Top 5 Writing Competitions For Young Writers
Valerie Donati
At around 12 years old - although I had a hard time concentrating, my mom and teacher encouraged me to start writing. I loved art: dance, painting and film, and so for me, creativity was the very best way to transcend everything that was mean and ordinary in life. But the art form that spoke to me the most was novels. They were the best option for me, and how I loved them! Open the page and a new world emerged. I wrote three 200-page books in no time flat. Even having one professionally transcribed and sent off to a publishing house. When I was 12. Yes, it was roundly rejected, but at least I tried!
Part of the reason I wrote The Color of Music was to inspire a new generation of readers and writers. In fact, the seed of the story was planted when I was just a teenager! So with that in mind, I wanted to compile a few ways that you, as a young writer, can get some feedback on your work! Yes, it can be scary to put yourself out there, but that is the best way to do it. It’s not about winning a competition, but setting yourself a goal and achieving it. You never know, you could win something! Save this article for later.
Young Writers Awards - Bennington College
Each year, students in the 9th-12th grades are invited to enter one of the following categories with the following submission:
- 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)
The great news is that they accept submissions from both US and international students!
The HG Wells Short Story Competition
The annual HG Wells Short Story Competition offers a Senior and Junior prize and free publication of all shortlisted entries in a quality, professionally published paperback anthology.
Scholastic Art and Writing Awards
This competition looks for work in writing and art that demonstrates originality, technical skill, and the emergence of a personal voice or vision. This is for ages 13 and up and there are 28 different categories you can enter into!
This is an opportunity to have your work published online! You can send in your articles, essays, book reviews, stories, poems, or drawings to be considered for publication in an upcoming issue.
Tadpole Press 100-word contest
This one is for ALL ages! This year's theme is - humor is healing.
So get writing and good luck!