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Student Writing Contests and Publishing Opportunities

  • Congratulations to Elizabeth Waters, sophomore at CRHS, who was named a finalist in the Ayn Rand Institute’s 2009 Anthem essay contest from over 16,000 entries!  Elizabeth’s teacher is Nancy Allen. You can read Elizabeth’s essay here.

Please be aware many deadlines are early in the month!

Most contests run annually, so once a deadline has passed, students can consider entering the following year.
2009.11 - November
DeadlineContest NameNotes
Nov 27, 2009Young Voices of America Speak Their Muse 2009 (Poetry)(K-2, 3-6, and 7-12)
2009.12 - December
DeadlineContest NameNotes
Dec 01, 2009Being an American Essay Contest(9-12)
Dec 01, 2009River of Words Poetry Contest (in affiliation with the Library of Congress)(5-19)
Dec 10, 2009Creative Communications Poetry Contest(K-12)
Dec 12, 2009Letters about Literature (4-12)
Dec 31, 2009George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contestsponsored by The Sons of the American Revolution (10-12)
2010.01 - January
DeadlineContest NameNotes
Jan 02, 2010The Elizabeth Bishop Prizes(8-11 in fall 2009)
Jan 02, 20102010 Young Playwrights Inc. National Playwriting Competition18 and under
Jan 05, 2010United Nations Association of the United States 2010 National High School Essay Contest(9-12)
Jan 08, 2010The Writing Conference Writing Contests(K-12) Poetry, exposition, narration
Jan 09, 2010John F. Kennedy Profiles in Courage Essay Contest
Jan 31, 2010Dupont Challenge Science Essay Contest(7-12)
2010.02 - February
DeadlineContest NameNotes
Feb 01, 2010National Peace Essay Contest(9-12) Feb. 1st deadline
Feb 10, 2010Promising Young Writers sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English(8) School-based—Schools must designate a nominating teacher
Feb 12, 2010Courage in my Community Essay ContestMiddle School (5-8)
Feb 17, 2010Creative Communications Essay Contest(K-12)
Feb 17, 2010Achievement Awards in Writing (11) sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English; must be nominated by teacher/school committee
Feb 20, 2010Improving the Lives of Children Essay Contest(12)
Feb 26, 2010Tribute to the Rescuers Essay Contest(9-12) sponsored by the Anti-defamation League
2010.03 - March
DeadlineContest NameNotes
Mar 10, 2010Junior Historians Writing ContestMust have Junior Historians Chapter (CRHS is the only school at present sponsored by John Sanders
Mar 11, 2010Yom HaShoah Statewide Art, Writing and Video Contest(6-12)
Mar 19, 2010Weekly Reader Student Publishing Contest(3-12)
Mar 20, 2010Ayn Rand Institute Anthem Essay Contest(8-10)
2010.04 - April
DeadlineContest NameNotes
Apr 15, 2010VSA Arts in Action Playwright Discovery Call for Scripts(6-12)
Apr 15, 201014th Annual Signet Classics Student Scholarship Essay Contest(11-12) Based on H. G. Wells’ War of the Worlds
Apr 25, 2010Ayn Rand Institute The Fountainhead Essay Contest(11-12)
2010.05 - May
DeadlineContest NameNotes
May 31, 2010The Schubmehl-Prein Prize for best analysis of the social impact of a particular aspect of computing technology(11)
2010.06 - June
DeadlineContest NameNotes
Jun 01, 20102010 Fire Escape Writing Contests (poetry and short fiction)(13-19) Must be immigrant or internationally adopted teen
Other Resources
Resources for Teen Writers Interested in Science Fiction and Fantasy Writing
Teen Ink : (13-19 years old) Monthly publication of student writing
Contests to Avoid : a list of sites that offer contests in order to sell books (vanity press)
Online Opportunities for Young Writers : (A well-done collection of publishing opportunities for students from elementary to high school)

If you have suggestions for other contests, problems with broken links, or are/know of a KISD student who has won a writing contest, please contact:

Martha Nelson
Katy ISD Writing Contest Coordinator