Improve Your Literacy Skills with These 6 Writing Competitions

College admissions officers are always looking for students with a competitive edge and a solid background with extracurricular activities. Writing contests are an exciting way for young creatives to participate in extracurriculars while simultaneously developing stories and improving their writing skills. The best high school writing contests give students a chance to win scholarships, cash prizes, and other awards, but they also give them the opportunity to develop skills in leadership, organization, work ethic, and positive sportsmanship. Plus, strong writing skills will support every other developmental domain throughout school, college, careers, and life. After doing a lengthy review of the options, we discovered the top 6 writing competitions for high school students.

No. 1 The American Foreign Services Association Essay Contest

The American Foreign Services Association (AFSA) hosts its annual high school writing contest for students engaged and interested in foreign diplomacy. The essay should demonstrate an understanding of Foreign Service and why it’s an essential piece in U.S. and international relations. Students who are eligible must be in grades 9-12 and come from families without involvement in Foreign Service.

Contest open to: High school students in grades 9-12

Prizes:

• First Place: $2,500 and a paid trip to the nation’s capital and an educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea.
• Second Place: $1,250 and a full tuition to attend a summer session of National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.

No. 2 Princeton University Ten-Minute Play Contest

Each year, Princeton University takes submissions for their Ten-Minute Play Contest. 11th-grade students can enter this high school writing contest by sending in an original play (up to 10 pages in length), which eminent professors and lecturers of the Princeton University Ten Minute Play Contest assess. The sums given to the top three works are $100, $250, and $500. If you need a little additional assistance perfecting your play, Knovva Academy offers a supplemental online course that can hone your skills.

Contest open to: 11th grade students

Prizes:

• First Place: $500
• Second Place: $250
• Third-Tenth Places: $100

No. 3 Bennington Young Writers Awards

For the Bennington Young Writers Awards, students in grades 9 to 12 are encouraged to write original compositions in one of three different categories:

• fiction (a brief narrative story, 1,500 words or less)
• poetry (three best poems)
• nonfiction (an individual essay, 1,500 words or less)

The winners of each of these high school writing contests receive a prize of $1,000, and the other top writers are awarded $500 and $250. Visit Bennington Young Writer Awards to learn more!

Contest open to: 9th-12th grade students

Prizes:

• First Place: $1,000 (3 categories)
• Second Place: $500 (3 categories)
• Third-Tenth Places: $250 (3 categories)

No. 4 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards is another popular contest, and it has the widest selection of prospects for resourceful self-expression. There are 28 categories in an impressive range of writing and art. Via the contest, students in Grade 7 and above can receive awards, publication opportunities, scholarships, and the inclusion in exhibits.

Contest open to: Students age 13+

Prizes: Various scholarships, cash prizes, and tuition assistance up to $10,000

No. 5 Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest

The Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest is for novice women writers who are currently sophomores or juniors in any high school. It affords prizes, scholarships, and countrywide recognition for their best poems. Rewards range from a cash prize of $350 to scholarships up to $5,000. The entries are judged by participants of Hollins University’s inventive writing project and qualified specialists and experienced lecturers.

Contest open to: high school sophomore & junior women

Prizes:

• First Place: $350 cash or renewable $5,000 scholarship to Hollins University ($20,000 over 4 years), publication of work
• Second Place: $1,000 scholarship to Hollins University ($4,000 over 4 years), publication of work

No. 6 New York Times Writing Contests

There are many varieties of creative writing contests hosted by The New York Times. Students can write a personal narrative essay, an essay about a STEM topic, a review on a book or movie, or even a music review. And for a higher likelihood of winning, a student can submit their work to every contest (but can only submit one work per contest). Check the contest calendar for information on the next round’s deadlines and make sure to enroll in our online class.

Contest open to: Students 13-19 from around the world

Prizes: Publication in the New York Times

No. 7 YoungArts Awards

YoungArts recognizes the most accomplished young artists, whether they’re in the visual, literary, or performing arts, and offers them a chance to grow with creative and professional development opportunities throughout their careers. This is great for students who are looking to showcase their creative skills outside of writing!

Contest open to: U.S. students ages 15-18

Prizes: $100-$10,000 cash prizes

What If You Don’t Win a High School Writing Contest?

Do not give up and do not be discouraged. Remember, according to Lit Rejections:

• After five years of continual rejection, noted mystery writer Agatha Christie finally lands a publishing deal. Her book sales are now in excess of $2 billion. Only William Shakespeare has sold more.
• “Too different from other juveniles on the market to warrant its selling.” A rejection letter sent to Dr. Seuss; 300 million sales and the ninth-best-selling fiction author of all time.
• The years of rejection do not break his spirit. He only becomes more determined to succeed. When he eventually lands a publishing deal, such is the demand for his fiction that it is translated into over 47 languages, as The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis goes on to sell over 100 million copies.
• “It is so badly written.” The author tries Doubleday instead, and his little book makes an impression. The Da Vinci Code sells 80 million.
• Despite 14 consecutive agency rejections, Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight goes on to sell 17 million copies and spends 91 weeks on the New York Times best-seller list.
• Three years of rejection letters are kept in a bag under her bed. The bag becomes so heavy that she is unable to lift it. But Meg Cabot does not dwell on the failure. Instead, she keeps sending her manuscript out. It gets taken on, and The Princess Diaries sells 15 million copies.
• “Stick to teaching.” Louisa May Alcott refuses to give up on her dream. Little Women sells millions, and is still in print 140 years later. Unlike the name of the publisher who told her to give up.

How a Writing Contest Can Strengthen Your College Application

A high GPA and excellent standardized test scores can only take students so far. Partaking in immersive extracurricular activities, such as writing contests, makes students stand out to admissions officers in addition to providing top-tier writing skills to prepare them to succeed in college.