Writing is hard work, particularly for young writers who are new to the writing process. Sharing a finished piece of work through publishing or entering a writing contest is one way to acknowledge and celebrate a student’s hard work. Publishing or submitting student writing also provides motivation and a purpose for producing a polished piece of writing.
There are numerous opportunities for publishing and submitting children’s writings. Junior poets, novelists, journalists, comedians, book reviewers alike can find a suitable audience or contest for their best work. A few interesting options are listed below. Some have upcoming deadlines, so be sure to read carefully.
Humor Contest at Meryln’s Pen
Nonfiction or fiction, up to 3000 words
Deadline: December 15, 2009
Ages: 6th -12th grade
Awards: 1st place winners receive cash awards and publication online
Weekly Reader: Student Publishing Contest
Newspaper and individual nonfiction work
Deadline: March 19, 2010
Grade: 3rd-12th grade
Awards: $500 cash award, publication, expense-paid trips to
Ann Arlys Bowler Poetry Contest
Deadline: December 31, 2009
Grades: 6th-12th grade
Awards: $100 cash awards and publication in READ
Monthly and yearly contests for interviews, nonfiction essays, sports, college essays, poetry, cover photo, fiction, travel and culture, environment
Deadlines: ongoing
Age: 13-19 years
Awards: publication in Teen Ink magazine, copy, and teen ink merchandise Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
Categories: dramatic script, humor, journalism, personal essay/memoir, persuasive writing, poetry, novel writing, science fiction/fantasy, short story
Deadlines: December 18, 2009 (early submission deadline)
Ages: 7th-12th grade
Awards: exhibition, publication and scholarships
What are Kids Saying?
True story, short story, W&A, music lyrics, poetry and quotes
Deadlines: Weekly
Ages: 7-18 years old
Awards: Winners' work are published on the website
Mrs. P Story Contest "Be a Famous Writer Contest"
Fiction or non fiction, short story or essay
Deadline: October 15, 2009
Ages: 4-13 years old
Awards: publication on MrsP.com and illustrated copy of the story
American Veteran Essay and Scholarship Project
Honor a veteran and write their story
Deadline: October 15
Ages: 13-17 years old
Awards: publication, camp scholarship, cash prize
Stone Soup Magazine
Stories, poems, book reviews and art
Deadline: ongoing
Ages: 13 years old and younger
Awards: publication, complimentary copies, and cash
Letters about Literature
Literary Response
Deadline: December 12, 2009
Ages: 4th-12th grade
Awards: $50 Target Gift Card and advancement to National Level Judging. National winners will get a $500 Target Gift Card and a $10,000 LAL Reading Promotion Grant for their community or school library
Kids Are Authors (Scholastic)
Illustrated fiction or nonfiction in book format
Deadline: March 15, 2010
Ages: Kindergarten – 8th grade
Awards: framed certificate, gold medallion, copies of published book, scholastic merchandise from Scholastic to school or nonprofit organization of winner’s choice
For More Writing Contests:
Author-sponsored writing contests
For more info: Have a suggestion, comment or contest you'd like published? Please leave a comment below or email me.
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Comments
This is so great because i LOOOOOOOOOVVVVVVVVVVVVVVEEEEEEEEEE writng!;)
This is neat!
I lovve writing sooooo much! this is a great oppertunity!! :)
What is publication? Like allowing the story to be published into an actual BOOK or just published in their magazine?
Thanks for this post! I plan on entering some of these now that I know about them. :)
I want to add The Radiant Peace Education Awards program to the list, and can't find a link... this is the 20th year and the program is open to students in grades K-12 (info at www.radiantpeace.org/trpea/invitation.html)
The Stanford student chapter of SPIE/Optical Society of America is hosting an international student photo contest, which is now open and accepting submissions! This year's theme is Illuminating Your World. Students much be 12-18 years old on Sept. 1, 2009 to be eligible to participate. The deadline for entries is March 1. More information on the contest and how to submit entries can be found at our website: photons.stanford.edu/activities/outreach/photo-contest. There are many exciting prizes, including framed prints of your entries and hundreds of dollars of photography equipment!
i think it is great that these contesets give us a chance to be "found" some of us can trully express ourselfs through writting.
Thanx
Great Links and opportunities
I am Yamkela Vumazonke from south africa a young lady who is interested in writing stories of any topic at all,and does have some topics written and would like you guys to look at them and would like a publishing company to sign me....and mydream is to write for the states (USA)
I am a young lady who is interested in modelling and is very good at it and believe me i have the confidence,smile,and personality...call me 0747875612
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