person? A place? A situation? An animal? An object?
• What are some good things about “boundless”?
• What are some bad things about “boundless”?
• What does “boundless”  feel like?

Then, take ten minutes to start writing a story based on the theme. You might outline your story, or write a scene.

When you're done, share your story in the comments below . This is a great way to practice the fifth strategy, too, and improve your story with feedback. Be sure to leave feedback for your fellow writers, too!

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Mastering Essay Writing Competitions: Essential Tips and Strategies

Embarking on the journey of participating in an essay writing competition can be both exhilarating and daunting. Whether you're a seasoned writer or a novice, understanding the nuances of essay writing is crucial for success. This comprehensive guide is tailored to equip you with the skills and strategies needed to excel in essay writing competition: 9 ways to prepare for it effectively . From understanding the theme to articulating your thoughts coherently, we will delve into the key aspects of essay writing that can set your work apart. So, if you're aiming to win an essay competition or simply want to enhance your writing skills, this guide is your go-to resource.

Understanding the Essence of Essay Writing Competitions

Essay writing competitions are more than just a test of writing ability; they are a platform to showcase your understanding, creativity, and ability to engage with a topic. To win an essay competition, it's essential to grasp the theme deeply and present your ideas in a structured and compelling manner. Remember, judges look for originality, clarity, and a strong personal voice. Therefore, it's not just about what you write, but how you convey your thoughts that makes the difference.

9 Tips to Ace That Timed Essay

Timed essays can be particularly challenging, as they test not only your writing skills but also your ability to think quickly and organize your thoughts under pressure. To ace this, practice writing essays within a set time limit. Focus on outlining your ideas swiftly and spend adequate time on each section of your essay. Remember, a well-structured essay with clear arguments can make a significant impact.

Strategies to Win an Essay Writing Competition

Winning an essay competition requires a blend of creativity, clarity, and a deep understanding of the subject matter. Start by thoroughly researching the topic and brainstorming unique angles to approach it. Develop a clear thesis statement and ensure that your essay revolves around it. Use persuasive and logical arguments backed by evidence. Lastly, don't underestimate the power of a well-edited and proofread essay.

How to Write a Very Good Essay: Key Techniques

Writing a very good essay involves several key techniques. First, understand the essay prompt and tailor your writing to meet its requirements. Use a clear and concise writing style, ensuring that each paragraph transitions smoothly to the next. Employ a mix of complex and simple sentences to keep the reader engaged. Additionally, use examples and evidence to support your arguments, making your essay both informative and persuasive.

Essential Writing Tips for This Year

As we progress through the year, it's important to stay updated with the latest writing trends and techniques. Focus on developing a strong, engaging opening that grabs the reader's attention. Be aware of the current events and how they can relate to your essay topic. Also, practice different styles of writing to find your unique voice. Remember, versatility and adaptability in writing are key in staying relevant.

9 Tips for Writing Essays in Exams

Writing essays in exams requires quick thinking and efficient writing. Start by quickly planning your essay structure. Focus on answering the question directly and concisely. Use clear and straightforward language, and avoid unnecessary jargon. Time management is crucial, so allocate enough time for each section of your essay. Lastly, leave a few minutes at the end to review and make any necessary edits.

B2 First for Schools Writing Part 1: Mastering the Basics

For students preparing for the B2 First for Schools exam, mastering the basics of essay writing is crucial. Understand the format and expectations of the exam. Practice writing essays on a variety of topics to build your confidence. Pay attention to grammar, vocabulary, and punctuation, as these are key components of the assessment. Also, learn to express your ideas clearly and coherently within the given word limit.

Winning Strategies for an Essay Competition

To win an essay competition, adopt a strategic approach. Start by understanding the competition's criteria and tailor your essay to fit these requirements. Develop a unique angle or perspective on the topic. Use compelling storytelling and vivid descriptions to engage the reader. Be sure to thoroughly edit and refine your essay, as a polished piece can significantly increase your chances of winning.

Dos and Don'ts in Essay Writing Competitions

• Do: Research thoroughly and plan your essay structure.
• Do: Be original and express your unique perspective.
• Do: Follow the competition guidelines strictly.
• Don't: Plagiarize or use clichéd ideas.
• Don't: Ignore the importance of proofreading and editing.
• Don't: Overcomplicate your language unnecessarily.

FAQs on Essay Writing Competitions

• How important is the originality of ideas in an essay competition? Originality is crucial. It sets your essay apart and shows your creative thinking skills.
• Can I use quotes in my essay? Yes, but use them sparingly and ensure they are relevant to your argument.
• How can I improve my essay writing skills? Practice regularly, read widely, and seek feedback on your writing.

Final Thoughts

Essay writing competitions are a great platform to showcase your writing skills and intellectual creativity. By understanding the competition's requirements, practicing regularly, and employing the tips and strategies discussed in this guide, you can significantly enhance your essay writing abilities. Remember, each essay is a learning opportunity, so embrace the process and continue to refine your skills. With dedication and practice, you can transform your writing and excel in any essay writing competition.

Useful Resources:  https://naijaeduinfo.com/essay-writing-format-definition-types-and-features/

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The Best Student Writing Contests for 2023-2024

Help your students take their writing to the next level.

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 for everyone. Prepare highly motivated kids in need of an authentic writing mentor, and watch the words flow.

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 7-12, ages 13 and up, may begin submitting work in September by uploading to an online account at Scholastic and connecting to their local region. There are entry fees, but those can be waived for students in need.

2.  YoungArts National Arts Competition

This ends soon, but if you have students who are ready to submit, it’s worth it. YoungArts offers a 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.

YoungArts accepts submissions in each category through October 13. Students submit their work online and pay a $35 fee (there is a fee waiver option).

3. 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.

The rules, prizes, and deadlines vary, so check out the website for more info.

4.  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, DC.

Students fill out a registration form online, and a teacher or sponsor is required. The deadline to enter is the first week of April.

5.  John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

This annual contest invites students to write about a political official’s act of political courage that occurred after Kennedy’s birth in 1917. The winner receives $10,000, and 16 runners-up also receive a variety of cash prizes. ADVERTISEMENT

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.

6. Bennington Young Writers Awards

Bennington College offers competitions in three categories: poetry (a group of three poems), fiction (a short story or one-act play), and nonfiction (a personal or academic essay). First-place winners receive $500. Grab a poster for your classroom here .

The contest runs from September 1 to November 1. The website links to a student registration form.

7. 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. )

Students submit one 10-page play script online or by mail. The deadline is the end of March. Contest details will be published in early 2024.

8. 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.

Students in 11th grade can submit their poetry. Contest details will be published this fall.

9. 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 !

Submissions need to be made electronically by November 1.

10.  Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

The deadline for this contest is the end of October. Sponsored by Hollins University, the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest awards prizes for the best poems submitted by young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school. Prizes include cash and scholarships. Winners are chosen by students and faculty members in the creative writing program at Hollins.

Students may submit either one or two poems using the online form.

11.  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 .

Submissions for the prize are accepted electronically from November 1 through November 30.

12. 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.

Details for the 2024 contest will be announced in November. Essay length is from six to eight pages, not including works cited.

13. Rattle Young Poets Anthology

Open to students from 15 to 18 years old who are interested in publication and exposure over monetary awards.

Teachers may choose five students for whom to submit up to four poems each on their behalf. The deadline is November 15.

14. 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.

There is an $18 entry fee, and submissions are made online.

15. YouthPlays New Voices

For students under 18, the YouthPlays one-act competition is designed for young writers to create new works for the stage. Winners receive cash awards and publication.

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. Entries open each year in January.

16. The Ocean Awareness Contest

The 2024 Ocean Awareness Contest, Tell Your Climate Story , encourages students to write their own unique climate story. They are asking for creative expressions of students’ personal experiences, insights, or perceptions about climate change. Students are eligible for a wide range of monetary prizes up to $1,000.

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.

17. EngineerGirl Annual Essay 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 .

Students submit their work electronically by February 1. Check out the full list of rules and requirements here .

18. 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.

Deadlines range from October 28 to February 15. Check out NCTE.org for more details.

19. See Us, Support Us Art Contest

Children of incarcerated parents can submit artwork, poetry, photos, videos, and more. Submissions are free and the website has a great collection of past winners.

Students can submit their entries via social media or email by October 25.

20. The Adroit Prizes for Poetry & Prose

The Adroit Journal, an education-minded nonprofit publication, awards annual prizes for poetry and prose to exceptional high school and college students. Adroit charges an entry fee but also provides a form for financial assistance.

Sign up at the website for updates for the next round of submissions.

21. 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.

This program requires submitting to PTAs who participate in the program. Check your school’s PTA for their deadlines.

22. World Historian Student Essay Competition

The World Historian Student Essay Competition is an international contest open to students enrolled in grades K–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.

Students can submit entries via email or regular mail before May 1.

23. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

The National Society of High School Scholars awards three $2,000 scholarships for both poetry and fiction. They accept poetry, short stories, and graphic novel writing.

Apply online by October 31.

Whether you let your students blog, start a podcast or video channel, or enter student writing contests, giving them an authentic audience for their work is always a powerful classroom choice.

If you like this list of student writing contests and want more articles like it, subscribe to our newsletters to find out when they’re posted!

Plus, check out our favorite anchor charts for teaching writing..

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Best 2024 Competitions for Students in Grades K-12

Competitions in STEM, ELA and the arts, and more! Continue Reading

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5 Writing Tips for This Year's Student Essay Contest

Posted by Stacey Perlman on March 12, 2018

The Facing History Together Student Essay Contest is back! And we're accepting submissions ! Using the documentary film, American Creed ,  we're asking students to tell a story they believe shows the power of uniting people, building bridges, or orienting us to what we share and the common good. But what makes a good essay? We've rounded up a few writing tips that can prepare students to sit down and write their best 500-word essay for the chance to win great scholarship prizes. Check out the full contest site for all of the details. In the meantime, read these tips and get writing. Submissions close on March 28!

1. Read the whole prompt! Sounds easy but it's important. This will help you form your thoughts and know what the expectations are: How long should it be? What are you being asked to respond to? Read it through a couple of times and sit with your thoughts for a few minutes. 

2. Start with an outline! Not sure where to begin? Create an outline. Even if it is just a few bullet points, this can help you organize your thoughts and make sure you are hitting all of the main points of the prompt. Then you can begin stringing these thoughts together in paragraphs. 

3. Just start writing!  Staring at a blank page can seem daunting but just start putting words onto the page. It's important to keep in mind that a first draft is always just that - a first draft . Allow yourself to write out your thoughts without worrying about word count just yet. Then go back and review: Are you missing important details? Did you include everything the prompt asked for? Are you over or under the word count? Now go through and refine it and make it better. This might take a couple of rounds and that's okay. You'll end up with a solid essay that might just win you some scholarship money!

4. Express yourself!  People love stories. And they will enjoy hearing yours. Stories give us a window into who you are and how you see the world. Remember that not every story needs to be big. Sometimes it's the smallest moments that we can all relate to.  

5. Proofread - times two! Always remember to edit and proofread your essay for grammar, structure, and flow. Read the essay out loud to yourself. Sometimes hearing it can help you identify sentences that need to be revised. Then ask someone else to proofread it. A friend or a parent can be a fresh pair of eyes to catch any grammatical mistakes you might have missed and can offer valuable feedback that might help improve your essay even more.  Don't forget to keep it to 500 words!  

Use these writing tips to write the best essay you can, but most of all, have fun! We look forward to reading all of the great essays we receive. Explore the full prompt and details and d on't forget, submissions close on March 28!  

Topics: Essay Contest

Written by Stacey Perlman

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23 Writing Competitions for High School Students

What’s covered:, why should you enter a writing competition, writing competitions for high school students, how do writing competitions affect my admissions chances.

Do you dream of writing the next great American novel? Are you passionate about poetry? Do you aspire to become a screenwriter? No matter what genre of writing you’re interested in—whether it’s fiction, nonfiction, poetry, or something else entirely—there’s a writing competition focused on it.

Writing competitions provide great motivation to put pen to paper (or finger to key). Moreover, they’re an excellent step toward getting published, and can ultimately start you on the path to becoming a professional writer.

One of the best ways to improve your writing is simply to write—and competitions provide an excellent impetus to do so. Writing competitions also serve as an introduction to what life is like for many writers; participants entering writing competitions will receive a prompt or must think of an original idea, compose a piece of work, and submit it for review.

Another benefit of entering a writing competition for high schoolers is that many offer cash awards and scholarships, which can be used to help with the costs of college.

Additionally, many writing competitions are run by colleges and universities, so submitting them is a great way to introduce faculty to yourself and your work. If you win an award—especially a prestigious award—it can significantly improve your odds of college acceptance.

1. The Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose

Type: Poetry and Prose

Submission Fee: $15

Prize: $200

Deadline: May 1, 2023

Eligibility:

• All secondary and undergraduate students

Guidelines:

• Each student may send up to five total submissions across the genres of poetry and prose
• Each poetry submission may include up to six poems (maximum of ten pages single-spaced). Each prose submission may include up to three works of fiction or creative nonfiction (combined word limit of 3,500 words; excerpts are acceptable).

Adroit Prizes are awarded to emerging high school and college writers in two categories: poetry and prose. Winning pieces are considered for publication in the Adroit Journal and winners receive an award of $200. The 2023 judges are Natalie Diaz and Ocean Vuong.

2. Ten-Minute Play Contest

Type: Plays

Submission Fee: N/A

Deadline: Passed, but the contest will reopen in 2024

Eligibility: Students in the eleventh grade in the U.S. (or international equivalent of the eleventh grade)

Guidelines: Applicants may submit only one play (10 pages maximum)

The Ten-Minute Play Contest is put on by Princeton University’s Lewis Center of the Arts. Applicants are allowed to submit one play that is no longer than 10 pages. Their submissions are judged by members of Princeton University’s Theater Program faculty.

3. Ayn Rand Anthem and The Fountainhead Essay Contests

Type: Essays

• Anthem: $2,000
• The Fountainhead : $5,000
• Anthem: Grades 8-12
• The Fountainhead : Grades 11-12
• Anthem: Essays must be written in English only and between 600 and 1,200 words in length, double-spaced
• The Fountainhead: Essays must be written in English only and between 800 and 1,600 words in length, double-spaced

In this essay competition, students pick one of three prompts about a topic related to Ayn Rand’s books and write an essay that goes through three stages of grading. Students are graded on their clarity, organization, understanding, and ability to stay “on topic.”

4. Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize

Type: Poetry

Prize: $500-$1,500

Eligibility: Students must be in the 11th grade in the U.S. or abroad

Guidelines: Applicants may submit up to 3 poems

The Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize is another contest run by Princeton University’s Lewis Center of the Arts. Winners are chosen by judges who are both poets and members of Princeton University’s creative writing faculty. Three monetary awards are available.

5. World Historian Student Essay Competition

Prize: $500

Eligibility: Students enrolled in grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools, and those in home-study programs

Guidelines: Essays should be approximately 1,000 words

Winners of this competition receive a $500 prize along with a free yearlong membership to the World History Association . To apply, you must submit an approximately 1,000-word essay responding to the following prompt:

• Submit an essay that addresses the following topic and discusses how it relates to you personally and to World History: Your view of a family story related to a historical event or your personal family cultural background, or an issue of personal relevance or specific regional history/knowledge.

6. Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest

Prize: $250-$1,000

Deadline: June 1, 2023

Eligibility: Open to high school, undergraduate, and graduate students

• Must be submitted by the student through the official Essay Contest Submission website
• Entries may include a statement about the student’s mentor; however, a mentor statement is not required
• The essay must be 6-8 pages in length, not including the Works Cited page
• The essay must use MLA documentation, including a Works Cited page and parenthetical citations in the body of the text. Use endnotes only for substantive notes. Source material that is directly quoted, paraphrased, or summarized must be cited. Quotations from the Jane Austen work under discussion should be cited as well.

The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) Essay Contest is an annual writing competition aimed at fostering an appreciation for its namesake’s work. The contest is broken down into three divisions—high school, college/university, and graduate school.

First-place winners are awarded a $1,000 prize along with free registration and lodging for two nights at JASNA’s Annual General Meeting—smaller monetary awards are also given to second- and third-place essayists.

This year’s essay topic:

• In Pride and Prejudice and Jane Austen’s other novels, we see proposals and marriages that are motivated by love, as well as those that are better described as arranged marriages or marriages of convenience. Many cultures today also expect arranged marriages (not the same as forced). In your essay, compare and discuss the different types of marriages or courtships found in the novels, whether those relationships are new or longstanding.

7. Bennington College Young Writers Awards

Type: Poetry, Fiction, and Nonfiction

Deadline: November 1, 2023

Eligibility: Students in grades 9-12

• Poetry: A group of three poems
• Fiction: A short story (1,500 words or fewer) or one-act play (run no more than 30 minutes of playing time)
• Nonfiction: A personal or academic essay (1,500 words or fewer)

Bennington College has a strong history of developing writers—it’s produced twelve Pulitzer Prize winners, three U.S. poet laureates, and countless New York Times bestsellers—and the Bennington College Young Writers Awards celebrate this legacy.

In addition to offering cash awards to winners and finalists in all three categories, winners and finalists who apply and are accepted to Bennington College are also eligible for substantial scholarships.

8. Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder/Sense of the Wild Contest

Type: Poetry and Essays

Deadline: November 16, 2023

• You are required to have a team of 2 or more people
• The team must be intergenerational

Guidelines: Maximum length of 500 words (approximately 2 pages)

This unique writing competition requires that entries must be submitted by a team of two people from different generations—for example, a high school student and a teacher. Contestants can compete in a number of categories and themes, each with unique submission requirements.

9. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship

Type: Fiction and Poetry

Prize: $2,000

Deadline: October 2, 2023

Eligibility: Rising high school students graduating in 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, and recently graduated 2023 seniors

• Poetry: Students may submit their original poetry in any style, from formal verse to free verse to experimental. The poem should be formatted as you wish it to appear in the publication.
• Fiction: Students may submit a piece of short fiction, which must be no more than 5,000 words and should not be single-spaced. The entry may be any genre of the student’s choice, including graphic novel or story.
• Must submit educator recommendation, academic resume, and current transcript with application

Winning works for this competition are chosen based on their creativity, technique, expression, and originality. Three winners are chosen in each category and each winner receives a $2,000 prize.

10. John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Contest

Prize: $100-$10,000

Eligibility: The contest is open to United States high school students in grades 9-12, U.S. students under the age of twenty enrolled in a high school correspondence/GED program,  and U.S. citizens attending schools overseas.

• Essays can be no more than 1,000 words but must be a minimum of 700 words. Citations and bibliography are not included in the word count.
• Essays must have a minimum of five sources.

The prestigious John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Contest is one of the most recognizable and prestigious writing competitions for high schoolers in the nation. Essays for the contest are required to describe an act of political courage by a U.S. elected official who served during or after 1917. The first-place winner of the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Contest takes home a $10,000 award and second place receives a $3,000 prize.

11. YoungArts National Writing Competition

Deadline: Opens June 2023

Eligibility: 15- to 18-year-old visual, literary, or performing artist based in the United States

Guidelines: To be released

YoungArts supports talented young artists between the ages of 15 and 18 (or grades 10-12) in 10 disciplines, including writing. Applicants can submit entries in six genres—creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story, and spoken word.

12. SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest

Submission Fee: $5

Prize: $300-$1,000

Eligibility: All students enrolled in grades 9-12 in U.S. public, private and home schools within the United States

• The essay should be 300-500 words
• Entries may be typed or handwritten but must be double-spaced

This high school writing contest is presented by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and the Journalism Education Association (JEA) to increase awareness of the importance of independent media.

Last year’s prompt was:

• While consumers are drawn toward tweets and sound bites, how can journalists tell more of the story without losing readers’ interest?

13. VSA Playwright Discovery Program Competitions

Eligibility: High school students with disabilities

• 10-minute script
• Entries may be the work of an individual student or a collaboration between two students that includes at least one student with a disability

This writing competition, presented by the Kennedy Center, is open to students ages 15-18 (or enrolled in high school) with disabilities. Writers may submit a “ten-minute” script in any genre, including plays, musicals, multimedia, video, film, TV, and podcasts.

Entries can be the work of an individual or the product of collaboration—provided that at least one of the collaborators has a disability. Multiple winners are chosen and given the chance to work with industry professionals, attend Kennedy Center professional development activities, and participate in networking opportunities.

14. Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

Prize: $350

Eligibility: Women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school

Guidelines: No more than two poems by any one student may be submitted

For almost six decades, the Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest has provided recognition, scholarships, and awards to the best female high school sophomore and junior poets. Submissions are reviewed by faculty members of Hollins University’s creative writing program and students enrolled in its M.F.A. in creative writing.

The first-place winner receives a $350 cash prize, a renewable $5,000 scholarship to Hollins University if they choose to enroll there, as well as free tuition and housing at the university’s Hollinsummer creative writing program. Their winning work is also published in Cargoes , the university’s student literary magazine.

15. Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Type: Various

Submission Fee: $10 for individual entry, $30 for portfolio (can use Fee Waiver Form)

Prize: Varies

Deadline: Opens in September

Eligibility: Teens in grades 7–12 (ages 13 and up)

Guidelines: Varies by category

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens. They offer 28 submission categories, including writing, critical essay, dramatic scripts, flash fiction, journalism, humor, novel writing, personal essay and memoir, poetry, science fiction and fantasy, and short story.

Works are judged by famous jurors who look for works that show originality, skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. Students can earn a variety of scholarships through success in these competitions.

Works that celebrate individual differences or personal grief, loss, and bereavement are eligible for $1,000 scholarships. High school seniors submitting winning portfolios of six works are eligible for up to $12,500 in scholarships.

16. Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest

Type: Creative Writing and Poetry

Prize: $100-$1,500

Deadline: June 13, 2023

• Students ages 11-18 from around the world
• Students can participate as an individual or as a club, class, or group of any size
• All students must provide the contact information for an Adult Sponsor (teacher, parent, mentor, etc.)
• Creative Writing: no more than 5 pages (approximately 1,250 words)
• Poetry: no more than 2 pages
• A written reflection is required to accompany your submission, regardless of category. It is like the introduction to a book or an artist’s statement in a museum.

The 12th annual Ocean Awareness Contest is a platform for young people to learn about environmental issues through art-making and creative communication, explore their relationship to a changing world, and become advocates for positive change. Students can participate in six different categories, including poetry and spoken word, and creative writing.

This year’s prompt centers around climate issues:

• Research and choose an inspirational scientist, activist, artist, educator, or other hero who is working to solve climate change issues. Create a piece of art, writing, or media that highlights their efforts, organizations, and/or positive impacts. We are familiar with the amazing work of environmental giants like Greta Thunberg and David Attenborough. We challenge you to introduce the Bow Seat community to a Climate Hero whose work we may not know about yet – but should.

17. John Locke Global Essay Competition

Submission Fee: N/A (unless late entry)

Prize: $2,000-$10,000 toward attending any John Locke Institute program

Deadline: June 30, 2023 (must register by May 31, 2023)

Eligibility: Candidates must be no older than 18 years old on June 30, 2023 (Candidates for the Junior Prize must be no older than 14 on the same date)

Guidelines: Each essay must address only one of the questions in your chosen subject category, and must not exceed 2,000 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, footnotes, bibliography, or authorship declaration)

Students competing in this competition have the opportunity to write an essay in one of seven categories—philosophy, politics, economics, history, psychology, theology, and law. Each category has three prompts, from which students choose and respond to one.

Essays are judged on knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, the competent use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style, and persuasive force.

If you miss the deadline, you can submit a late entry up until July 10. Late entries will be charged a $20 late fee.

18. AFSA National High School Essay Contest

Prize: $2,500

• Students whose parents are not in the Foreign Service are eligible to participate.
• Students must be in grades 9-12 in any of the 50 states, Washington, D.C, the U.S. territories, or—if they are U.S. citizens/lawful permanent residents —attending high school overseas.

Guidelines: Your essay should be at least 1,000 words but should not exceed 1,500 words (word count does not apply to the list of sources)

The AFSA Essay Contest focuses on knowledge of foreign policy and the American Foreign Service. Last year’s prompt was:

• In your essay, you will select a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe, in 1,500 words or less, how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals – including promoting peace – in this country/region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years.

The first-place winner receives $2,500, a paid trip to the nation’s capital with their parents from anywhere in the U.S., and an all-expenses-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea. The runner-up wins $1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.

19. EngineerGirl Writing Contest

Prize: $100-$500

• The contest is open to individual students in the following three competition categories—Elementary School Students (grades 3-5), Middle School Students (grades 6-8), or High School Students (grades 9-12).
• You can also qualify with corresponding homeschool or international grade levels.
• High school student essays must be no more than 750 words
• You must also include a reference list of 3-10 resources

In this competition, students choose one of four prompts related to the 20 Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century and explore the technologies that have been developed in the last century and technologies that are being developed today. Students are judged based on their presentation and examples of engineering (~35%), their celebration of diversity (~50%), and their quality of writing (~15%).

20. The Blank Theatre Young Playwright’s Festival

Prize: Play is produced

Eligibility: Playwrights must be 19 years old or younger as of March 15, 2023; co-authored plays are welcome, provided all authors are 19 or younger

• Original plays or musicals of any length or genre and on any subject
• Up to three plays per playwright or team

While winners of this theater competition do not receive a cash prize, they have the unique opportunity to be mentored by leaders in the field, then will have their play directed and performed by professional artists during the following summer. The 12 best submissions are produced and professionally performed.

21. Saint Mary’s College of California River of Words Contest

Type: Poetry and Arts

• The contest is open to K-12 students, ages 5-19
• Students must be enrolled in school to be eligible
• Participants may submit up to 5 entries for poetry and 5 entries for art (total of up to 10 entries)
• Poems should not exceed 32 lines in length (written) or 3 minutes (signed)
• Collaborative poems and artwork are accepted, but only one student (chosen as the group representative) will be eligible for any prizes awarded

The River of Words contest aims to promote environmental literacy through the exchange of arts and culture. River of Words has been inspiring educators and students through this competition for over 25 years.

The goal of River of Words is to connect youth with their watersheds—the environments they live in—through engagement with art and poetry related to the idea of “place.” They look for art and poetry that shows the connection between students and the worlds around them.

22. Ayn Rand Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Prize: $10,000

Deadline: November 6, 2023

Eligibility: Open to all 12th grade, college, and graduate students worldwide

Guidelines: Essays must be between 800 and 1,600 words in length

In this essay competition, high school seniors pick one of three prompts about a topic related to Ayn Rand’s Atlas Shrugged and write an essay that goes through three stages of grading. Students are graded on their clarity, organization, understanding, and ability to stay “on topic.”

23. Writopia Lab’s Worldwide Plays Festival

Prize: Play produced

Eligibility: Playwrights ages 6 to 18

• 8 minutes maximum
• Any genre or style
• Plays should have no more than three characters
• There can be no narrator of the play who is not emotionally invested in the story
• Students must incorporate at least one of the following props or costumes —blue plates, a yellow blouse, a Valentine’s heart with the word “Love,” a flower crown, a plush hotdog, a Mardi Gras bead with jester heads, a pack of clothespins, Russian nesting dolls, a set of miniature cymbals, a lavender blouse, a lei, or a roll of aluminum foil

Since 2010, Writopia Lab has been producing, designing, and directing one-act plays submitted by young playwrights. These winning plays are then performed by New York City theater professionals. The contest looks for playwrights who embody fearlessness and imagination. Writopia Lab says, “Write deeply! Write fiercely! Write politically and personally! And don’t be afraid to write with a sense of play – they are called plays, after all.”

While we can’t know exactly how activities outside of the classroom will affect your college admissions odds, the 4 Tiers of Extracurricular Activities provide a helpful framework for understanding how colleges view your extracurriculars.

Extracurricular activities in Tiers 1 and 2 are reserved for the most exclusive and acclaimed awards, and can significantly improve your odds of college admission. By contrast, Tiers 3 and 4 are reserved for more common extracurriculars, and have less of an impact on your chances of college admission.

For example, if you place in a nationally renowned writing competition—a Tier 2 activity—this will positively affect your admissions chances. On the other hand, if you receive an honorable mention in your high school’s poetry contest—a Tier 4 activity—your admissions chances will not be significantly affected.

That said, if you are applying to an English Literature or Creative Writing program with a well-developed essay and recommendations that emphasize your commitment to language, participation in Tier 3 and 4 writing competitions could help admissions officers conceptualize your passion for your future career.

Curious how the writing competition you participated in will affect your college admission chances? CollegeVine can help! Our free chancing calculator uses a variety of factors—including grades, test scores, and extracurriculars—to estimate your odds of getting into hundreds of colleges and universities, while also providing insight into how to improve your profile.

Related CollegeVine Blog Posts

Steps for Writing Contest-Winning Essays

Contest winning essay generator.

Contest-winning essays entries go far beyond proper grammar, spellings, and punctuation. It’s about creating something that will leave a deep impact to your audience. However, it can be quite difficult to stand out amidst hundreds of entries. Fortunately, you don’t have to be a professional writer to write a winning entry.

How to Start the Essay

The beginning to any given matter is always grand, anything from opening ceremonies to introductory speeches. An essay shares the same sentiments as the rest. The opening statement of an essay should be worth remembering. You can do this by telling a story or a quote that relates to the given theme. However, you need still need to keep it short essay. Remember to be concise with the way you construct your introduction.

How to Write an Essay for a Contest

A winning essay is no different from a simple college essay , as it still consists of the basic parts of an essay . The difference lies with the way you construct it, with the words you use and the message you’re trying to convey. If you’re planning to write an essay for a contest, you need to find a way to be unique.

The Role of Time Management in Essay Writing

The truth of the matter is, spending too much time on something may cause a change of heart. This is because we allow ourselves to overthink scenarios.

The same thing goes for essay writing . A surge of creative ideas will only come at a certain time. If we take too many breaks in between writing, we lose focus on the message we want to portray. We get distracted from our initial vision, causing sudden shifts in our style of writing. With proper time management, we may complete an essay within a considerable amount of time.

Brainstorming Ideas

Staring at a blank sheet of paper will get you nowhere. It’s important to gather information by conducting different styles of research. This would involve gaining firsthand experience or even reading various journals. You need to let your mind wander before putting it to work.

Awesome Tips for a Winning Essay

Think outside of the box. Don’t be cliche with your topic. Discussing taboos as the subject of your essay outline might be controversial, but it can be risk worth taking. Not a lot of people would dare to go anywhere near these topics and that’s what makes it special. It’s interesting and relatable, yet it’s surprisingly rare. However, it’s important to be sensitive with how you approach a given matter.

See things from a different perspective. Take the road less traveled and give a voice for the minority. Not only is it a unique way of shedding light to a given topic, but it also allows your readers to ponder on unusual thoughts.

Be witty. Adding humor will let your personality shine through. You don’t want to sound too formal, as this can be quite intimidating to some readers. Add a few puns or jokes, being discrete about it will also engage your readers.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Write a Contest Winning Essay on the theme of courage.

Create a Contest Winning Essay that explores the importance of environmental conservation.

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Best Writing Contests in 2024

Showing 425 contests that match your search.

National Poetry Competition 2024

The Poetry Society

Genres: Poetry

The competition, run by The Poetry Society since 1978, is one of the world’s most prestigious prizes for a single unpublished poem. Judged by Stephen Sexton, Romalyn Ante, John McAuliffe. Open to all poets worldwide aged 18+.

Additional prizes:

Runners-up receive £2,000 and £1,000. Commended entries receive £500

💰 Entry fee: $8

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2024

The Reedsy Prompts Contest

Genres: Fiction and Short Story

Every Friday, Reedsy sends out five writing prompts. Enter your response within a week for a chance at $250. Winners may also be included in a future issue of Reedsy’s literary magazine, Prompted.

$25 credit toward Reedsy editorial services

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024

Debut Dagger

Crime Writer's Association

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Suspense, and Thriller

The Debut Dagger is a competition for the opening of a crime novel by a writer who isn’t represented by an agent by the time the competition closes, and who has never had a traditional contract for any novel of any length, or who has never self-published any novel of any length in the last 5 years. Writers submit their opening 3,000 words and a 1,500 word synopsis. Entries from shortlisted writers are sent to UK literary agents and publishers. Every year, authors find representation this way.

💰 Entry fee: $41

📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)

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Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition

Hemingway Days Festival

Genres: Short Story

The Lorian Hemingway Short Story Competition is dedicated to supporting new voices in short fiction. It has a history of over 43 years and emphasizes original, unpublished stories. Winners are highlighted on the competition's website.

Second place: $500 Third place: $500 Honorable mentions also awarded Publication of the winning story on the competition website

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: September 01, 2024 (Expired)

Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest

Jane Austen Society of North America

Genres: Children's and Essay

JASNA conducts an annual student Essay Contest to foster the study and appreciation of Jane Austen's works in new generations of readers. Students world-wide are invited to compete for scholarship awards in three divisions: high school, college, and graduate school.

$1,000 scholarship

Two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s Annual General Meeting

📅 Deadline: June 02, 2022 (Expired)

2024 Spring Prose & Poetry Contest

Onyx Publications

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Non-fiction, Poetry, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Thriller

The contest awarded prizes for both prose and poetry categories, with multiple winners for each.

Second place: $150 Third place: $75 Winner also gets publication and author interview on Story Discovery podcast.

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: May 05, 2024 (Expired)

Love Poem Poetry Contest

FanStory.com Inc.

Write a love poem. All forms of poetry accepted. Your love poem can be fictional or non-fictional. It can be humorous or serious. The choice is yours. But it must clearly be a love poem.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: July 18, 2024 (Expired)

Best Indie Book Award

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Mystery, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, Thriller, and Young Adult

The annual Best Indie Book Award® (or BIBA®) is an international literary awards contest recognizing self-published and independently published authors from all over the world. Entries are limited to independently (indie) published books, including those from small presses, e-book publishers, and self-published authors.

💰 Entry fee: $65

📅 Deadline: August 15, 2024 (Expired)

The Bath Children's Novel Award

The Bath Novel Awards

Genres: Children's, Fiction, and Young Adult

The Bath Children's Novel Award is an international writing prize for unagented emerging writers. It seeks novels for children or teens, chapter books, and picture book texts. The winner receives £5,000, a trophy, and feedback for listees.

A place on the 'Edit Your Novel the Professional Way' course worth £1,980 for one longlisted writer. Minerva trophy and feedback from an editorial director.

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2024

Literary and Photographic Contest 2023-2024

Hispanic Culture Review

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The contest invites submissions under the theme '¡Hacia adelante!' focusing on resilience and cultural celebration. Categories include photography, poetry, and narrative/essay/academic investigation. Winning works will be published and recognized.

Certificate of recognition and Publication in magazine

📅 Deadline: February 21, 2024 (Expired)

AWP Prize for Creative Nonfiction

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

Genres: Non-fiction

AWP sponsors the Award Series, an annual competition for the publication of excellent new book-length works. The competition is open to all authors writing in English regardless of nationality or residence, and is available to published and unpublished authors alike.

Publication by the University of Georgia Press

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2024 (Expired)

Great American Fiction Contest

Saturday Evening Post

The Great American Fiction Contest aims to discover and promote new American writers, continuing the legacy of notable authors published by The Saturday Evening Post. The winning story will be published in the magazine's January/February 2025 issue.

The winning story will be published in The Saturday Evening Post. Five runners-up will each receive $200 and have their stories featured online.

📅 Deadline: July 01, 2024 (Expired)

Fiction Factory Short Story Competition

Fiction Factory

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Horror, Humor, LGBTQ, Mystery, Romance, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Travel

The Fiction Factory Short Story Competition invites writers to submit stories of up to 3,000 words. The competition is open to all genres excluding Children's and Young Adult Fiction. Winning stories will be published on the website and potentially in an anthology.

Winning stories will be published and included in an anthology.

💰 Entry fee: $7

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2024 (Expired)

Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest

Winning Writers

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Short Story

Welcome to the 31st annual Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest. Submit published or unpublished work. $9,000 in prizes.

Two-year gift certificate from Duotrope; 10 Honorable Mentions will receive $300 each

💰 Entry fee: $22

📅 Deadline: May 01, 2024 (Expired)

swamp pink Prizes

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Non-fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

From January 1st to January 31st, submit short stories and essays of up to 25 pages or a set of 1-3 poems. Winners in each genre will receive $2,000 and publication.

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $20

📅 Deadline: January 31, 2024 (Expired)

Narratively 2023 Memoir Prize

Narratively

Genres: Essay, Humor, Memoir, and Non-fiction

Narratively is currently accepting submissions for their 2023 Memoir Prize. They are looking for revealing and emotional first-person nonfiction narratives from unique and overlooked points of view. The guest judge is New York Times bestselling memoirist Stephanie Land.

$1,000 and publication

📅 Deadline: November 30, 2023 (Expired)

Berggruen Prize Essay Competition

Berggruen Institute

Genres: Essay

The Berggruen Prize Essay Competition aims to foster innovative ideas across cultures by posing significant philosophical questions relevant to contemporary life. It seeks submissions in English and Chinese that reflect novel thinking and compelling arguments.

Publication in Noema Magazine. Each language category will have a prize.

💰 Entry fee: $0

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024 (Expired)

Flash Fiction Award

Bath Flash Fiction Award

Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction

In addition to winning cash prizes, entrants have the opportunity to appear in our print and digital anthology collections. Our books are published by the award-winning small press Ad Hoc Fiction, and are available to buy from their own independent bookshop as well as worldwide from Amazon. 300 word limit.

£300 for 2nd, £100 for 3rd

📅 Deadline: June 02, 2024 (Expired)

PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize for Emerging Writers

PEN America

The PEN/Robert J. Dau Short Story Prize recognizes 12 emerging writers for their debut short story published in a literary magazine, journal, or cultural website. The 12 winning stories are selected by a committee of three judges who are well-respected experts in the art of the short story. The winning writers each receive a $2,000 cash prize and will be published by Catapult in their annual anthology.

Publication in Catapult

📅 Deadline: November 15, 2021 (Expired)

Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize

Genres: Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize celebrates emerging voices in life writing, poetry, and fiction. It supports writers who have not published book-length works and offers a platform for diverse backgrounds. Winners receive a £1,000 cash prize and publication in Wasafiri.

Publication in Wasafiri magazine, mentoring through Chapter and Verse or Free Reads, career discussions with The Good Literary Agency, and a one-year print subscription.

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024

Writing Peers Summer Short Story Prize

Writing Peers

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story, Crime, Horror, Mystery, Romance, and Thriller

The Writing Peers Summer Short Story Prize is designed to celebrate and promote the art of storytelling. Details about the contest, including submission guidelines, themes, and criteria, are crucial for participants.

📅 Deadline: June 21, 2024 (Expired)

ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize

Australian Book Review

The ABR Elizabeth Jolley Short Story Prize is an annual competition for short stories. Further details on submission and eligibility are outlined on the main prize page.

2nd: $4000 AUD 3rd: $2500 AUD

📅 Deadline: April 22, 2024 (Expired)

Annual Poetry Contest

Third Wednesday

Each year Third Wednesday awards 3 $100 prizes in its annual poetry contest. For this year's contest, entries will be accepted from November 1, 2020 through February 15, 2021. We will accept contest entries of up to 3 previously unpublished poems of any style and subject matter. There is no limit on length.

print copy of the 3rd Wednesday contest issue

💰 Entry fee: $6

3 Line Poetry Contest

Fanstory.com Inc.

Write a poem that has a syllable count of either 5-7-5 or 5-7-7. It does not rhyme. But the poem must address a loved one.

📅 Deadline: August 30, 2024 (Expired)

The Hudson Prize

Black Lawrence Press

Genres: Fiction and Poetry

The Hudson Prize is awarded annually for an unpublished collection of poems or prose. Open to all writers, winners receive a cash prize of $1,000, book publication, and ten copies of their book. The contest entries are read by a panel of editors without identifying information and must be between specified lengths depending on the genre.

Book publication and ten copies of the book

💰 Entry fee: $28

📅 Deadline: March 31, 2024 (Expired)

Claymore Award

Killer Nashville

Genres: Mystery, Non-fiction, Science Fiction, Short Story, Suspense, and Thriller

The Claymore Award is an annual writing contest aimed at helping new and rebranding authors get published. It seeks the best first 50 pages of unpublished manuscripts, plays, or screenplays, focusing on genres like mystery, thriller, and action. Winners are announced at the annual Killer Nashville Awards Dinner, which is open to the public and media. The award was created in 2009 and aims to facilitate recognition for writers.

Recognition and potential agent representation

💰 Entry fee: $50

📅 Deadline: April 01, 2025

Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize

Academy of American Poets

Established in 1975, this $25,000 award recognizes the most outstanding book of poetry published in the United States in the previous calendar year. The prize includes distribution of the winning book to hundreds of Academy of American Poets members.

Publication and distribution of book

💰 Entry fee: $75

📅 Deadline: May 15, 2024 (Expired)

The Poetry.com Contest

Poetry.com offers monthly contests for poets worldwide to gain motivation, inspiration and exposure, while building passion and enjoyment for the written creative process! How are winners chosen? Our contest boasts a clever twist: poems remain anonymous whilst applicants vote on what they believe should be the winning entry.

Poem of the year: 1000 USD | 2nd place: 300 USD | 3rd place: 200 USD | Runner up personalized Poetry.com mug

💰 Entry fee: $25

Youth Writing Contest

Vancouver Writer's Fest

Genres: Children's and Short Story

The Youth Writing Contest is an annual event organized by the Vancouver Writers Fest for students in British Columbia. It accepts short stories and personal essays, with two categories for different grade levels. It's supported by the Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

1st prize for high school and $100 for elementary, both with publication in the Books & Ideas Newsletter

📅 Deadline: May 31, 2024 (Expired)

Inspiring Fiction's Special Edition Short Story Contest

Inspiring Fiction

Genres: Crime, Fantasy, Fiction, Mystery, Science Fiction, Short Story, and Thriller

The contest invites participants to explore the theme of freedom through crime, speculative, and fantasy fiction. Winning entries will be published in a special bumper issue of Tangled Web Magazine and Mirk Fantasy Magazine.

Winner published in a special issue.

SaveAs Writers' International Poetry Competition 2024

SaveAs Writers

The competition invites submissions of poetry. The theme for 2024 is 'RISKING ALL', commemorating the Everest Climbing expedition centenary.

Second Place: £100 Second Place: £50

💰 Entry fee: $4

📅 Deadline: August 31, 2024 (Expired)

Horror Writing Contest

Genres: Fiction, Horror, and Short Story

Share a horror or thriller story to enter this writing contest. Write about anything but the object is to terrorize or thrill your reader. Cash prize!

📅 Deadline: November 12, 2024

Troubadour International Poetry Prize

Coffeehouse Poetry

The Troubadour International Poetry Prize is an annual competition open to poets worldwide, judged by notable figures in the literary community. The 2024 prize includes cash awards for the top three poems, as well as opportunities for commended entries.

Second: £1,000 Third prize: £500 20 commended entries Winners read with judges at the online international prize-night celebration.

📅 Deadline: September 23, 2024

"Matter" Poetry Contest

Oprelle Publications

Any topic or style is acceptable. Even though this anthology will be called Matter, all that is expected is that your poetry reflects emotions and thoughts coming from the depths of you. You need not write about a particular word. We just want you to know that your talent with words can matter to others.

2nd: $100 | 3rd: $50 | Publication in anthology

Annual Contest Submissions

So To Speak

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, LGBTQ, Non-fiction, and Poetry

So to Speak is a feminist literary journal seeking diverse voices, focusing on intersectional feminism. They publish twice a year, accepting submissions of fiction, poetry, nonfiction, and visual art, with a particular emphasis on marginalized perspectives.

All accepted contributions will receive a $100 prize.

📅 Deadline: November 15, 2024

Discover the finest writing contests of 2024 for fiction and non-fiction authors — including short story competitions, essay writing competitions, poetry contests, and many more. Updated weekly, these contests are vetted by Reedsy to weed out the scammers and time-wasters. If you’re looking to stick to free writing contests, simply use our filters as you browse.

Why you should submit to writing contests

Submitting to poetry competitions and free writing contests in 2024 is absolutely worth your while as an aspiring author: just as your qualifications matter when you apply for a new job, a writing portfolio that boasts published works and award-winning pieces is a great way to give your writing career a boost. And not to mention the bonus of cash prizes!

That being said, we understand that taking part in writing contests can be tough for emerging writers. First, there’s the same affliction all writers face: lack of time or inspiration. Entering writing contests is a time commitment, and many people decide to forego this endeavor in order to work on their larger projects instead — like a full-length book. Second, for many writers, the chance of rejection is enough to steer them clear of writing contests. 

But we’re here to tell you that two of the great benefits of entering writing contests happen to be the same as those two reasons to avoid them.

When it comes to the time commitment: yes, you will need to expend time and effort in order to submit a quality piece of writing to competitions. That being said, having a hard deadline to meet is a great motivator for developing a solid writing routine.

Think of entering contests as a training session to become a writer who will need to meet deadlines in order to have a successful career. If there’s a contest you have your eye on, and the deadline is in one month, sit down and realistically plan how many words you’ll need to write per day in order to meet that due date — and don’t forget to also factor in the time you’ll need to edit your story!

For tips on setting up a realistic writing plan, check out this free, ten-day course : How to Build a Rock-Solid Writing Routine.

In regards to the fear of rejection, the truth is that any writer aspiring to become a published author needs to develop relatively thick skin. If one of your goals is to have a book traditionally published, you will absolutely need to learn how to deal with rejection, as traditional book deals are notoriously hard to score. If you’re an indie author, you will need to adopt the hardy determination required to slowly build up a readership.

The good news is that there’s a fairly simple trick for learning to deal with rejection: use it as a chance to explore how you might be able to improve your writing.

In an ideal world, each rejection from a publisher or contest would come with a detailed letter, offering construction feedback and pointing out specific tips for improvement. And while this is sometimes the case, it’s the exception and not the rule.

Still, you can use the writing contests you don’t win as a chance to provide yourself with this feedback. Take a look at the winning and shortlisted stories and highlight their strong suits: do they have fully realized characters, a knack for showing instead of telling, a well-developed but subtly conveyed theme, a particularly satisfying denouement?

The idea isn’t to replicate what makes those stories tick in your own writing. But most examples of excellent writing share a number of basic craft principles. Try and see if there are ways for you to translate those stories’ strong points into your own unique writing.

Finally, there are the more obvious benefits of entering writing contests: prize and publication. Not to mention the potential to build up your readership, connect with editors, and gain exposure.

Resources to help you win writing competitions in 2024

Every writing contest has its own set of submission rules. Whether those rules are dense or sparing, ensure that you follow them to a T. Disregarding the guidelines will not sway the judges’ opinion in your favor — and might disqualify you from the contest altogether. 

Aside from ensuring you follow the rules, here are a few resources that will help you perfect your submissions.

Free online courses

On Writing:

• "How to Craft a Killer Short Story" ( Click here )
• "The Non-Sexy Business of Writing Non-Fiction" ( Click here )
• "How to Write a Novel" ( Click here )
• "Understanding Point of View" ( Click here )
• "Developing Characters That Your Readers Will Love" ( Click here )
• "Writing Dialogue That Develops Plot and Character" ( Click here )
• "Stop Procrastinating! Build a Solid Writing Routine" ( Click here )

On Editing:

• "Story Editing for Authors" ( Click here )
• "How to Self-Edit Your Manuscript Like a Pro" ( Click here )
• "Novel Revision: Practical Tips for Rewrites" ( Click here )
• "How to Write a Novel: Steps From a Bestselling Writer" ( Click here )
• "How to Write a Short Story in 9 Simple Steps" ( Click here )
• "100 Literary Devices With Examples: The Ultimate List" ( Click here )
• "20 Writing Tips to Improve Your Craft" ( Click here )
• "How to Write Fabulous Dialogue [9 Tips + Examples]" ( Click here )
• "8 Character Development Exercises to Write 3D Characters" ( Click here )

Bonus resources

• 200+ Short Story Ideas ( Click here )
• 600+ Writing Prompts to Inspire You ( Click here )
• 100+ Creative Writing Exercises for Fiction Authors ( Click here )
• Story Title Generator ( Click here )
• Pen Name Generator ( Click here )
• Character Name Generator ( Click here )

After you submit to a writing competition in 2024

It’s exciting to send a piece of writing off to a contest. However, once the initial excitement wears off, you may be left waiting for a while. Some writing contests will contact all entrants after the judging period — whether or not they’ve won. Other writing competitions will only contact the winners. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind after you submit:

Many writing competitions don’t have time to respond to each entrant with feedback on their story. However, it never hurts to ask! Feel free to politely reach out requesting feedback — but wait until after the selection period is over.

If you’ve submitted the same work to more than one writing competition or literary magazine, remember to withdraw your submission if it ends up winning elsewhere.

After you send a submission, don’t follow it up with a rewritten or revised version. Instead, ensure that your first version is thoroughly proofread and edited. If not, wait until the next edition of the contest or submit the revised version to other writing contests.

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• Writing Tips

7 Essay Writing Contests to Look Out For in 2023

7-minute read

• 28th December 2022

Essay contests are not only a great way to exercise your essay-writing skills but also an awesome way to win cash prizes, scholarships, and internship or program opportunities. They also look wonderful on college applications as awards and achievements.

In this article, you’ll learn about 7 essay writing contests to enter in 2023. Watch the video below, or keep reading to learn more.

1. Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest 

Deadline: Now–April 30, 3023

Who may enter:

This is an international contest for people of all ages (except for residents of Syria, Iran, North Korea, Crimea, Russia, and Belarus due to US government restrictions).

Contest description:

●  The contest is organized by Winning Writers, located in MA, USA.

●  They accept stories and essays on any theme, up to 6,000 words each. This contest defines a story as any short work of fiction and an essay as any short work of nonfiction.

●  Your stories and essays must be submitted in English.

●  You may submit published or unpublished work.

Entry fee: USD 22 per entry

●  Story: First Prize is USD 3,000.

●  Essay: First Prize is USD 3,000.

●  10 Honorable Mentions will receive USD 300 each (any category).

●  The top 12 entries will be published online.

Official website

Please visit the competition’s official website for more information on judges and submissions.

2. 2023 Calibre Essay Prize 

Deadline: Now–January 15, 2023, 11:59 pm

Who may enter: All ages and any nationality or residency are accepted.

●  This contest is hosted by the Australian Book Review.

●  Your essay must be between 2,000 and 5,000 words.

●  You may submit nonfiction essays of all kinds, e.g., personal, political, literary, or speculative.

●  You may enter multiple essays but will need to pay separate fees for each one.

●  Your essay must be unpublished.

Entry fee: AU 30 for non-members

Prize: AU 7,500

Official website:

For more information on this contest, please visit its official website.

3. John Locke Institute Essay Competition 

Deadline: June 30, 2023

●  Students from any country.

●  Students aged 15 to 18 years by the competition deadline.

●  Students aged 14 years or younger by the competition deadline are eligible for the Junior prize.

●  The contest is organized by the John Locke Institute.

●  Your essay cannot exceed 2,000 words.

●  There are seven subjects or categories for essay submissions: Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology, and Law.

Entry fee: Free to enter

●  The best overall essay winner receives an honorary John Locke Fellowship, which comes with a USD 10,000 scholarship to attend one or more summer schools or gap year courses.

●  There is also a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category and the Junior category is a scholarship worth USD 2,000 toward the cost of a summer program.

●  All winning essays will be published on the Institute’s website.

For more information about this competition and the John Locke Institute, please visit the official website . Also, be sure to check out our article on all you need to know about this contest.

4. The American Foreign Service Association 2023 Essay Competition 

Deadline: April 3, 2023

●  Students in grades 9–12 in any of the 50 states, DC, the US territories, or if they are US citizens or lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.

●  Students attending a public, private, or parochial school.

●  Home-schooled students.

●  Your essay should be 1,000–1,500 words.

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●  You will select a country or region in which the United States Foreign Service has been involved at any point since 1924 and describe how the Foreign Service was successful or unsuccessful in advancing American foreign policy goals – including promoting peace – in this country or region and propose ways in which it might continue to improve those goals in the coming years.

●  Your essay should follow MLA guidelines.

●  Your essay should use a variety of sources.

●  The first-place winner receives USD 2,500, a paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and their parents, and an all-expense-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea.

●  The runner-up receives USD 1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.

Please visit the American Foreign Service website for more information.

5. The Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) 2023 Essay Contest 

Deadline: Mid-February 2023–June 1, 2023

Who may enter: High school (including homeschooled), college, and graduate students worldwide.

●  The 2023 essay contest topic is marriages and proposals.

●  High school students may focus on Pride and Prejudice only or bring in other Austen works.

●  Undergraduate and graduate students should discuss at least two Austen novels of their choice.

●  Your essay must be in MLA format and 6 to 8 pages (not including your Works Cited page).

●  Your essay must be written in English.

●  First place wins a USD 1,000 scholarship.

●  Second place wins a USD 500 scholarship.

●  Third place wins a USD 250 scholarship.

●  Winners will also receive one year of membership in JASNA, publication of their essays on this website, and a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen’s novels.

For more information and submission guidelines, please visit JASNA’s official website .

6. 2023 Writing Contest: Better Great Achievements by EngineerGirl

Deadline: February 1, 2023

●  Students in Grades 3–12. If international or homeschooled, please select your grade level based on if you were attending a public school in the U.S.

●  This contest is organized by EngineerGirl.

●  Students should write a piece that shows how female or non-white engineers have contributed to or can enhance engineering’s great achievements.

●  You should choose one of the 20 Greatest Engineering Achievements of the 20th Century as a topic and explore the technologies developed in the last century and the new ones being developed today. Make sure to follow the specific guidelines for your grade level.

●  Essays should be 650–750 words based on your grade level.

●  Please visit the contest’s website to see specific requirements based on your grade.

Winners in each grade category will receive the prizes listed below:

●  First-place winners will be awarded USD 500.

●  Second-place entries will be awarded USD 250 .

●  Third-place entries will be awarded USD 100 .

For more information and submission guidelines, please visit the official website .

7. World Historian Student Essay Competition

Deadline: May 1, 2023

Who may enter: Students enrolled in Grades K–12 in public, private, and parochial schools and home-study programs worldwide.

●  Your essay must address the following issue: In what way has the study of world history affected my understanding of the world in which I live?

●  Your essay should be 1,000 words.

Prizes: USD 500

For more information and submission requirements, please visit the contest’s official website.

Essay contests are a great way to expand your writing skills, discuss a topic that is important to you, and earn prize money and opportunities that will be great for you in the long term. Check out our articles on writing thesis statements, essay organization, and argumentative writing strategies to ensure you take first place every time.

If you need help with your essays and would like to make sure that every comma is in place, we will proofread your first 500 words for free !

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New York Times Student Editorial Contest: All You Need to Know

By Eric Eng

If you could have a heart-to-heart with anyone about something that truly matters to you, who would it be, and what would you tell them? This is the question the New York Times Student Editorial Contest is posing to students worldwide in its latest cycle. This yearly writing competition invites students with a desire to make a difference to express their thoughts on personal and societal issues.

Let’s talk more about the New York Times Student Editorial Contest. We’ll walk you through the contest rules and offer tips to help you craft a winning piece. If you’re thinking about entering the contest, you’ve come to the right spot.

What Is the New York Times Student Editorial Contest?

The New York Times Student Editorial Contest, now in its 11th year, is all about getting students to write opinion essays on topics they really care about. But for the 2024 cycle , they’ve mixed things up a bit. Instead of the usual opinion piece, they want students to write an open letter.

They ask: “What’s bothering you? Who could do something about it? What could you say to them that would persuade them to care, or to make change? And … what if we all read your letter? How could you make us care too?”

There’s no cash prize, but the contest is super popular, with thousands of entries each year. They only pick a handful of winners, though. In 2023, they got a whopping 12,592 submissions but only chose 11 winners —less than 0.1%! So, if you win, it’s a big deal and says a lot about your writing skills. Your winning piece will also be published in the New York Times.

What Are the New York Times Student Editorial Contest Guidelines?

Before you jump in, it’s super important to know the rules of the contest. Here’s all you need to know:

Eligibility

• If you’re aged 13 to 19 and in middle or high school anywhere in the world, you’re good to go.
• College students, sorry, this one’s not for you. But if you’re in high school and taking a college class or two, you’re still eligible.
• If you’re in your first year of a two-year CEGEP in Quebec Province, you can join in too.
• Even if you’re 19 or under and done with high school but not yet in college (maybe you’re on a gap year or something), you can still enter.
• The kids and stepkids of New York Times employees can’t enter, and neither can students who live with those employees.

Essay topic

Write an open letter to someone specific and get them to think or do something about an issue.

You’ve got some freedom in choosing who to address your open letter to. It could be your parents, teachers, school board members, mayor, a member of Congress, a big-shot CEO, an artist, entertainer, or even a symbolic entity like “Silicon Valley” or “The Kremlin.”

The key is to think about who actually has the power to change things related to your issue, whether it’s on a local or global level. Your letter should be clear about what’s bothering you and what you want your audience to do about it. And make sure it’s not just meaningful to you and the person you’re writing to, but also to anyone else who might read it.

Essay format

• Write your entry as if it’s an open letter, not a formal essay. Try to keep it short and sweet, under 460 words. Your title and any sources you use won’t count towards this limit.
• Back up your points with evidence from at least two sources: one from The Times and another from somewhere else. Make sure your sources are reliable and clearly show where your evidence comes from, whether it’s a direct quote or paraphrased.
• Make sure everything you submit is your own work and hasn’t been published before. Avoid plagiarism and using AI tools.
• Include a short, informal “artist’s statement” to talk about how you wrote your piece and did your research.

The New York Times Student Editorial Contest usually kicks off around March and wraps up in April. The 2024 cycle ran from March 13 to May 1. Winners usually get announced 8-10 weeks after the submission deadline, so around June or July.

If you’re thinking about joining the next cycle, it’s smart to start getting ready early. Even though the format might stay the same, it’s always wise to be ready for any twists. If they go back to an older contest format, you can tweak your prepared work to fit.

New York Times Student Editorial Contest: Writing Tips

What makes a winning entry for the New York Times Student Editorial Contest? Thankfully, they’ve laid out their judging criteria . We’ll break them down and offer some specific tips to help you achieve and excel at them:

Description: “Open letter calls attention to an issue or problem and prompts reflection or action on it.”

Your open letter has to do a couple of things at once. First, it needs to shine a spotlight on an issue that really matters to you, something you’ve experienced firsthand. But it also has to get your readers thinking or even spur them into action. To make this work, choose an issue that you’re passionate about and know inside out.

For instance, if you’re into environmental causes , you might want to write about how plastic waste is wrecking marine life. To really make your point hit home, use real examples and personal stories that show why this issue is so crucial. Share how it’s affected you or your community, drawing on your own experiences volunteering at beach cleanups, so your readers can really relate.

When it comes to getting people to reflect or take action, you’ve got to make a solid case. Don’t just point out the problem. Offer up solutions or ways to make things better. Give practical steps that individuals, groups, or even policymakers can take to tackle the problem head-on.

For our example above, you could suggest pushing for stricter rules on single-use plastics or organizing clean-up events in your area. The goal is to get your readers to see things differently and feel motivated to make a real impact.

2. Audience

Description: “Open letter directly addresses a specific individual, group, organization or institution appropriate to the issue, but also is written to be read by a public general audience.”

Think about who you’re aiming your letter at. Pinpoint a specific person, group, or organization that can really make waves on the issue you’re fired up about. If you’re all about boosting mental health awareness in schools, you might direct your letter at school bigwigs or the Department of Education.

It’s crucial to tailor your letter to this specific audience. Use language and examples that resonate with what matters to them. To make your letter connect with a wider audience, keep it lively and relevant. Pretend it’s going to be read by anyone flipping through The New York Times. Making your letter relatable to a broad audience boosts the chances it’ll spark crucial conversations and drive real change.

3. Analysis and persuasion

Description: “Open letter convincingly makes a case for why the recipient and public should care about or take action on the issue. It provides relevant background information, valid examples and reliable evidence to support the argument all in a clear and organized fashion.”

When you’re writing your entry to the New York Times Student Editorial Contest, it’s super important to back up what you’re saying with solid evidence and examples. Start off by giving a quick but thorough rundown of the issue you’re tackling, covering its backstory, current state, and possible outcomes.

If you’re delving into how social media impacts mental health, for example, you could throw in some stats about the rising levels of anxiety and depression in young folks, as well as studies that link heavy social media use to not-so-great mental health outcomes.

To beef up your argument, use credible sources like quotes or stats from well-respected studies. You could mention a study from a reputable journal that highlights the link between social media use and increased feelings of loneliness and isolation. This not only strengthens your argument but also shows just how urgent this issue is.

You could also talk about a buddy who got cyberbullied on social media and how it really messed with their mental well-being. These kinds of stories make the problem more relatable and humanize it for your readers.

4. Language

Description: “Open letter is clearly written as a letter. It has a strong voice and uses language, style and tone appropriate to its purpose and audience. It features correct grammar, spelling and punctuation.”

Go for a style that’s crystal-clear, straight to the point, and grabs attention from the get-go. Keep things simple and skip the fancy words or technical jargon. Instead of saying “utilize,” just stick with “use,” which is more direct and easier to understand.

Make your letter feel like a friendly chat with the person reading it, using a tone that’s warm and genuine. This helps convey your passion and how deeply this issue matters to you.

Let your personality shine in your writing , showing your excitement for the cause. Use a style and tone that match your audience and the message you want to convey. And remember, even though it’s a personal letter, it still needs to be error-free. Make sure your grammar, spelling, and punctuation are spot-on to keep things looking polished and professional.

5. Guidelines

Description: “Writing follows all contest guidelines, including the citation of trustworthy sources (at least one Times and one non-Times source in the Works Cited section).”

To really get your entry noticed, stick to the contest rules. That means following their citation format and including a Works Cited section. Carefully read the contest guidelines and make sure your entry meets all the requirements.

If you want to stand out, go beyond the basics. Use a variety of sources to back up your points. Include one from The New York Times to show you’re in tune with current events, and add another from a different source to demonstrate your thorough research. Ensure all your citations are accurate and follow the contest rules. This demonstrates your attention to detail and respect for intellectual property.

New York Times Student Editorial Contest: Sample Winning Works

Another great way to get a feel for what the New York Times Student Editorial Contest is all about is to check out the past winners. These essays really impressed the judges, so there’s a lot you can learn from them to help with your own entry. Let’s take a look at a few of the Top 11 winners from the 2023 cycle.

1. “ The Case for an AI Pause ” by Gabriel Huang, 17, from Tower Hill School, Wilmington, Delaware

Summary: Huang’s essay makes a strong argument for putting the brakes on AI development for a bit. He points out the risks AI poses to society, like deep fakes, chatbots spewing racism and sexism, and the looming threat of lots of jobs disappearing. Huang thinks hitting pause would give governments and policymakers a chance to catch their breath and figure out how to regulate AI tech properly.

What makes it stand out

Huang’s essay dives into a relevant and controversial topic: the risks of AI. He suggests hitting the pause button on AI development for a bit to give everyone a chance to figure out how to regulate it properly. This topic likely got the judges and readers thinking, considering how important AI is in today’s world.

Then, Huang backs up his argument with solid evidence and reasoning. He points out the dangers of AI, like deep fakes and people losing their jobs, and explains why we need to take a breather on AI development. He wants us to think about what uncontrolled AI could mean for us and to support the idea of pausing its development. This call to action gives his message urgency and pushes us to do something about it.

Also, Huang lays out his ideas in a clear and logical way, making it simple for readers to get on board with his argument. This is key for getting complex ideas across to a wide audience.

2. “ Proud Menstruating Student ” by Cindy Chen, 13, from Beijing Ritan Middle School, Beijing

Summary: Chen’s essay boldly tackles the stigma surrounding menstruation. She draws from her personal experience to highlight the shame and embarrassment often associated with it. She calls for a change in societal attitudes and advocates for destigmatizing menstruation.

Chen takes a bold and personal approach and tackles a topic that’s often seen as taboo. The judges probably liked how she wasn’t afraid to share her own story and challenge the status quo. She starts things off with a super vivid anecdote about getting her first period in class, showing just how awkward and shameful menstruation can feel.

Chen then calls on folks to rethink how they view menstruation and to educate themselves and others. You can really feel her urgency in lines like, “I refuse to be ashamed any longer. When our parents, schools, and government officials fail us, we must stand up for ourselves.” This call to action gives her message weight and pushes readers to take real steps to destigmatize menstruation.

Here, Chen hits the contest’s theme right on the head, which is to get people thinking or acting on a specific issue. She doesn’t just talk about the stigma around menstruation. She challenges readers to question why it exists and what can be done to change it.

Chen’s essay is packed with a strong voice and clear purpose, two things that can really make an entry shine. She writes with so much passion and conviction, which makes her argument super compelling. Plus, her essay is well-structured and easy to follow, making it accessible to a wide audience.

3. “ It Is So Hard to Be Trans ” by Callisto Lim, 16, from Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, Houston

Summary: Lim’s essay really dives into the tough stuff faced by transgender folks. They talk about the hurdles and discrimination, especially with new laws trying to limit transgender rights and healthcare access. Lim gets personal, sharing how they’ve felt pushed to the sidelines and scared because of how society and politics treat transgender folks.

Lim’s essay in the New York Times Student Editorial Contest really makes an impact for a few reasons. First off, they bring a lot of emotion and personal stories into the mix, showing just how discriminatory policies affect real people. Lim gets real, sharing experiences like being compared to a school shooter and feeling scared for just being themselves. These stories make the essay hit home and make you really feel for what transgender individuals go through.

The essay hits the contest’s theme right on the nose. It’s not just about pointing out the problems—Lim calls for action against discriminatory laws. “We cannot sit here and let anti-trans bills become law across the country,” they write.

Lim writes with a strong voice and clear purpose. They’re passionate and convincing. This is key for getting complex ideas across to a wide audience, as it keeps folks interested and engaged. All in all, Lim’s essay is a heartfelt plea for understanding and acceptance. It’s informative, persuasive, and just really well-done.

The New York Times Student Editorial Contest is a great opportunity for young voices to speak up about important stuff and push for change. In their essays, students show off not just their writing chops, but also how well they get complex issues and how much they care about making things better.

The contest gets students thinking hard, digging deep into research, and getting their point across clearly, which is super empowering. Looking at the awesome essays from past winners, it’s clear the contest is all about inspiring and boosting the voices of the next wave of thinkers and doers.

Who can join the New York Times Student Editorial Contest?

If you’re between 13 and 19 years old and in middle or high school anywhere in the world, you’re eligible. If you’re the child or stepchild of a New York Times employee, though, or you live with one, you can’t enter.

Who is the topic of the New York Times Student Editorial Contest?

You have the freedom to write about any issue you’re passionate about. For the 2024 cycle, they asked participants to write an open letter to someone who can make a difference regarding the issue they chose.

How many entries does the New York Times Student Editorial Contest receive?

They receive thousands of entries every year. In the 2023 cycle, they got 12,592 submissions, but only 11 of those were chosen as winners.

What do you win at the New York Times Student Editorial Contest?

While there aren’t any cash prizes, winning this contest is a big deal. Your winning piece gets published in the New York Times, which can really make your college applications shine.

When is the deadline for the New York Times Student Editorial Contest?

Usually, it runs from March to April, and they announce the winners around June or July. For the 2024 cycle, the deadline was May 1st.

Want to assess your chances of admission? Take our FREE chances calculator today!

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Juggling writing and life

How to Host a Writing Contest

Last Updated on March 4, 2024 by Nathaniel Tower

Running a writing contest may seem like a risky undertaking for an individual, a literary magazine, or any other type of publication. In order to get any interest at all, you have to put up some prize money. What happens if there aren’t enough entrants to cover your prize purse? How is a publication supposed to come up with that cash? Well, if money’s the only thing you’re worried about, then you aren’t prepared to host a writing contest.

As managing editor at Bartleby Snopes Literary Magazine , I created and ran the Dialogue-Only writing contest for nine years. During that time, we received thousands of entries and awarded over $10,000 in prize money. The Dialogue-Only contest was one of the best-paying writing contests on the web. How does a contest sponsored by a small literary magazine get to be so big?

Here’s everything you need to know to host a successful writing contest.

Minimizing the Risk

Before getting into the details about how to make your writing contest huge, let’s talk briefly about how to reduce the risk. There are several risks involved when hosting a contest. The two biggest are:

• Losing money
• Dealing with complaints (about judging, submission fees, etc.)

In order to minimize the money lost, I recommend using a formula similar to what we did at Bartleby Snopes . Start with a guaranteed amount that won’t break the bank (we originally started with $250 and eventually guaranteed at least $1,000). Charge a modest submission fee (we always charged $10). Add a little bit of money to the prize pot for each entry over a certain threshold. For example, once you get to 25 entries, add an extra $5-$6 for each new submission. Two warnings here:

• You will need more entries than you think to cover the prize money (if you have a $10 entry fee, you should only count on $9 per entry after processing fees).
• You’ll get the majority of entries near the deadline, so don’t panic if it seems like you’re behind.

Don’t promise an amount that you don’t feel comfortable losing. Always imagine the worst-case scenario. Can you afford to pay the entire prize money out of your pocket? If not, then lower your starting amount (or don’t have the contest at all).

The other major risk you run into when hosting a contest is backlash from the non-winning writers. If you aren’t careful, there may be cries of bias or unfair judging procedures. Writers may ask for their fees to be returned. You may hear complaints that the winning entries weren’t any good. You need to be sure your contest rules are clearly stated, including a bit of legalese. Don’t forget to include these statements:

• All decisions made by the judges regarding the winners are final
• No contest entry fees will be returned
• By submitting, you are agreeing to all contest rules
• Contest rules are subject to change

Additionally, it’s always a good idea to be specific regarding all the various components of the contest. Tell your submitters who the judges are, where the contest fees go, when the winning stories will be published, etc. By taking this proactive and transparent approach, we were able to to stay clear of complaints. None of the writers asked for their fee to be returned (unless there was a glitch), and only one writer ever complained about the results (it was a cry of sexism because one year all 5 winners in our BLIND contest had male-sounding names).

Getting Enough Entries

Our Dialogue-Only contest wasn’t always a big deal. During our first year, we gave out just $450 in prize money. While many writers would be thrilled to win a piece of that, we’re not exactly talking about big bucks. Five years later, our prize pot was over five times that. How were we able to grow so much during that time?

If you want to maximize the number of entries your writing contest gets, you need to do a few things:

• Make the prize worth it
• Establish credibility
• Be transparent
• Advertise and promote
• Do something unique

Let’s discuss each of these elements in detail.

Make the Prize Worth It

A contest doesn’t have to award thousands of dollars to be worth it. Of course, that all depends on what you are asking the writers to do. The higher the fee you are charging, the bigger the prize should be. I recommend a prize-to-fee ratio of at least 20 to 1 (that’s a $100 prize for a $5 entry fee). If the prize is only $25, you aren’t going to get people who are willing to pay $5 or $10 to enter. If your prize-to-fee ratio is on the lower end, be sure to throw in some extra incentive (such as a free issue or subscription). Never  offer guaranteed publication to all entrants.

There are a couple other things to consider when making a prize that’s worth the entry fee:

• What are the odds of winning?
• How much work does the writer need to do to participate?

If you are getting thousands of entries, you need a huge prize. The lower the odds an individual writer has, the more you better hand out.

If you are asking for a very specific story, or if your contest requests a large volume of work, then you need to respect the effort a writer will have to put in to participate. Writers aren’t going to create a story just for your contest if they have only a small chance of winning a small prize.

Establish Credibility

This might sound like it’s impossible to achieve during the first year of your contest, but it definitely can be done. Here are a few suggestions:

• Get an endorsement from a respected figure in the writing community (this could be in the form of a guest judge)
• Get your contest listed by credible publications
• Establish yourself as a respected and professional publisher/editor prior to hosting a contest
• Make sure your contest details are thorough

I wouldn’t recommend launching a contest during the first few months your publication exists. Establish yourself first, then establish your contest. And make sure you have a real website before launching your contest. No one is going to submit if there isn’t clear evidence your contest is real.

Be Transparent

In a world where privacy is becoming more and more of a commodity, people want to know more and more about what they are getting into. Don’t hide anything about your contest. Be forthcoming about everything, including:

• Who the judges are (provide names and links for guest judges)
• Where the money will go (especially if your contest will bring in more money than it awards)
• When and how the winners will be paid
• When and how entrants will be notified
• When the winning stories will be published

Additionally, if you’ve run the contest in the past, you need to make examples of past winners easily available. If the only way to see past winners is by paying money, then you aren’t being transparent. It’s also a good idea to write a blog post or article about the contest. For example, you could discuss the types of stories that generally don’t do well in your contest. Or you could give tips about preparing a contest entry. Naturally, this will also help to establish your credibility.

Advertise and Promote

Advertising your contest can add up quickly. An ad in  Poets & Writers can run you $500 or more. Add in a few other ads and maybe some promoted posts on Facebook and Twitter, and you are easily looking at $800-$1000 just to advertise your contest (which is about what we spent to promote our contest during our biggest years).

If paying big bucks to promote your contest isn’t in the cards for you, then find as many free outlets as possible. Make sure you have a contest listing everywhere you can. There are dozens of lists that compile writing contests for free. Make sure you are on all of them (or at least all the ones you qualify for). Have a separate listing on Duotrope that’s just for your contest. Post about your contest in legitimate writing forums. Reach out to MFA programs and ask if they will spread the word. Be sure to put together a professional announcement regarding the contest. In many cases, your free promotion will bring in more entries than your sponsored ads .

Of course, you should also use social media, but promoting your contest doesn’t just mean you Tweet about it every day. If you really want to promote a contest, you need to find a variety of outlets. The most valuable promotion is anywhere people are already looking for opportunities to make money as writers (online contest listings,  Poets & Writers  Contest Issue, social media groups dedicated to paying publications, etc.).

Do Something Unique

There are thousands of writing contests held every year. If you want people to enter yours, you need to do something different from everyone else. If your guidelines are “Write any story you want and we’ll pick the best one and give you a handful of money,” then no one is going to submit. When I created the Dialogue-Only Contest, I was trying to do something I hadn’t seen done anywhere else before. My “great” ideas included:

• A rolling rejection process
• Unlimited entries for one price
• A growing prize purse
• A very specific format (stories had to be composed entirely of dialogue)

I can’t tell you how many writers contacted me to say they really enjoyed participating in this contest. Every year, I was surprised by how many entrants responded to rejection letters by thanking me for hosting the contest.

Final Notes

Hosting a writing contest is no easy task. There are plenty of obstacles you will deal with along the way, none more difficult than the colossal challenge of sorting through all the entries to pick a winner. If you run your contest the right way, you will find it a rewarding experience. Being able to award almost $2400 to writers is definitely worth the hard work.

How to Host a Writing Contest FAQs

Can anyone host a writing contest.

Yes, in theory, any website or publication can host a writing contest. Before hosting a contest, you should clearly define your contest rules and develop a plan for collecting submissions.

Where can I advertise my writing contest?

You can and should advertise your writing contest in as many places as possible. Some of the best places are Poets & Writers, Duotrope, MFA programs, other online contest listings, and social media. Make sure you have an advertising budget. Promoting your writing contest can get expensive if you aren't careful.

Do I have to award prizes for my writing contest?

If you want people to enter your writing contest, you need to offer prizes. The most appealing prizes are monetary. Publication is also a highly desired outcome. The bigger the prizes, the more entries you'll get.

Can I charge an entry fee for my writing contest?

While some writing contests are free to enter, most require an entry fee. There is nothing wrong with charging a contest entry fee as long as you make the prize worthwhile and you are transparent about where the entry fees go. If you are keeping any of the money as profit, you should disclose this.

What if no one enters my writing contest?

If no one enters your writing contest, or you just don't get many entries, you can try extending the deadline and increasing your promotion efforts. It's always a good idea to include a disclaimer in your contest rules that requires a minimum number of entries for the contest to be held. This way, if you only get a handful of entries, you don't have to award a big prize that will cause you to lose a lot of money.

For writers interested in entering a writing contest

Are you a writer interested in entering a writing contest? Check out these helpful posts:

• How to win a writing contest
• Should I enter a writing contest?
• Everything you need to know before entering a writing contest

Do you have any additional tips for hosting a writing contest? Share your thoughts or questions in the comments. If you are interested in hosting a writing contest, feel free to reach out directly to me for advice. And, as always, please share this post on all your favorite channels.

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2 thoughts on “ How to Host a Writing Contest ”

Recently, I have started using old comics for writing practice. They are public domain and from the WW II era. It is a lot of fun and a challenge since the pictures are already done. Do you have any thoughts on me organizing a writing contest in which writers fill in the blanked dialog balloons. Every entry would have the same eight pages to fill in.

This a great article thank you for being so truthful about the process of build a contest.

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Rhetoric Student Essay Contest

Each semester, we hold an essay contest to honor our students' hard work. Winners receive a $75 award and the opportunity to be published in I Write , the Rhetoric textbook. Students may submit Narrative Essays, Rhetorical or Source Analyses, Argumentative or Position Essays, Multimodal or Multigenre projects, reflective writing, and exploratory work. Submissions are welcome throughout the semester, but are limited to one per student. To submit, visit go.illinois.edu/rhetcontest .

2023–2024 Academic Year

Rachel Perkins, "Analyzing Rhetorical Strategies used in Alternative Responder Program Advocacy"  Zach Simon

Anonymous, “Position Essay on a Solution in Palestine” Jade Williams ​​​​

Randolph Miguel Ayala, “Reporting on Food Insecurity in Colleges: Audience and Approach” Julie Kraft 

Natalie Barrera, “Decentering Whiteness from Social Work” Michael Odom

Amy Choi, “The Psychological Effects of Attending Forest Schools on Children” Erin Stoodley 

Drew Farmer, “Oregon's Drug Decriminalization” Hannah Thorpe 

Austin Gabis, “Understanding the Danger Associated with Anabolic Androgenic Steroids’ Presence in Social Media” Barry Hudek 

Sophie Gies, “Eco-Anxiety and its Effects on the Young Adult Population” Krista Roberts 

Avah Hitchcock, “Societal Implications of Gene Editing Technology” Calgary Martin 

Yuno Kimura, “Dance as a Form of Social Activism” Curtis Dickerson 

Rachel Li, “The Damaging Effects of Ballet on Mental Health” Katie Menendez 

Yusen Liang, “Dive into Traditional Culture: My Supercut of 2023 Traditional Chinese Culture Carnival” Mary Hays 

Stella Liao, “Atlantic Cod: What is There to Save?” Mary Rose Cottingham  

Mary McQuaid, “Bridging Eastern and Western Medicine” Syamantak Basu 

Alexander Pacheco, “Our Voices Matter: Exploration of an Accessible Higher Music Education" Mary Rose Cottingham 

Simon Radford, “Capitol Records or Record Capital: Defining Post-Revival Market Values” David Foley 

Aubrey Tate, “To Binge or Not To Binge” Jason Pfister 

Briana Varghese, “Ethical Considerations of Family Vlogging” Megi Mecolli  

Tryggve Vilaseca, “Scavenger Hunt for Belonging: The Road Not Taken” Julie Kraft 

Lily Windmiller, “TikTok Made Me Buy It: A Research Proposal on the Influence of Social Media on Purchasing Habits” Patrick Fadely 

Weili Xu (徐纬立), “Toward Cultural and Environmental Preservation Through Asian Heritage Food: A Research Proposal and Annotated Bibliography” Mary Hays 

Christine Yuan, “K-Pop Fan Culture and the Perpetuation of Parasocial Relationships via Digital Platforms” Barry Hudek 

Boyue Zhang, “Multimodal Genre Revision: Production of a Hypothetical Campaign Speech by Biden” Barry Hudek 

• Aashay Patel,  “To What Extent Should AI be Implemented in the Education System to Mitigate the Dangers it Poses to Learning?”  Cyanne Topaum  
• Allie Burke,  “Struggles With Sleep Deprivation in College”  Julie Kraft   
• Annie Mak,  “Artificial Intelligence’s Role in Healthcare”  Barry Hudek  
• Erdem Amarsaikhan,  “Bilingualism and its Effects on Cognitive Abilities”  Shawn Gilmore  
• Evan McPheron,  “The Causes of and Solutions to the Loneliness Epidemic”  Patrick Fadely  
• Fei-Hsi Ko,  “Single Use Plastics”  Mark Gunter  
• Felix Romero,  “Virtual Reality in the Medical Field (Infomercial)”  Deon Robinson  
• Flynn Ma,  “Mindfulness in Treating Procrastination and Bridging Social Divides”  Barry Hudek  
• Hannah Sundararajan,  “Deconstructing the Debate Surrounding Guerilla Gardening”  John Claborn  
• Isabella Rivera,  “Oncolytic Virotherapy: A New Lens”  Jess Williard  
• Jacqueline Shin,  “Truth Behind the Problem”  Hannah Charity  
• Jenny Zhu,  “STEM + Feminism = STEMinism”  Heather McLeer  
• Karolina Mikulec,  “An Examination of the Intricate Relationship between Working Students and Academics”  David Foley  
• Kaya Ganko,  “My Little Secret”  Michael Hurley  
• Lydia Oesterling,  “English as a Second Language Pedagogy”  Hannah Thorpe  
• Marianna Tarpley,  “Sip Smart Drink Tracker to Reduce College Binge Drinking”  Krista Roberts  
• Marin Flynn,  “Gender Inequalities in Sports: A Solution”  Gabriella Hoggatt  
• Nicholas Militello,  “The Reality of Plastic Recycling”  Syamantak Basu  
• Nicolette Amundsen,  “The Detrimental Effects of the Standard American Diet on Brain Function”  Kristi McDuffie 
• Olivia Green,  “What is Hidden Behind the Stage: Feminist Standpoint Against Ballet”  Mary Rose Cottingham 
• Rain Seriosa,  “Edutainment’s Influence on the Youth’s Perception of Depression”  Patrick Fadely  
• Rebecca Cohen , “Art Therapy and Well-being Among College Students”  Madeline Furlong  
• Robin Kasput,  “Social Media Data and its Uses During Disasters”  Callan Latham  
• Sonny Steinhauer,  “The True Cost of Luxury Student Housing”  Julie Kraft  
• Victoria Bogusz,  “Research on Environmental Impact of Pharmaceuticals in Water”  Jordan Sellers    

2022–2023 Academic Year

• Alex Fallaw,  “Genre and Platform: A Happy Medium”  Kristi McDuffie
• Ella Phalen,  “Competition in Youth Sports and its Effect on Mental Health and Development”  Cyanne Topaum
• Alexandra Way , “Miscarriage Matters”  Jordan Sellers
• Ariah Booker , “How Do You See Me: The Gendered Portrayal of African Americans”  Dana Smith
• Ava Brancato , “Project Proposal: Exploring Benefits and Potential Eligibility for Physician-Assisted Suicide”  Barry Hudek
• Cecilia Lopez , “The Power of Paint: How Murals Shape Politics of Pilsen”  Mary Rose Cottingham
• Christian Zlatarski , “A Revitalization of Personal Finance Classes in U.S. High Schools”  Brian Landes
• Christopher Taylor , “Source Analysis Essay on Artificial Intelligence’s Impact on Society”  Mary Rose Cottingham
• Ellie Rohe , “Bioconcrete’s Feasibility”  Matt Schering
• Emma Guarni , “Animal Captivity Awareness”  Jenn Lee
• Grace Yoon , “Research Proposal: The Potential Negatives Associated with Code Switching”  Krista Roberts
• Isabella Chon , “Environmental Racism: An Injustice that Must Be Acknowledged”  Calandra Warren
• Jamaira Williams , “A Letter Rewritten:  The Institutionalized Conviction of Blackness Within the Biosphere of Society”  Marie Rivera Lopez
• Jocelyn Gama , “Poetry on the Lives of Immigrants at the Border”  Marie Rivera Lopez
• Karah McCarl , “Why United States Figure Skating Must Change”  Tessa Crosby
• Kyle Zhou , “Moving is Not the Solution: Resolving Rural Housing Vulnerability from a Public Housing Perspective”  Dana Smith
• Luke Gauer , “The Impact of AI”  Zachariah McVicker
• Margaret Wei , “The Role of Socioeconomic Status and the Associated Risk Factors in Nicotine Addiction Development Among Adolescents”  Erin Hoffman
• Nicole Wee , “Racism and Vegans: What’s the Connection?”  Marie Rivera Lopez
• Sangjun Ko , “The Dual Nature of Hallyu and K-Pop”  Zach Simon
• Shelby Bushong , “Service Dog Therapy”  Jordan Sellers
• Zhen Yan,  “Use New Words to Treat Living Beings as Families: Let’s Use the Toulmin Analysis Method and Rhetorical Triangle”  Mary Hays
• Rawda Abdeltawab , “Pilot Shortage: A Massive Challenge for the Aviation Industry” Meg Morrow
• Amari Anderson , “Racial Prejudice in Healthcare” Yoonsuh Kim
• Aera Boateng , “Overlooked: Why Neurodivergent BIPOC Aren’t Getting Help” Cyanne Topaum
• Nia Brass , “Psychopathy within ASPD: A Perspective on Treatment” Zach Simon
• Roy Chang , “The Relationship Between Remote Learning and Mental Health” Yoonsuh Kim
• Elliot Finn , “Viability of a Novel Cancer Treatment Modality” Krista Roberts
• Macy Hull , “Annotated Bibliography and Synthesis on Revenge Porn” Curtis Dickerson
• Rebeca Jacobs , “The Impact of Security Cameras Regarding Campus Safety” Mary Lindsey
• Riley Millsap , “The Cost of Plastics” Kathryn O’Toole
• Daniel Odicho , “You Are Missing Out on the Flipped Learning Model” Mary Rose Cottingham
• Martin Pouliot , “Should Human Development in Floodplains be Prohibited?” Calandra Warren
• Anaya Prasad , “Genre Remix and Reflection: PTA Newsletter” Jordan Sellers
• Jenna Quafisheh , “Importance of Special Education” Andrea Sielicki
• Srijana Sapkota , “The Impact of Monetary Support on Poverty and Mental Health” Hannah Charity
• Zhuoyang Shen , “’Romantic Dream in Garden’ -The Wonderful Experience at the 2022 Traditional Chinese Culture Carnival” Mary Hays
• Josh Steinfink , “Implementing Music at Home” Jordan Sellers
• Olivia Thompson , “Social Media’s Effects on Female Body Image: A Poison to Our Youth” Marie Rivera López
• Li Tianxin , “Reasons that Social Media is a Great Communication Tool for NGOs” Victoria Millen
• Victoria Titus , “Letters Concerning the Atlanta Child Murders” Lily Dawn
• Dev Rishi Udata , “Drilling Deeper: The Harmful Effects of Hydraulic Fracturing” Shawn Gilmore
• Kotryna Vaitkevicius , “Infographic for Persons Using Opioids in the Chicago Area” Krista Roberts
• Miles Wood , “Psilocybin: A Revolutionary New Treatment for People Suffering from Depression” David Miller
• Boyang Zhao , “The Regulation of Cryptocurrency” Carrie Johnson
• Xicheng Zhu , “The revolution has not yet succeeded” John Claborn
• Yu Ziheng , “Present to a Peer” Ryan Flanagan

2021–2022 Academic Year

• Alyssa Marmolejo, “Censorship: A Matter of Public Influence or Corporate Benefit?” Instructor Daniel Myers
• Anne Schmidt, “The Effects of Media on Sustainable Fashion,” Instructor Patrick Fadely
• Arnav Motwani, “The Psychology of Procrastination,” Instructor Curtis Dickerson
• Brian Pau, “Is Solar Energy the Future for Developing Nations?” Instructor Mary Rose Cottingham
• Daniel Wang, “Object Ethnography for the Real World,” Instructor Neal Liu
• Elaine Wei, “Commercialization: The Death or Renaissance of Classical Music?” Instructor Mary Lindsey
• Elisabeth Zamora, “Pressure on BIG 10 and NCAA athletes and its Mental Effects,” Instructor Andrea Sielicki
• Emily Lee, “Synthesis and Annotated Bibliography on Cultural Impacts on Mental Health,” Instructor Mary Lindsey
• Haddon Lybarger, “Ad Campaign: Social Media and Its Effects on Adolescents' Mental Health,” Instructor Naomi Taub
• Jaya Ashrafi, “The Political and Psychological Impacts of Negative Advertising,” Instructor Naomi Taub
• Jazmin Villagomez-Guzman, “Source Analysis: The Relationship Between Social Media and Eating Disorders,” Instructor Erin Hoffman
• Jonathan Gao, “Revelations in Film: Asian American Representation,” Instructor Jade Williams
• Madelyn Pawyza, “Exploratory Essay,” Instructor Erin Hoffman
• Madison Helms, “The Scariest Mask of All: Autistic Camouflaging in Females,” Instructor Meg Morrow
• Riya Patel, “New Beginnings,” Instructor Kirsten Dillender
• Saneea Malik, “Analyzing Factors Affecting Implementation of the Sustainable Product Life-Cycle in the Cosmetics Industry,” Instructor Mary Rose Cottingham
• Sophia Gardner, “Shortcomings of University Mental Health Resources,” Instructor Victoria Millen
• Sophia Talbert, “Modern Problem: United States Teacher Shortage,” Instructor Erin Hoffman
• Tallulah Trezevant, “Drug Decriminalization: Put That in Your Pipe and Smoke It!” Instructor Zach Simon
• Zaina Anarwala, “Can we 3D Print the Future of Housing?” Instructor Meg Morrow
• Zhijun Zhao, “Sino-US Cooperation for Creative Ideas on Campus Lifestyle,” Instructor Mary Hays
• Zixuan Zhang, “Marino's Abuse of Empathy: Walked a Long Way, but Forgot Why to Start,” Instructor Ryan Flanagan
• Acosta, Michael, “The Benefits of Implementing Restorative Justice into our Prison System,” Instructor Sielicki, Andrea
• Agarwal, Yash, “Research on Waste Segregation and Composting in India,” Instructor Myers, Daniel
• Anand, Rishikesh, “Restructuring American Foreign Policy by Analyzing American Interventionism,” Instructor Dillender, Kirsten
• Aso, Mayu, “The Successful Use of Rhetoric in Sources Related to Medical Cadaver Research,” Instructor Williams, Jade
• Babu, Sanjana, “The Impact of the Caste System on Non-Hindu Populations,” Instructor Johnson, Carrie
• Bui, Sydney, “Research on Western Violence Against Asians during COVID-19,” Instructor Furlong, Madeline
• Funk, Rachelle, “Examining the Link Between the COVID Vaccine and POTS through Two Different Genres,” Instructor Odom, Mike
• Gadde, Akhil, “Weighing the Benefits against Ethical Constraints of Nanotechnology in Medicine,” Instructor Cottingham, Mary Rose
• Garcia Lopez, “Sandra, Drug Decriminalization,” Instructor Garcia Marquez, Issy
• Gu, Rachael, “Alternative Energy Sources for a Sustainable Future (Nuclear Energy),” Instructor Shuger, Alixandra
• Heersche, Jeremiah, “The U.S. Criminal Injustice System: The Mass Incarceration Era,” Instructor Short, Cassidy
• Hosey, Grace, “Synthesizing and Annotating Sources on the History and Ethics of Greek Life,” Instructor Dickerson, Curtis
• Junzhou, Fang, “Photographs Taken in My Writing Life,” Instructor Hays, Mary
• Moody, Amaris, “Snowfall, Masculinity, and Drugs,” Instructor Nyikos, Dani
• Murillo, Daniella, “The Mental Health of Undocumented Children,” Instructor Stewart, Catie
• Ovalle, Stephanie, “The Embark of My Journey With Writing,” Instructor Hurley, Michael
• Park, Michael, “Research on the Correlation Between Wealthy Students and Standardized Tests,” Instructor Weber, Rebecca
• Phatak, Mukta, “The Effects of Principals on Dual Language Education,” Instructor Morrow, Meg
• Renteria, Camila, “Developing a Better Bilingual Education,” Instructor Short, Cassidy
• Sauer, Isabella, “Comparative Source Analyses on Arguments Regarding Critical Race Theory,” Instructor Bacon, Dustin
• Soni, Keya, “Fast Fashion Position Essay,” Instructor Bishop, David
• Turner, Linnea, “Sustainable Coastal Management in Growing Coastal Areas,” Instructor Furlong, Madeline
• Yang, Owen, “Left-Behind Children Research Proposal Essay,” Instructor Sellers, Jordan
• Zhang, Alex, “Modern Technology and Their Impacts on Youth,” Instructor Dillender, Kirsten
• Zielke, Josiah, “Deutschland and the Future,” Instructor Hurley, Michael

2020–2021 Academic Year

• Willy Choe, “Music: More Than Just an Art Form,” Instructor Suzanne Valentine
• Marina Betancourt, “How does an authoritative style parenting approach breed more benefits in a college student when it comes to their physical health, behaviors, and mental well-being?” Instructor Meg Cole
• Jose Arellano, “The Effects of the BRI on ASEAN Nations,” Instructor Kristi McDuffie
• Madilyn Bernhard, “Are Warehouses Worth the Harm They Produce?,” Instructor Isaac Willis
• Anniston Brant, “Female Serial Murder Research Proposal,” Instructor Jordan Sellers
• TJ Byun, “Pandemic (Deluxe) by COVID-19,” Instructor Tracy Anne Travis
• Isaiah Calaranan, “The African Diaspora and Music in America,” Instructor Neal Liu
• Samar Chehab, “Research Proposal: COVID-19 Lockdown and Eating Disorder Development,” Instructor Jordan Sellers
• Storey Childs, “The Effect of the ERA on US Law,” Instructor Emily Renne
• Xiaoyang Chu, “Cultured Meat:  World-Changing Technology Is on The Way,” Instructor Mary Hays
• Daniela Del Bosque Siller, “The Successful Use of Rhetoric in Sources Related to Gender Discrimination in Healthcare,” Instructor Kristi McDuffie
• Kate Friedman, “What are the influences mass media has on body image of adolescent women of color?”  Instructor Jordan Sellers
• Jeremy Hughes, “Should Everyone Adopt Plant-Based Diets?” Instructor Weston Morrow
• Brenna Hurtado, “Disability Rights in the Workplace, ” Instructor Kristi McDuffie
• Kaden Kirby, “Stigma and The FDA Gay Blood Ban,” Instructor Cassidy Short
• Mayura Kulkarni, “Freshwater Scarcity in Developing Countries,” Instructor Curtis Dickerson
• Mason Mitchell, “A Solution to Mental Disorder Diagnoses: Molecular Genetics,” Instructor Cassidy Short
• Patricia Moreno,  “Synthesizing Sources on the Factors Contributing to Health Disparities amongst Women of Color,” Instructor Alixandra Shuger
• Giselle Munoz, “Use of Rhetoric in Conversation with Bilingual Education,” Instructor Erin Hoffman
• Arisu Oya, “Asynchronous vs. Synchronous Learning,” Instructor Rebecca Weber
• Noah Pogonitz, “Rhetorical Analysis: "What's the Point of College?" Instructor Jordan Sellers
• Emma Prybylski, “Synthesis of Retail Pet Sale Legislation and Puppy Mill Sources,” Instructor Weston Morrow
• Maeli Sanchez, “The Impact of Screentime on the Mental Health of Young People,” Instructor Hollis Druhet
• Jacob Wagner, “An Argument for a Rhetorical Change in Right to Repair,” Instructor Tessa Crosby
• Tianle Wu, “Self-contradiction, Fallacy and Out of Focus: Will Renkl Convince Her Audience?” Instructor Ryan Flanagan
• Caroline Anderson, “Position Essay on Prison Reform,” Instructor Erin Cheslow
• Oneida Byrd, “Multigenre Research on Diversity and Inclusivity in Panhellenic Sororities,” Instructor Dana Kinzy
• Isabella Chacon, “From Internal to External: The Bidirectional Influences on a Child’s Development,” Instructor Dan Zhang
• Xiaoyang Chu, “A Letter to a Friend: Videogames: Angels or Devils,” Instructor Mary Hays
• Joyce Credo, “Source Control during COVID-19,” Instructor Elizabeth Boyle
• Kacie Cusick, “Is Title IX Successful? A Source Analysis,” Instructor Kent Quaney
• Colby Garrard, “Genetic Editing: Is it in the Near Future?” Erin Cheslow
• Emma Glennon, “Annotated Bibliography on Effectiveness of Professional Athlete Protesting,” Instructor Erin Hoffman
• Eyzid Hadi, “Source Synthesis: Autonomous Vehicles and Safety,” Instructor Kent Quaney
• Greta Heinz, “Moral Distress Among Nurses & the Provided Quality of Care for Cancer Patients,” Instructor Jordan Sellers
• Hamza Mohammad Husain, “The Negative Effects of Covid-19 and its Prevention Measures,” Instructor Kristi McDuffie
• Xiaojun Jia, “Why do Chinese International Students Love Chinese Idol Reality Shows?” Instructor Mary Rose Cottingham
• Heeseong Jo, “Climate Change: renewable energy as the ultimate solution,” Instructor Debayudh Chatterjee
• Naomi Lindquist, “Stop Silencing Survivors: Ballerinas and Rape,” Instructor Elizabeth Boyle
• Lauren Moy, “What it Means to Be Asian,” Instructor Tessa Crosby
• Oliver Mucka, “Solutions To Decreasing The Effects of Tourism on National Parks,” Instructor Kathryn O’Toole
• Thomas Nguyen, “Rhetorical Analysis of “On STEM” by Johann Neem,” Instructor Jordan Sellers
• Britney A. Origel, “My Guardian Angel,” Instructor Michael Hurley
• Ania Pupa, “The Truth About Mask Wearing During a Pandemic,” Instructor Mary Rose Cottingham
• Julianne Ross, “We Need More Teachers on Aisle Three: A Shortage that is Seemingly Never-ending,” Instructor Dustin Bacon
• Aria Ruan, “Synthesizing Sources on Ethical Considerations about Neurotechnology Development,” Instructor Kristi McDuffie
• Mia Sabic, “Televising Hatred: How the Media Normalizes Racist Stereotypes,” Instructor Debayudh Chatterjee
• Brea Schorn, “Annotated Bibliography: Teaching Graphic Novels for Inclusivity,” Instructor Jordan Sellers
• Emily Springer, “Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing: So Much More Than Just Results,” Instructor Dana Kinzy
• Shulamit Wu, “Promoting Democracy through Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology,” Instructor Drew Jennings
• Wenpeng Zhang, “My Shambling Pursuit for Writing,” Instructor Mary Hays

2019–2020 Academic Year

• Caedan Cervantes, “Bro Science Isn’t Science: How Misleading Claims in Fitness Set Harmful Precedents,” Instructor Debayudh Chatterjee
• Qianzhong Chen, “Education and Class Stratification,” Instructor John Maclean
• Lauren Di Stefano, “Whore Online, Madonna Offline: How the Dichotomy of Young Women’s Relationships with Sexualized Social Media Impacts Their Relational Health,” Instructor Suzanne Valentine
• Devon Jackson, “SORRY! (Settler’s Colonialism: Oppression Edition) Game Guide,” Instructor Kathryn O’Toole
• Haruya Kamitani, “Societal Influence on College Major Choice,” Instructor Emily Renne
• Hanifa Mohammed, “Tap Water Versus Bottled Water,” Instructor Mary Lindsey
• Daisy Ruiz, “The Influence of Social Media on the Political Participation of Youth,” Instructor Emily Renne
• Sarvani Upadrasta, “Digital Racism,” Instructor Aidan Watson-Morris
• Mariah Webb, “Mira Con Tus Ojos,” Instructor Jasmine Johnson
• Kathleen Wilkison, “What are the benefits of bilingualism and second language acquisition at an early age?,” Instructor Mary Lindsey
• Fan Yang, “Fisheries Would Hate the Climate Change,” Instructor Mary Hays
• Ushna Zamir, “The Macro Problem of Microplastics,” Instructor Kathryn O’Toole
• Ushna Zamir, “The Debate on Nuclear Fusion as a Viable Source for Renewable Energy,” Instructor Kathryn O’Toole
• Ting Zheng, “Equity Unachieved Of Women In the Music Industry Among Artists, Songwriters, Producers, and Creators,” Instructor Neal Liu

15 Students Win Texas Community College Essay Contest

Subheading: Texas Association of Community Colleges and Commit Partnership Celebrate Texas Students and House Bill 8

AUSTIN – On the one-year anniversary of the implementation of a historic investment in Texas community colleges, 15 community college students across Texas were honored as part of the Pathways to Success: Texas Community College Essay Contest held by the Texas Association of Community Colleges and the Commit Partnership .

In recognition of House Bill 8's $683 million investment in Texas community colleges, the essay contest celebrates community colleges for giving students the education and skills to land well-paying, in-demand jobs after graduation. Participants were asked to share their unique stories about how their community college experiences have shaped their journeys.

“My amazing community college education opened windows to thriving professional paths,” says Houston Community College student Avwerosuoghene “Avey” Etaghene in one of the winning essays. “I gained invaluable skills for well-paying roles in Texas' booming tech industry.”

The Texas Community College Essay Contest winners are: 

• First Place: Yen , Wharton County Junior College 
• Second Place: Avwerosuoghene “Avey” Etaghene , Houston Community College 
• Third Place:  Sarah Morin , South Texas College 
• Fourth Place:  Brandon , Navarro College 
• Fifth Place:  Hailey L ., Austin Community College 
• Sixth Place:  Anatupenda Daphrose , Dallas College 
• Seventh Place: Kathryn , Wharton County Junior College 
• Eighth Place:  Amy Maddux , McLennan Community College 
• Ninth Place:  Ana Toro , San Jacinto College 
• Tenth Place:  Nelsie Nash , Blinn College 
• Honorable Mention: Aws Alezzi , San Jacinto College 
• Honorable Mention:  Kelly Bridges , Panola College 
• Honorable Mention:  James Colunga , Austin Community College 
• Honorable Mention:  Martha Chavez , Panola College 
• Honorable Mention:  Isabella R , Collin College

Students from nearly all of Texas’ 50 community colleges applied, with the winners representing 11 institutions from every corner of the state. First through tenth place winners received awards ranging from $3,500 to $300, while five more students received honorable mentions. 

“The voices of our essay contest winners eloquently illustrate how our institutions equip students with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed in high-demand fields. We are proud to celebrate their achievements and the enduring impact of community colleges on the lives of countless Texans,” said Ray Martinez III, President & CEO of the Texas Association of Community Colleges. “House Bill 8 marks a new chapter in empowering community colleges to drive economic growth and social mobility across Texas.”

Signed into law last year and implemented in September 2023, House Bill 8 is transformative legislation that ties community college funding to student outcomes, rewarding institutions for meeting workforce needs in high-demand fields. As the provider of more than 90% of career and technical education in the state, community colleges are uniquely positioned to fill the skills-gap and ensure students have a clear pathway from enrollment to employment.   The passage of HB 8 financially incentivizes community colleges to continue their support to students as they complete courses, attain credentials, and successfully transfer to four-year universities – with funding multiplied for adult learners and students experiencing economic and academic disadvantages.

“The inspiring stories of our essay contest winners are testaments to the power of Texas community colleges to transform students’ lives,” said Commit Chair and CEO Todd Williams. “Thanks to House Bill 8, these institutions can better meet the needs of employers and ensure even more students are on paths to economic mobility.”  

About the Texas Association of Community Colleges

The Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) is an organization representing Texas public community college member districts, community college presidents and chancellors. For over seven decades, the Texas Association of Community Colleges (TACC) has focused on their primary mission of improving statewide educational opportunities in community colleges through advocacy and policy change. For more information, visit their website at https://tacc.org .

About The Commit Partnership

Quality educational opportunities as a child lead to economic opportunities as an adult. Commit aims to break the cycle of poverty in Dallas County by examining the numerous root causes and working with others to remove systemic barriers to opportunity for all students. We find robust data insights and activate them via trusted relationships to innovatively change systems and unlock public funding . Our true north goal is that by 2040 at least half of all 25-34 year old residents of Dallas County, irrespective of race, will earn a living wage.  

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