essay competitions for 2021

Essay  COMPETITION

2024 global essay prize, the short list for the 2024 global essay prize was released on wednesday, 31 july..

The John Locke Institute encourages young people to cultivate the characteristics that turn good students into great writers: independent thought, depth of knowledge, clear reasoning, critical analysis and persuasive style. Our Essay Competition invites students to explore a wide range of challenging and interesting questions beyond the confines of the school curriculum.

Entering an essay in our competition can build knowledge, and refine skills of argumentation. It also gives students the chance to have their work assessed by experts. All of our essay prizes are judged by a panel of senior academics drawn from leading universities including Oxford and Princeton, under the leadership of the Chairman of Examiners, former Cambridge philosopher, Dr Jamie Whyte.

The judges will choose their favourite essay from each of seven subject categories - Philosophy, Politics, Economics, History, Psychology, Theology and Law - and then select the winner of the Grand Prize for the best entry in any subject. There is also a separate prize awarded for the best essay in the junior category, for under 15s.

Q1. Do we have any good reasons to trust our moral intuition?

Q2. Do girls have a (moral) right to compete in sporting contests that exclude boys?

Q3. Should I be held responsible for what I believe?

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Q1. Is there such a thing as too much democracy?

Q2. Is peace in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip possible?

Q3. When is compliance complicity?

Q1. What is the optimal global population?  

Q2. Accurate news reporting is a public good. Does it follow that news agencies should be funded from taxation?

Q3. Do successful business people benefit others when making their money, when spending it, both, or neither?

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Q1. Why was sustained economic growth so rare before the later 18th century and why did this change?

Q2. Has music ever significantly changed the course of history?

Q3. Why do civilisations collapse? Is our civilisation in danger?

Q1. When, if ever, should a company be permitted to refuse to do business with a person because of that person’s public statements?

Q2. In the last five years British police have arrested several thousand people for things they posted on social media. Is the UK becoming a police state?

Q3. Your parents say that 11pm is your bedtime. But they don’t punish you if you don’t go to bed by 11pm. Is 11pm really your bedtime?

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Q1. According to a study by researchers at four British universities, for each 15-point increase in IQ, the likelihood of getting married increases by around 35% for a man but decreases by around 58% for a woman. Why?

In the original version of this question we misstated a statistic. This was caused by reproducing an error that appeared in several media summaries of the study. We are grateful to one of our contestants, Xinyi Zhang, who helped us to see (with humility and courtesy) why we should take more care to check our sources. We corrected the text on 4 April. Happily, the correction does not in any way alter the thrust of the question.

Q2. There is an unprecedented epidemic of depression and anxiety among young people. Can we fix this? How?

Q3. What is the difference between a psychiatric illness and a character flaw?

Q1. “I am not religious, but I am spiritual.” What could the speaker mean by “spiritual”?

Q2. Is it reasonable to thank God for protection from some natural harm if He is responsible for causing the harm?

Q3. Does God reward those who believe in him? If so, why?

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JUNIOR prize

Q1. Does winning a free and fair election automatically confer a mandate for governing?

Q2. Has the anti-racism movement reduced racism?

Q3. Is there life after death?

Q4. How did it happen that governments came to own and run most high schools, while leaving food production to private enterprise? 

Q5. When will advancing technology make most of us unemployable? What should we do about this?

Q6. Should we trust fourteen-year-olds to make decisions about their own bodies? 

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS & FURTHER DETAILS

Please read the following carefully.

Entry to the John Locke Institute Essay Competition 2024 is open to students from any country.

Registration  

Only candidates who registered before the registration deadline of Friday, 31 May 2024 may enter this year's competition.

All entries must be submitted by 11.59 pm BST on  the submission deadline: Sunday, 30 June 2024 .  Candidates must be eighteen years old, or younger, on that date. (Candidates for the Junior Prize must be fourteen years old, or younger, on that date.)

Entry is free.

Each essay must address only one of the questions in your chosen subject category, and must not exceed 2000 words (not counting diagrams, tables of data, endnotes, bibliography or authorship declaration). 

The filename of your pdf must be in this format: FirstName-LastName-Category-QuestionNumber.pdf; so, for instance, Alexander Popham would submit his answer to question 2 in the Psychology category with the following file name:

Alexander-Popham-Psychology-2.pdf

Essays with filenames which are not in this format will be rejected.

The candidate's name should NOT appear within the document itself. 

Candidates should NOT add footnotes. They may, however, add endnotes and/or a Bibliography that is clearly titled as such.

Each candidate will be required to provide the email address of an academic referee who is familiar with the candidate's written academic work. This should be a school teacher, if possible, or another responsible adult who is not a relation of the candidate. The John Locke Institute will email referees to verify that the essays submitted are indeed the original work of the candidates.

Submissions may be made as soon as registration opens in April. We recommend that you submit your essay well in advance of the deadline to avoid any last-minute complications.  To submit your essay, click here .  

Acceptance of your essay depends on your granting us permission to use your data for the purposes of receiving and processing your entry as well as communicating with you about the Awards Ceremony Dinner, the academic conference, and other events and programmes of the John Locke Institute and its associated entities.  

Late entries

If for any reason you miss the 30 June deadline you will have an opportunity to make a late entry, under two conditions:

a) A late entry fee of 20.00 USD must be paid by credit card within twenty-four hours of the original deadline; and

b) Your essay must be submitted  before 11.59 pm BST on Wednesday, 10 July 2024.

To pay for late entry, a registrant need only log into his or her account, select the relevant option and provide the requested payment information.

Our grading system is proprietary. Essayists may be asked to discuss their entry with a member of the John Locke Institute’s faculty. We use various means to identify plagiarism, contract cheating, the use of AI and other forms of fraud . Our determinations in all such matters are final.

Essays will be judged on knowledge and understanding of the relevant material, the competent use of evidence, quality of argumentation, originality, structure, writing style and persuasive force. The very best essays are likely to be those which would be capable of changing somebody's mind. Essays which ignore or fail to address the strongest objections and counter-arguments are unlikely to be successful .

Candidates are advised to answer the question as precisely and directly as possible.

The writers of the best essays will receive a commendation and be shortlisted for a prize. Writers of shortlisted essays will be notified by 11.59 pm BST on Wednesday, 31 July. They will also be invited to London for an invitation-only academic conference and awards dinner in September, where the prize-winners will be announced. Unlike the competition itself, the academic conference and awards dinner are not free. Please be aware that n obody is required to attend either the academic conference or the prize ceremony. You can win a prize without travelling to London.

All short-listed candidates, including prize-winners, will be able to download eCertificates that acknowledge their achievement. If you win First, Second or Third Prize, and you travel to London for the ceremony, you will receive a signed certificate. 

There is a prize for the best essay in each category. The prize for each winner of a subject category, and the winner of the Junior category, is a scholarship worth US$2000 towards the cost of attending any John Locke Institute programme, and the essays will be published on the Institute's website. Prize-giving ceremonies will take place in London, at which winners and runners-up will be able to meet some of the judges and other faculty members of the John Locke Institute. Family, friends, and teachers are also welcome.

The candidate who submits the best essay overall will be awarded an honorary John Locke Institute Junior Fellowship, which comes with a US$10,000 scholarship to attend one or more of our summer schools and/or visiting scholars programmes. 

The judges' decisions are final, and no correspondence will be entered into.

R egistration opens: 1 April, 2024.

Registration deadline: 31 May, 2024. (Registration is required by this date for subsequent submission.)

Submission deadline: 30 June, 2024.

Late entry deadline: 10 July, 2024. (Late entries are subject to a 20.00 USD charge, payable by 1 July.)

Notification of short-listed essayists: 31 July, 2024.

Academic conference: 20 - 22 September, 2024.

Awards dinner: 21 September, 2024.

Any queries regarding the essay competition should be sent to [email protected] . Please be aware that, due to the large volume of correspondence we receive, we cannot guarantee to answer every query. In particular, regrettably, we are unable to respond to questions whose answers can be found on our website.

If you would like to receive helpful tips  from our examiners about what makes for a winning essay or reminders of upcoming key dates for the 2024  essay competition, please provide your email here to be added to our contact list. .

Thanks for subscribing!

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The John Locke Institute's Global Essay Prize is acknowledged as the world's most prestigious essay competition. 

We welcome tens of thousands of submissions from ambitious students in more than 150 countries, and our examiners - including distinguished philosophers, political scientists, economists, historians, psychologists, theologians, and legal scholars - read and carefully assess every entry. 

I encourage you to register for this competition, not only for the hope of winning a prize or commendation, and not only for the chance to join the very best contestants at our academic conference and gala ceremony in London, but equally for the opportunity to engage in the serious scholarly enterprise of researching, reflecting on, writing about, and editing an answer to one of the important and provocative questions in this year's Global Essay Prize. 

We believe that the skills you will acquire in the process will make you a better thinker and a more effective advocate for the ideas that matter most to you.

I hope to see you in September!

Best wishes,

Jamie Whyte, Ph.D. (C ANTAB ) 

Chairman of Examiners

Q. I missed the registration deadline. May I still register or submit an essay?

A. No. Only candidates who registered before 31 May will be able to submit an essay. 

Q. Are footnote s, endnotes, a bibliography or references counted towards the word limit?

A. No. Only the body of the essay is counted. 

Q. Are in-text citations counted towards the word limit? ​

A. If you are using an in-text based referencing format, such as APA, your in-text citations are included in the word limit.

Q. Is it necessary to include foo tnotes or endnotes in an essay? ​

A. You  may not  include footnotes, but you may include in-text citations or endnotes. You should give your sources of any factual claims you make, and you should ackn owledge any other authors on whom you rely.​

Q. I am interested in a question that seems ambiguous. How should I interpret it?

A. You may interpret a question as you deem appropriate, clarifying your interpretation if necessary. Having done so, you must answer the question as directly as possible.

Q. How strict are  the age eligibility criteria?

A. Only students whose nineteenth birthday falls after 30 June 2024 will be eligible for a prize or a commendation. In the case of the Junior category, only students whose fifteenth birthday falls after 30 June 2024 will be eligible for a prize or a commendation. 

Q. May I submit more than one essay?

A. Yes, you may submit as many essays as you please in any or all categories.

Q. If I am eligible to compete in the Junior category, may I also (or instead) compete in another category?

A. Yes, you may.

Q. May I team up with someone else to write an essay?  

A. No. Each submitted essay must be entirely the work of a single individual.

Q. May I use AI, such as ChatGPT or the like, in writing my essay?

A. All essays will be checked for the use of AI. If we find that any content is generated by AI, your essay will be disqualified. We will also ask you, upon submission of your essay, whether you used AI for  any  purpose related to the writing of your essay, and if so, you will be required to provide details. In that case, if, in our judgement, you have not provided full and accurate details of your use of AI, your essay will be disqualified. 

Since any use of AI (that does not result in disqualification) can only negatively affect our assessment of your work relative to that of work that is done without using AI, your safest course of action is simply not to use it at all. If, however, you choose to use it for any purpose, we reserve the right to make relevant judgements on a case-by-case basis and we will not enter into any correspondence. 

Q. May I have someone else edit, or otherwise help me with, my essay?

A. You may of course discuss your essay with others, and it is perfectly acceptable for them to offer general advice and point out errors or weaknesses in your writing or content, leaving you to address them.

However, no part of your essay may be written by anyone else. This means that you must edit your own work and that while a proofreader may point out errors, you as the essayist must be the one to correct them. 

Q. Do I have to attend the awards ceremony to win a prize? ​

A. Nobody is required to attend the prize ceremony. You can win a prize without travelling to London. But if we invite you to London it is because your essay was good enough - in the opinion of the First Round judges - to be at least a contender for First, Second or Third Prize. Normally the Second Round judges will agree that the short-listed essays are worth at least a commendation.

Q. Is there an entry fee?

A. No. There is no charge to enter our global essay competition unless you submit your essay after the normal deadline, in which case there is a fee of 20.00 USD .

Q. Can I receive a certificate for my participation in your essay competition if I wasn't shortlisted? 

A. No. Certificates are awarded only for shortlisted essays. Short-listed contestants who attend the award ceremony in London will receive a paper certificate. If you cannot travel to London, you will be able to download your eCertificate.

Q. Can I receive feedba ck on my essay? 

A. We would love to be able to give individual feedback on essays but, unfortunately, we receive too many entries to be able to comment on particular essays.

Q. The deadline for publishing the names of short-listed essayists has passed but I did not receive an email to tell me whether I was short-listed.

A. Log into your account and check "Shortlist Status" for (each of) your essay(s).

Q. Why isn't the awards ceremony in Oxford this year?

A. Last year, many shortlisted finalists who applied to join our invitation-only academic conference missed the opportunity because of capacity constraints at Oxford's largest venues. This year, the conference will be held in central London and the gala awards dinner will take place in an iconic London ballroom. 

TECHNICAL FAQ s

Q. The system will not accept my essay. I have checked the filename and it has the correct format. What should I do?  

A. You have almost certainly added a space before or after one of your names in your profile. Edit it accordingly and try to submit again.

Q. The profile page shows my birth date to be wrong by a day, even after I edit it. What should I do?

A. Ignore it. The date that you typed has been correctly input to our database. ​ ​

Q. How can I be sure that my registration for the essay competition was successful? Will I receive a confirmation email?

A. You will not receive a confirmation email. Rather, you can at any time log in to the account that you created and see that your registration details are present and correct.

TROUBLESHOOTING YOUR SUBMISSION

If you are unable to submit your essay to the John Locke Institute’s global essay competition, your problem is almost certainly one of the following.

If so, please proceed as indicated.

1) PROBLEM: I receive the ‘registrations are now closed’ message when I enter my email and verification code. SOLUTION. You did not register for the essay competition and create your account. If you think you did, you probably only provided us with your email to receive updates from us about the competition or otherwise. You may not enter the competition this year.

2) PROBLEM I do not receive a login code after I enter my email to enter my account. SOLUTION. Enter your email address again, checking that you do so correctly. If this fails, restart your browser using an incognito window; clear your cache, and try again. Wait for a few minutes for the code. If this still fails, restart your machine and try one more time. If this still fails, send an email to [email protected] with “No verification code – [your name]” in the subject line.

SUBMITTING AN ESSAY

3) PROBLEM: The filename of my essay is in the correct format but it is rejected. SOLUTION: Use “Edit Profile” to check that you did not add a space before or after either of your names. If you did, delete it. Whether you did or did not, try again to submit your essay. If submission fails again, email [email protected] with “Filename format – [your name]” in the subject line.

4) PROBLEM: When trying to view my submitted essay, a .txt file is downloaded – not the .pdf file that I submitted. SOLUTION: Delete the essay. Logout of your account; log back in, and resubmit. If resubmission fails, email [email protected] with “File extension problem – [your name]” in the subject line.

5) PROBLEM: When I try to submit, the submission form just reloads without giving me an error message. SOLUTION. Log out of your account. Open a new browser; clear the cache; log back in, and resubmit. If resubmission fails, email [email protected] with “Submission form problem – [your name]” in the subject line.

6) PROBLEM: I receive an “Unexpected Error” when trying to submit. SOLUTION. Logout of your account; log back in, and resubmit. If this resubmission fails, email [email protected] with “Unexpected error – [your name]” in thesubject line. Your email must tell us e xactly where in the submission process you received this error.

7) PROBLEM: I have a problem with submitting and it is not addressed above on this list. SOLUTION: Restart your machine. Clear your browser’s cache. Try to submit again. If this fails, email [email protected] with “Unlisted problem – [your name]” in the subject line. Your email must tell us exactly the nature of your problem with relevant screen caps.

READ THIS BEFORE YOU EMAIL US.

Do not email us before you have tried the specified solutions to your problem.

Do not email us more than once about a single problem. We will respond to your email within 72 hours. Only if you have not heard from us in that time may you contact us again to ask for an update.

If you email us regarding a problem, you must include relevant screen-shots and information on both your operating system and your browser. You must also declare that you have tried the solutions presented above and had a good connection to the internet when you did so.

If you have tried the relevant solution to your problem outlined above, have emailed us, and are still unable to submit before the 30 June deadline on account of any fault of the John Locke Institute or our systems, please do not worry: we will have a way to accept your essay in that case. However, if there is no fault on our side, we will not accept your essay if it is not submitted on time – whatever your reason: we will not make exceptions for IT issues for which we are not responsible.

We reserve the right to disqualify the entries of essayists who do not follow all provided instructions, including those concerning technical matters.

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Writing Contests, Grants & Awards

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The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we’ve published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it. Ours is the most trusted resource for legitimate writing contests available anywhere.

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Troubadour international poetry prize.

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New York Public Library

Cullman center fellowships.

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California State University in Fresno

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A prize of $12,000 is given annually for a novel published during the current year that asks readers “to engage with or reflect on the complexities of the U.S. South.” The...

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THE QUEEN'S COMMONWEALTH ESSAY COMPETITION

Since 1883, we have delivered The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition, the world's oldest international schools' writing competition. Today, we work to expand its reach, providing life-changing opportunities for young people around the world.

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The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 is now closed for entries.  Find out more about this year’s theme  'Our Common Wealth'.

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140 years of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition

The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition (QCEC) is the world’s oldest international writing competition for schools and has been proudly delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. 

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ABOUT THE COMPETITION 

An opportunity for young Commonwealth citizens to share their thoughts, ideas and experiences on key global issues and have their hard work and achievement celebrated internationally.

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Frequently Asked Questions for the Competition. Before contacting us please read these.

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MEET THE WINNERS 

In 2023 we were delighted to receive a record-breaking 34,924 entries, with winners from India and Malaysia. Read their winning pieces as well as those from previous years.

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TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Terms and Conditions for entrants to The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition. Please ensure you have thoroughly read them before submitting your entry.

NEWS AND STORIES

essay competitions for 2021

What a time to be a QCEC Judge!

essay competitions for 2021

Empower youth through literacy and entrepreneurship in rural communities of Rwanda with the Rwanda Opportunities Organization (RwandOpp)

essay competitions for 2021

Launch of The Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2024 – ‘Our Common Wealth’

essay competitions for 2021

QCEC Winners' Week 2023

essay competitions for 2021

QCEC 2022 Junior Winner Madeleine Wood reflects on her winning entry

essay competitions for 2021

Hiya Chowdhury looks back on how the competition has changed her life

essay competitions for 2021

Meet the winners of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2023

essay competitions for 2021

QCEC 2021 Junior Runner-up from India shares her experience of Winners Week and receiving her award

essay competitions for 2021

QCEC 2021 Junior Winner Aditi Nair shares her experience of Winners Week

essay competitions for 2021

Amaal Fawzi, Senior runner-up of the QCEC 2022, shares her experience of entering the competition

'Woven Legacy': A poem to mark the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla

'Woven Legacy': A poem to mark the Coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla

Sawooly Li, Senior Winner of the QCEC 2022 shares her experience of entering the competition

essay competitions for 2021

Meet The Winners Of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2022

Celebrating Commonwealth writing with HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

Celebrating Commonwealth writing with HRH The Duchess of Cornwall

essay competitions for 2021

Winners Of The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021

25 Writing Contests and Publication Opportunities for Teens

Portrait of Emilio Terry ( showing hands writing )

Portrait of Emilio Terry by Salvador Dalí (detail, 1935).

NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 1564999

Are you an aspiring writer, creative artist, scientist or a future scholar? The following list of twenty-five publishing platforms provides teens with opportunities for recognition in those fields. Submitting your work for review and publication can channel your creative energy into a meaningful and rewarding project. Additionally, working on your writing will improve your research and organizational skills. Participating in a contest, or having your work published, is also a factor in college admissions decisions.

In estimating the amount of work each submission requires, be mindful of all provided deadlines. Notice that most essay submissions require a bibliography. If you are tackling an essay with an assigned topic, take advantage of the Library's Research resources. This guide to Remote Research Resources will provide you with guidance on how to use the Library's electronic resources from home. If you are working on composing an oratory, or any other piece of polemical writing, take a look at How to Research for a Debate Using Library Resources . Aspiring poets can consult Columbia Granger's World of Poetr y, a premier poetry online resource. Young artists can draw inspiration from the wealth of imagery in our Digital Collections . The Library encourages everyone to get creative with our public domain collection of digital images. If you are inserting a quotation into your text, learn How to Research a Quotation . Don't forget to attend the Library's events , as they frequently include writing workshops and book discussions . If you have any additional reference questions ,or want to see the full extent of remote research opportunities, take a look at our guide to Remote Collections and Services.

For additional guidance and inspiration, please see the short list of books provided below.

The Writer's Practice: Building Confidence in Your Nonfiction Writing by John Warner

Wired for Story: The Writer's Guide to Using Brain Science to Hook Readers from the Very First Sentence by Lisa Cron

Singing School: Learning to Write (and Read) Poetry with the Masters by Robert Pisnky

Writers's Idea Book by Jack Heffron

Barron's Painless Writing by Jeffrey Strausser

How to Write Better Essays by Bryan Greetham

You Can Write a Play! by Milton E. Polsky

The Artist's Way: a Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity by Julia Cameron

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss

Apprentice Writer

Susquehanna University and the Writers Institute initiative invite high school students to submit fiction, memoir, personal essay , poetry and photography for the thirty-ninth volume of Apprentice Writer , which will be published in the fall of 2021 

Deadline:  submissions are accepted from September 15 , 2020 to March 15 2021

Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest 

The Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest provides scholarship, prizes, and recognition for the best poems submitted by young women who are sophomores or juniors in high school or preparatory school. No more than two poems per student. For details and prizes please see the contest webpage . 

Deadline: October 31, 2020 

Leonard l. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize

The Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize recognizes outstanding work by student writers in the eigth grade in the U.S. or abroad. Contest judges are poets on the Princeton University Creative Writing faculty, which includes Michael Dickman, Paul Muldoon, Rowan Ricardo Phillips, James Richardson, Tracy K. Smith, Susan Wheeler, Jenny Xie, and Monica Youn.

Deadline: to be announced. For the latest information and updates, you can subscribe to a newsletter . 

Rattle Young Poets Anthology

Young Poets Anthology is looking for poem submissions from authors that are 15, and younger. Poets can use their whole name, first name or a pseudonym. Poems could be submitted by students that are younger than 18, teachers, parents and guardians. 

Deadline:  Submission for 2020 accepted until November 16, 2020.

Society of Classical Poets High School Poetry Competition

Invites classic poetry lovers ages 13 to 19 to submit up to 3 metered poems, limited to 108 lines.  Poems must contain meter. Counting the number of syllables and ensuring there are a similar number in each line is sufficient. Society offers a very useful tutorial on  writing poetry with a meter. To learn how to write poetry with a meter, see a brief beginner’s guide on common iambic meter here or a more elaborate beginner’s guide to many kinds of meter here .

Deadline: December 31, 2020

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers   

The Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers recognizes outstanding young poets and is open to high school sophomores and juniors throughout the world. The contest winner receives a full scholarship to the Kenyon Review Young Writers workshop. In addition, the winning poem and the poems of the two runners-up will be published in the Kenyon Review, one of the country’s most widely read literary magazines.

Deadline : Submissions accepted between November 1 and November 30

Bennington College Young Writers Awards 

Students in 9th-12th grades, residing anywhere in the world, are invited to submit original works in three categories. Poetry requires a submission of three poems. Category of Fiction accepts short stories or a one-act play. There is a separate nonfiction essay category. Please notice that only original writing is accepted, and all  work has to be sponsored by a high school teacher. For further details, carefully read the submission rules.  

Deadline: Submissions for 2020 are accepted from September 3 to November 1 

Claudia Ann Seaman Awards for Young Writers 

High School students from anywhere in the world are eligible to submit original work written in English. Creative writing that was not previously published, can be submitted in the categories of poetry, fiction and creative nonfiction. For further detail and submissions guidelines read the rules of the context. In addition to creative writing, you can submit cover art for Polyphony magazine. 

Deadline: Check the website for the latest writing deadlines. Deadline for cover art submission is April 30th.   

SPJ/JEA High School Essay Contest 

In order to increase high school students' knowledge and understanding of the importance of independent media in our lives, Sigma Delta Chi Foundation of the Society of Professional Journalist and the Journalism Education Association invites students enrolled in grades 9-12 in US public, private and home schools , to submit an essay on a given topic.  National winners of this essay contest will receive a scholarship award. Topic for 2020 will be released in November. 

Deadline : February 22 

Achievement Award in Writing 

National Council of Teachers of English is offering an Achievement Award in Writing to High School Juniors in the United States, Canada, Virgin Islands, and accredited American Schools abroad. Students must be nominated by their school's English department and should submit one themed essay and a sample of their best writing. 

Deadline:  Submissions for 2021 are open from November 15 to February 15. Theme for the essay is available at the time of publication ( October 2020) 

Teen Ink Magazine 

A national teen magazine devoted to teenage writing, art, photos and forums, offers an opportunity to publish creative work and opinions on issues that affect their lives of teens. Hundreds of thousands of students aged 13-19, have submitted their work. Teen Ink magazine has published the creative output of over 55,000 teens. Teens can submit an article, poetry, book, novel, photo or a video though this link.

Deadline: none

Princeton University Ten Minute Play Contest 

Eligibility for the annual playwriting contest is limited to students in the 11th grade in the U.S , or an international equivalent of the 11th grade. Jury consists of members of the Princeton University Program in Theater faculty. 

Deadline: Information regarding submission will be provided in late Fall of 2020.

Youth Plays 

Unpublished one-act plays from authors younger than 19 years of age are accepted for submission. Plays should feature youth characters and be suitable for school production. For detailed submission guidelines and helpful advice visit Youth Plays website. 

Deadline: Next opportunity for submission will open up in early 2021.

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards has the largest selection of opportunities for creative self-expression. With twenty eight categories, ranging from poetry to the entire writing portfolio, young artists and writers can choose from a plethora of opportunities. For the latest updates, rules , and information on how to enter, register with Scholastic. Don't forget to view the Gallery of Winning Entries . To participate in the Awards, you must be a student in grades 7–12, age 13 years or older, residing in the United States, U.S. territories or military bases, or Canada.

Deadlines vary by category, with submissions windows between September to December. 

National Young Arts Foundation Competition

Young Arts' signature program is an application-based award for emerging artists ages 15-18, or in grades 10-12. Open to students in a variety of different disciplines, including visual arts, writing, and music, National Young Arts Foundation  Competition  asks students to submit a portfolio of work.

Deadline: October 16 , 2020

World Historian Student Essay Competition  

World History Association invites international students enrolled in grades K-12 in public, private and parochial schools, and those in home-study programs to participate in a writing competition that celebrates the study of history. Each competitor will submit an essay that addresses the issue: In what way has the study of world history affected my understanding of the world in which we live ? For further details on submission guidelines, visit World History Association.  

Deadline: May 1

The Concord Review

This unique publication is the only quarterly journal in the world to publish academic history papers of secondary students. The Concord Review accepts history research papers (about 8,500 words with endnotes and bibliography ) of high school students from anywhere in the world. There is no theme, and papers on every period of history anywhere in the world are accepted. For specific rules and regulators, see the submission guidelines. 

Deadline: essay are accepted on a rolling admissions basis.

George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) invites all high school students (9th through 12th grades) interested in the American Revolution to participate in the George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest. To participate, students must submit an original 800 to 1,200-word essay based on an event, person, philosophy or ideal associated with the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution. 

Deadline: December 31 

JFK Profiles in Courage Essay Contest 

The contest is open to United States high school students in grades 9-12 attending public, private, parochial, or home schools. In Profiles in Courage, John F. Kennedy recounted the stories of eight U.S. senators who risked their careers to do what was right for the nation. The Profile in Courage Essay Contest challenges students to write an original and creative essay that demonstrates an understanding of political courage as described by John F. Kennedy in Profiles in Courage.

Deadline: January 15 

Write the World Competition

Write the World is a global community of young writers, ages 13-18. Write the World offers a rotating list of themed competitions. Current competition ( October 2020) is for a Speech Writing Oration. The list of past competitions includes Historical Fiction ( short story), Food Writing, Album Review, Environmental Journalism, Songwriting and Book Review. 

Deadline: a new competition every month

Lloyd Davies Philosophy Prize

Established in 2006, the Lloyd Davies Philosophy Prize is an essay competition open in year 12 or the equivalent. Students can submit essays on three given topics in Philosophy. The judges will look for originality of thought, a clear grasp of the issues, clarity in presentation and a critical approach to what has been read. They will also look for a clear structure to the essay. Please read the submission guidelines carefully .

Deadline: June 22 , 2021

The American Foreign Service Association’s National High School Essay Contest

Students whose parents are not in the Foreign Service are eligible to participate in the contest, if they reside in the U.S., U.S territories, or if they are U.S. citizens attending high school overseas. In addition to the winner, there is the one runner-up and eight honorable mentions. For further details, please read Rules and Guidelines 

Deadline: The new prompt and deadlines for 2021 will be announced in the fall of 2020

International Essay Contest for Young People

This annual themed essay contest is organized by the Goi Peace Foundation in an effort to harness the energy, creativity and initiative of the world's youth in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development. Essays can be submitted in two age categories, by anyone younger than 25. In addition to English, essays can be submitted in French, Spanish, German and Japanese. Please note that essays must be mailed, as no email submissions are accepted.

Deadline: Consult the Goi Peace Foundation website for the 2021 theme .

Engineer Girl Essay Writing Competition

This competition is  open to individual girls and boys in the following three age categories: elementary, middle, and high school students. This year's theme  relates to the COVID-19 virus.

Deadline: The contest will close at 11:59 PM, February 1, 2021, U.S. Eastern Standard Tim e

Voice of Democracy Audio-Essay Scholarship Program

Established in 1947 by Veterans of Foreign Wars, Voice of Democracy Youth Scholarship program requires a submission of a themed recorded essay. Students attending any type of school in grades 9-12 are eligible to participate. Essays are judged on content and on delivery technique.

Deadline: October 31

The Annual International Berkeley Undergraduate Prize for Architectural Design Excellence 2022

 permitted to team with another architecture student.

, but graduate before the awards are scheduled to be given.

This year you are asked to include TWO digital photographs that you have copied from any of this year's posted topic Reources or similarr resources that has influenced your Proposal. One of the photographs should help support the argument you make in your Proposal as to an issue you believe needs to addressed in providing housing for the disadvantaged. The other photograph should help support the argument you make for the proposed response. A brief caption - 50 words maximum - should accompany the photograph telling us what the photo represents and the source of the photograph.  Please post the photograph at a minimum 500 pixels wide, and in .jpg format. No more than two photographs will be accepted.

NOTE: The Readers are instructed not to add or detract points from their evaluation because of the quality of the photograph itself, nor whether it is the students' work or an archival photograph. The Readers, however, will evaluate how the photographs help support the argument you have made in your Proposal.

Judging for the essay competition is on a numeric system. The members of the BERKELEY PRIZE Committee are asked to evaluate each essay in terms of the following criteria:

Each criterion is given a score of 1 to 5 (5 being the highest). The approximately 25-28 top-scoring Proposals become Semifinalists, who will be offered the opportunity to write a 2500-word Essay based on the Proposal..

There is a total prize of 35,000USD, minimum 8,500USD first prize.  The remaining purse is to be allocated at the discretion of the Jury.

Launch of 2022 Essay Competition.
(Stage One) 500-word essay proposal due.
Essay Semifinalists announced.
(Stage Two) Essay Semifinalists' 2,500-word essays due.
Launch of Community Service Fellowship Competition for Essay Semifinalists.
Essay Finalists announced.
Community Service Fellowship proposals due.
Essay winners and Community Service Fellowship winners announced.

By submitting your essay, you give the Berkeley Prize the nonexclusive, perpetual right to reproduce the essay or any part of the essay, in any and all media at the Berkeley Prize’s discretion.  A “nonexclusive” right means you are not restricted from publishing your paper elsewhere if you use the following attribution that must appear in that new placement: “First submitted to and/or published by the international Berkeley Undergraduate Prize for Architectural Design Excellence ( www.BerkeleyPrize.org ) in competition year 20(--) (and if applicable) and winner of that year’s (First, Second, Third…) Essay prize.” Finally, you warrant the essay does not violate any intellectual property rights of others and indemnify the BERKELEY PRIZE against any costs, loss, or expense arising out of a violation of this warranty.

Registration and Submission

You (and your teammate if you have one) will be asked to complete a short registration form which will not be seen by members of the Berkeley Prize Committee or Jury.

REGISTER HERE.

Additional Help and Information

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Best Writing Contests in 2024

Showing 425 contests that match your search.

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.

Additional prizes:

$25 credit toward Reedsy editorial services

💰 Entry fee: $5

📅 Deadline: December 31, 2024

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+.

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

💰 Entry fee: $8

📅 Deadline: October 31, 2024

The Heartland Review Open Calls

The Heartland Review

Genres: Poetry and Fiction

The Heartland Review publishes fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry. The contest is open to established and emerging writers. Submissions are free, and the next open calls will begin in December 2024. A contributor copy is provided to published authors.

Publication in The Heartland Review. 1 contributor copy for published works

📅 Deadline: December 01, 2024

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Plan, write, edit, and format your book in our free app made for authors.

Learn more about Reedsy Studio .

Jim Martin Memorial Story Contest

Arizona Mystery Writers

Genres: Fiction, Mystery, and Short Story

The Jim Martin Memorial Adult Story Contest invites submissions of mystery, suspense, or thriller stories from adults aged 18 and over. It honors Jim Martin, a long-time member of Arizona Mystery Writers, supported by his family's generous contribution to the organization.

2nd Place: $100 3rd Place: $75 Winning stories will be published on the AMW website.

💰 Entry fee: $15

📅 Deadline: August 01, 2024 (Expired)

"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

📅 Deadline: June 02, 2024 (Expired)

Western Writing Contest

FanStory.com Inc.

Share your Western story for this writing contest. Share your story that has a clear western theme. Your old west story can earn you a cash prize.

Winning stories will be features on the FanStory.com welcome page.

💰 Entry fee: $10

📅 Deadline: December 21, 2024

TWFest Fiction Contest

Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival

Genres: Fiction

The TWFest Fiction Contest aims to showcase new works by emerging writers. It invites original, unpublished short stories up to 7,000 words. The contest provides a platform for creative expression and awards significant prizes to winners.

Runner ups will receive a LitPass ($100 value) for the Festival. Domestic airfare (up to $500) & French Quarter accommodations for the Festival, All-Access Festival pass ($600 value), public reading, publication & interview in French Quarter Journal

💰 Entry fee: $25

📅 Deadline: October 01, 2024

The Fountain Essay Contest

Fountain Magazine

Genres: Essay and Non-fiction

“Home” holds a special place in our lives. Our earliest memories form inside its walls; we utter our first words and take our first steps there. Does everyone feel the same about home? Is it where you were born or where you earn your bread? Is home a physical place? In a world that moves faster than ever and is confined to small screens, how do perceptions about "home" change? Where is home for people who are forced to leave their homes? Where is your home?

📅 Deadline: June 30, 2024 (Expired)

3-6-9 Poetry Contest

This poem has three stanzas. Each stanza has three lines that follows the 3-6-9 syllable count. The first line has 3 syllables, the second line has 6 syllables and the last line 9 syllables. The subject can be anything.

📅 Deadline: November 15, 2024

4th Annual Wine Country Writers' Festival Writing Contest

Wine Country Writers' Festival Society

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, and Poetry

The contest is open to writers over 18 worldwide and includes categories for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Each submission must adhere to specific formatting guidelines and word limits. Winners are selected through blind judging, and results are announced during the festival.

$200 CAD per category

Second place: $100 Third place: $50 Winner also gets anthology publication, entry to next year's festival

Science Fiction Writing Contest

FanStory.com Inc

Genres: Fiction, Science Writing, and Science Fiction

Share a Science Fiction themed story to enter this writing contest with a cash prizes. Let your imagination fly and enjoy sharing your writing.

Winning entries will be features on the FanStory.com welcome page.

💰 Entry fee: $9

📅 Deadline: April 12, 2023 (Expired)

Creative Writing Award for Short Fiction

Aesthetica Magazine

Genres: Fiction, Short Story, and Poetry

The Aesthetica Creative Writing Award is an international literary prize open to poetry and short fiction entries. Since its launch, it has celebrated outstanding writing talent and has evolved into a prominent platform for writers to showcase their work. Winning pieces have received critical acclaim and recognition at major literary awards.

£2500 for winners, publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual, courses from Arvon, subscriptions to literary magazines, and memberships to literary societies.

💰 Entry fee: $18

📅 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

CWA Margery Allingham Short Mystery Competition

Crime Writers' Association

Genres: Mystery and Short Story

Every year since 2014, the CWA and the Margery Allingham Society have jointly held an international competition for a short story of up to 3,500 words. Our mission is to find the best unpublished short mystery, and not only that, but one which fits into Golden Age crime writer Margery Allingham’s definition of what makes a great story. Entries are invited from all writers, published or unpublished, writing in English.

Two weekend passes to CrimeFest

💰 Entry fee: $16

📅 Deadline: February 29, 2024 (Expired)

Self-Publishing Literary Awards

Black Caucus of ALA (BCALA)

Genres: Fiction, Non-fiction, Novel, and Poetry

The BCALA Self-Publishing Literary Awards honors the best self-published ebooks by African American authors in the U.S. across fiction and poetry genres. The awards focus on the cultural, historical, and sociopolitical aspects of the Black Diaspora.

Formal recognition at the NCAAL conference, BCALA Literary Award Seal.

Bacopa Literary Review Annual Writing Contest

Writers Alliance of Gainesville

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

The Bacopa Literary Review is an annual international print journal seeking engaging and original submissions across multiple genres. The contest includes various categories with specific guidelines to encourage diverse forms of writing.

$100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories

📅 Deadline: May 02, 2024 (Expired)

Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers

University of Tulsa

Genres: Fiction, Poetry, and Short Story

The Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers honor the work of writers at the beginning of their careers. $500 prizes will be awarded in both the fiction and poetry categories, and the winning manuscripts will appear in the spring issue of Nimrod. Winners will have the chance to work with the Nimrod board of editors to refine and edit their manuscripts before publication.

Publication

💰 Entry fee: $12

📅 Deadline: July 15, 2024 (Expired)

Memo'd AI-assisted Writing Contest

Memo'd Technologies, LLC

Genres: Non-fiction

The Memo'd AI Writing Contest invites participants to create popular Memos using their AI content creator. Participants can enter by generating Memes through the Memo'd app and publishing them. The contest encourages creativity, allowing users to leverage AI and their own insights to produce Memos.

Second Prize for second most unique views: $250 Best AI Prompt Prize for most creative and useful prompt: $250

📅 Deadline: April 30, 2024 (Expired)

Vocal Challenges

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

Enter themed storytelling contests to put your creativity to the test and be in with a chance of winning cash prizes and more. To submit, you'll need to sign up for a monthly fee of $9.99, or $4.99/month for 3 months.

$1,000 — $5,000

📅 Deadline: March 07, 2024 (Expired)

Avenue Writing Contest

Blake Chasen and Emma Needell

Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, and Romance

The Avenue Writing Contest invites participants to create interactive narratives in four categories: Romance, Fantasy, Progression Fantasy + LitRPG, and D&D. Entries are crafted using the Avenue Creator Studio, where participants develop episodes that allow reader choices to influence the story.

2nd: $150 3rd: $100 Winners will also be featured on Avenue’s app, website, and social media. Prizes apply for each category.

📅 Deadline: May 22, 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.

💰 Entry fee: $6

📅 Deadline: July 31, 2024 (Expired)

F(r)iction Poetry Contest

The F(r)iction Poetry Contest invites submissions of poetry that are narrative-driven with strong imagery and a coherent structure. It encourages experimental and nontraditional works.

Up to five finalists will also be considered for publication.

📅 Deadline: November 01, 2024

The Scribes Prize

Fairfield Scribes

The Scribes Prize invites entries for flash fiction or creative nonfiction of 90-110 words. The contest aims to highlight great writing and offers monetary prizes with the winners published in the ScribesMICRO magazine.

Silver: $125 Bronze: $60 15 Honorable Mentions: $20 each Publication in ScribesMICRO and digital award seals for winners

📅 Deadline: September 01, 2024 (Expired)

J. Michael Samuel Prize for Emerging Writers Over 50

Lambda Literary

Genres: LGBTQ

The J. Michael Samuel Prize honors emerging LGBTQ writers over the age of 50. This award is made possible by writer and philanthropist Chuck Forester, who created it out of the firmly held belief that “Writers who start late are just as good as other writers, it just took the buggers more time.” The prize will go to an unpublished LGBTQ writer over 50 working in any genre.

📅 Deadline: February 16, 2024 (Expired)

HG Wells Short Story Competition

HG Wells Competition

The HG Wells Short Story Competition, founded by Reg Turnill, promotes writing and celebrates HG Wells' literary legacy. It encourages entries based on this year’s theme: 'The Fool.'

Under 21: £1,000 Over 21: £500

All shortlisted entries will be published in an anthology. Shortlisted authors receive a copy of the anthology and a certificate.

📅 Deadline: July 08, 2024 (Expired)

Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize

University of Pittsburgh Press

The Agnes Lynch Starrett Poetry Prize, established in 1981, is awarded for a first full-length book of poems. The prize includes a cash award and publication as part of the Pitt Poetry Series.

Publication by the University of Pittsburgh Press

BBC National Short Story Award

BBC Radio 4 and Cambridge University

The BBC National Short Story Award encourages submissions of short stories up to 8,000 words. The contest promotes the art of storytelling and awards notable literary contributions.

4x shortlisted stories: £600

📅 Deadline: March 18, 2024 (Expired)

Dream Quest One Writing Contest

Dream Quest One

Write a short story, 5 pages maximum length, on any subject or theme, fiction, non-fiction, creative nonfiction (including essay compositions, diary, journal entries, short stage plays, screenplays, and screenwriting). All entries must be either typed or legibly hand printed. Multiple and simultaneous poetry and short story entries are accepted.

2nd: $125 | 3rd: $50

📅 Deadline: September 30, 2024

Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest

Ayn Rand Institute

Genres: Essay

The Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest is open to all high school, college, and graduate students worldwide. Participants write essays based on prompts related to Ayn Rand's novel _Atlas Shrugged_. The contest has seasonal entry rounds with unique prompts, and essays must be between 800 and 1,600 words. The winning essays demonstrate a strong grasp of the book's themes.

Annual Grand Prize of $25,000 Seasonal prize winners: 1st place: $3000 2nd place: $2000 3rd place: $1000

📅 Deadline: June 14, 2024 (Expired)

AWP Prize for Creative Nonfiction

Association of Writers & Writing Programs

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

💰 Entry fee: $30

📅 Deadline: February 28, 2024 (Expired)

Goldilocks Zone

Sunspot Literary Journal

Genres: Essay, Fiction, Flash Fiction, Memoir, Non-fiction, Novel, Novella, Poetry, Script Writing, and Short Story

The contest invites short stories, novel excerpts, graphic novels, and poems that showcase excellence in craft with reader appeal. It accepts literary or genre works without restrictions on theme.

Publication for the winner; publication offered to runners-up and finalists.

CWA Margery Allingham Short Story Competition

Crime Writers Association

Our mission is to find the best unpublished short mystery — one that fits into legendary crime writer Margery’s definition of what makes a great story: “The Mystery remains box-shaped, at once a prison and a refuge. Its four walls are, roughly, a Crime, a Mystery, an Enquiry and a Conclusion with an Element of Satisfaction in it.”

Two passes to Crimefest & a selection of books

Fish Flash Fiction Prize

Fish Publishing

Genres: Fiction and Flash Fiction

The Fish Flash Fiction Prize is an opportunity to attempt one of the most interesting and rewarding tasks – to create, in a tiny fragment, a completely resolved and compelling story in 300 words or less. The top ten stories will be published in the FISH ANTHOLOGY 2022.

2nd: €300 + Online Writing Course | 3rd: €300

💰 Entry fee: $14

The Caledonia Novel Award

Alice Lutyens, literary agent at Curtis Brown

Genres: Fiction, Novel, and Young Adult

The Caledonia Novel Award aims to support unpublished and self-published novelists across all genres for adults and young adults. The 2025 competition encourages diverse submissions, offering significant prizes to help cultivate new talent.

Exclusive framed award designed by Edinburgh artist Lucy Roscoe. Highly Commended prize: £500 Special prize: a free place on a writing course at Moniack Mhor Creative Writing Centre

💰 Entry fee: $28

📅 Deadline: October 15, 2024

Season Themes

HAVOK Publishing

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

HAVOK is a constant flash fiction contest, with rolling deadlines. Each season is split into monthly competitions with thematically connected prompts in a range of genres.

Publication in an anthology. Potential for larger gift card wins.

📅 Deadline: August 30, 2024 (Expired)

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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Ayn Rand Essay Contests

Enter one of our contests today for a chance to win up to $10,000!

Participating Students

$2,200,000+

Prize Money Awarded to Date

Program Founded

Essay Contests

For nearly four decades, the Ayn Rand Institute has hosted annual student essay contests on Ayn Rand’s novels. These contests encourage students to seriously engage with Rand’s ideas through reflection on her profound and influential novels. Students who participate will need to read the book they have selected carefully, grapple with its complex themes, and push the boundaries of their writing ability. By doing so, we hope students will achieve a deeper appreciation for Rand’s literary works and develop a curiosity for the philosophy that underlies them.

essay competitions for 2021

Open to all 8th, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students worldwide.

Deadline to enter: May 31, 2024

essay competitions for 2021

The Fountainhead

Open to all middle & high school students worldwide, ages 13 and older.

Deadline to enter: September 13, 2024

essay competitions for 2021

Atlas Shrugged

Open to all high school, college, and graduate students worldwide.

Deadline to enter: September 20, 2024

Read an Ayn Rand novel

Select the book according to your level of education, and begin reading. Pay attention to the themes and character motivations, and be thinking about how you might answer the essay topic questions.

Write an essay on the book

As you start to write, be thinking about how to answer the essay question you have chosen to write on. Be sure to give yourself enough time to construct a coherent outline, find supporting evidence, and revise your draft a couple times.

Submit for grading

Submit your essay online using ARI’s application portal. Be sure to check that the information you provide in your application is correct, and that your essay satisfies our requirements.

Wait for the results

Grading for all submissions begins once the deadline has passed. Essays go through three separate grading stages, and the final results are announced approximately three to four months after the entry deadline.

Our Grading Standards

Essays are judged on whether the student is able to justify and argue for his or her view, not on whether the Institute agrees with the view the student expresses. 

Our graders look for writing that is clear, articulate, and logically organized.  Essays should stay on topic, address all parts of the selected prompt, and interrelate the ideas and events in the novel. 

Winning essays must demonstrate an outstanding grasp of the philosophic meaning of the novel.

Organization

Understanding.

Students can receive free digital copies of all of Ayn Rand’s novels at aynrand.org/freebooks . All you have to do is say a few words about who you are and why you want to read the book, and we’ll send you a copy within one business day—no strings attached. If you would prefer to read a physical copy, you may purchase them via the links on our website. They are also likely available at your local bookstore or library.

You may participate if you are in a lower grade than what is listed, but not if you are in a higher grade. Please email us at [email protected] if you have any questions about your eligibility status. (Note: Students must be at least 13 years of age or older in order to participate. We make no exceptions to this rule.)

Yes, please cite the page number(s) and place quotation marks around any material you choose to include from the novel you are writing on. A bibliography is only necessary if you choose to include secondary source material in your essay.

No. You may submit one essay per contest, per year—provided you meet the grade-level requirements and are eligible to enter.

Yes! You are more than welcome to enter multiple contests, provided you do not exceed any of the grade-level restrictions.

Yes, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements for the contest and were not previously a first-place winner. In fact, some students have won prizes multiple years in a row!

No. All awards are cash prizes. We place no restrictions on how the prize money is spent by recipients.

No, this will have no effect on your chances of winning. Judges look for writing that demonstrates a clear understanding of the novel, not whether the student agrees with it.

Have a different question?

Write to us at  [email protected] . We typically respond within two to five business days.

Start Your Essay Today!

The Ayn Rand Institute has hosted annual essay contests on Ayn Rand’s fiction since 1985, awarding over $2.2 million in total prizes to students worldwide. 

essay competitions for 2021

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Copyright © 1985 – 2024 The Ayn Rand Institute (ARI). Reproduction of content and images in whole or in part is prohibited. All rights reserved. ARI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Contributions to ARI in the United States are tax-exempt to the extent provided by law. Objectivist Conferences (OCON), Ayn Rand Conference (ARC), Ayn Rand University (ARU) and the Ayn Rand Institute eStore are operated by ARI. Payments to OCON, ARC, ARU or the Ayn Rand Institute eStore do not qualify as tax-deductible contributions to the Ayn Rand Institute. AYN RAND, AYN RAND INSTITUTE, ARI, AYN RAND UNIVERSITY and the AYN RAND device are trademarks of the Ayn Rand Institute. All rights reserved.

essay competitions for 2021

Scholarship Story

These 11 Essay Contests with Generous Prizes Will Change Your Life

Table of Contents

Essay contests are unusual because to win them you have to use your words. If you are a student who aspires to become a journalist, novelist, or poet, then these essay contests are a stepping stone for you to make that dream a reality.

Essay Contests

Essay contests often ask participants to answer a question in the most original and obvious way. However, each contest will have its own rules and regulations to fulfill. You may have to write an essay on a specific topic and meet word count limits. To enter an essay contest, you must have the ability to write something fresh.

There are several essay contests that are valid for students of all levels of education regardless of nationality. As long as you meet the specified requirements, you may register for one or more of the following essay contests.

1. FIRE Free Speech Essay Contest

FIRE is an organization that aims to defend and sustain individual rights at America’s colleges and universities. These rights include freedom of speech, legal equality, due process, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience—the essential qualities of individual liberty and dignity.

In this contest, you will be asked to write an essay or persuasive letter in 700 to 900 words on the theme of current events, historical examples, your personal experiences, and other resources posted on the FIRE website. Registration for this contest closes on December 31 st , 2020 at 11:59 a.m. EST.

Who should apply?

Open to juniors and seniors in U.S. high schools, including home-schooled students, as well as U.S. citizens attending high school overseas.

What are the prizes of this contest?

One $10,000 first-place prize, one $ 5,000 second-place prize, three $1,000 third-place prizes, and four $500 prizes will be awarded.

2. Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests

Have you ever read one of Ayn Rand’s thought-provoking novels? Now’s the time! Enter an Ayn Rand Institute essay contest and you’ll have a chance to win thousands of dollars in scholarship prize money.

ARI has held worldwide essay contests for students on Ayn Rand’s fiction for more than thirty years, awarding over $2 million in total prize money! To enter this contest, choose one of the three works of Ayn Rand fiction below and decide what theme you will cover in your essay by answering one of the questions posed on the essay contests web page.

  • The Fountainhead
  • Atlas Shrugged

You must sign up as a member of the ARI website to find out the deadlines for the contest.

These essay contests are available for students who are interested in Ayn Rand’s work ranging from grade eight students to postgraduate students. Please note that, however, the eligibility for each contest is different.

Total prizes to be awarded to the winners are $30,000.

3. AFSA National High School Essay Contest

The United States Foreign Service—often referred to as America’s first line of defense—works to prevent conflict from breaking out abroad and threats from coming to our shores. Peacebuilders work on the ground to create the conditions for peace and resolve conflicts where they are most needed.

Successful essays will identify, in no more than 1,250 words, a situation where diplomats worked on a peacebuilding initiative with partners from the country/region in question, nongovernmental organizations, and other parts of the U.S. government, and then go on to analyze what characteristics and approaches made the enterprise a success.

The deadline for essay submission is April 5 th , 2021 at 11:59 p.m. EDT.

Students whose parents are not in the Foreign Service are eligible to participate if they are in grades nine through twelve in any of the fifty states, the District of Columbia, the U.S. territories, or if they are U.S. citizens/lawful permanent residents attending high school overseas.

$2,500 will be awarded to the writer of the winning essay, in addition to an all-expense-paid trip to the nation’s capital from anywhere in the U.S. for the winner and his or her parents, and an all-expense-paid educational voyage courtesy of Semester at Sea. Runner-up receives $1,250 and full tuition to attend a summer session of the National Student Leadership Conference’s International Diplomacy program.

4. JASNA Essay Contests

Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA) conducts an annual student essay contest to foster the study and appreciation of Jane Austen’s works in new generations of readers.

The 2021 Essay Contest topic is tied to the theme of our upcoming Annual General Meeting: “Jane Austen in the Arts.” It encompasses a wide variety of arts, including fine arts, performance arts, decorative arts, and crafts.

The deadline for the essay submissions is June 1 st , 2021.

Students and home-schooled students enrolled at the high school level during the contest year, students enrolled in at least six credit hours of course work at a junior college, college, or university during the contest year, and students enrolled during the contest year in at least three credit hours of graduate course work at a college or university leading to an advanced degree are encouraged to apply.

Membership in JASNA is not required to enter the contest.

JASNA awards scholarships to winners in each of the three divisions:

  • First Place: $1,000 scholarship and free registration and two nights’ lodging for JASNA’s upcoming Annual General Meeting,
  • Second Place: $500 scholarship,
  • Third Place: $250 scholarship.

Winners and their mentors each receive a one-year JASNA membership. Besides, each winner receives a set of Norton Critical Editions of Jane Austen’s novels.

5. The Immerse Education Essay Competition

The Immerse Education Essay Competition provides the opportunity for students aged 13-18 to submit essay responses to a pre-set question relating to their chosen subject. The essay questions are pre-defined according to your age group and preferred subject. You are encouraged to tailor your essay response to reflect your interest in your chosen subject.

The application for the competition will be closed on January 5 th , 2021.

The essay contests are available to students of all nationalities who will be aged 13-18 during the summer of 2021.

First-place winners will be awarded a 100% scholarship to study their chosen subject with Immerse. There will be 10 first place winners across the Immerse Education Competitions. Runners up will be awarded partial scholarships of up to 70% to study their chosen subject with Immerse.

6. Fraser Institute Student Essay Contest

Showcase your ideas on public policy and the role of markets by entering this essay competition. Construct an essay exploring the importance of Joseph Schumpeter’s concept of creative destruction in understanding entrepreneurialism and economic progress in today’s world. You may choose to analyze a particular industry or business (during any time-period) as a case study to bolster your essay.

The essay submission for the contest will be closed on June 1 st , 2021.

This essay contest is open to high school, undergraduate, and postgraduate students.

$9,000 in cash prizes will be awarded $3,000 of this designated just for high school students. Winning essays may be published in Fraser Institute journals and authors will have the opportunity to experience the peer-review process.

7. Optimist International Essay Contests

This essay contest is sponsored by Optimist International to give young people the opportunity to write about their own opinions regarding the world in which they live. The approach can encompass a young person’s personal experience, the experience of their country, or a more historical perspective.

In addition to developing skills for written expression, participants also have the opportunity to win a college scholarship. The topic for the academic year of 2020-2021 is “Reaching your Dreams by Choosing Optimism”. All essay contests are held by early February.

Youth under the age of 19 as of October 1 st , 2020 (and is not enrolled as a degree seeking student of a post-secondary institution) in the United States, Canada, or the Caribbean are eligible for entry. There is no minimum age.

Winners have the opportunity to receive scholarships of up to $2,500.

8. 2021 We the Students Essay Contest

We the Students Essay Contest expects the participants to explore the relationship between equality and justice in an essay with 500 to 800 words. Applicants are encouraged to bring emotion, creativity, specific examples, and well-researched facts into what they write. The deadline for entry is April 15 th , 2021 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

Students in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Armed Forces schools abroad, and students in United States territories are eligible to participate in the contest. In addition to going to school in a contested state, you must be in grades 8-12 and between the ages of 14-19.

A total of $7,500 will be awarded to the first winner. The second winner and honorable mentions will receive $1,500 and $500, respectively.

9. Student Essay Contest Sponsored by AWM and Math for America

To increase awareness of women’s ongoing contributions to the mathematical sciences, the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) and Math for America co-sponsor an essay contest for biographies of contemporary women mathematicians and statisticians in academic, industrial, and government careers.

The essays will be based primarily on an interview with a woman currently working in a mathematical sciences career. Essay submissions are open from December 1 st to February 1 st .

Participation is open to middle school, high school, and undergraduate students.

The winners (including honorable mentions) receive a monetary prize, a membership in the AWM, a certificate, and their name and affiliation published in the Newsletter for the AWM. Also, all of the essays are published online and the essay of the Grand Prize winner is published in the AWM Newsletter.

10. Civics Education Essay Contest

Every year, in honor of Law Day, NCSC hosts a Civics Education Essay Contest. The goal of the contest is to get students engaged and ponder the importance of civics at home and in the classroom. The contest question is based on the American Bar Association’s annual theme. ABA’s 2021 Law Day theme is “Advancing the Rule of Law Now.”  Submissions are due by 11:59 p.m. EST on February 26 th , 2021.

Students from grades three through twelfth are invited to enter these essay contests.

For the 9th-12th grade winners:

  • One (1) First Place: $1,000
  • One (1) Second Place: $500
  • One (1) Third Place: $250

For the 6th-8th grade winners:

  • One (1) First Place: $400
  • One (1) Second Place: $200
  • One (1) Third Place: $100

For the 3rd-5th grade winners:

  • One (1) First Place: $300
  • One (1) Second Place: $150

11. St. Gallen Symposium Global Essay Competition

Compete in this Global Essay Competition and be one of the top 100 contributors to qualify for all-expenses covered participation as a Leader of Tomorrow in the world’s premier opportunity for cross-generational debates: The St. Gallen Symposium. Submissions are due by  February 1 st , 2021, 11:59 p.m. last time zone (UTC-12).

However, if you are not a fan of essay contests, then this no-essay scholarship might interest you: Bold No Essay Community Scholarship: Easy Scholarship to Enter in 2020 .

To be eligible, you must be enrolled in a graduate or postgraduate program (master level or higher) in any field of study at a regular university and born in 1991 or later.

Win prize money of CHF 20,000 split amongst the three winners.

Concordia Presidential Scholarship in Canada for Undergraduate Students

Scholarship application: the right time to apply for a scholarship.

The PEEF Scholarship: How to Check by PEEF Code

The PEEF Scholarship: How to Check by PEEF Code

Scholarship America Login and Renewal

Scholarship America Login and Renewal

Beygood Scholarship Application and Requirements

Beygood Scholarship Application and Requirements

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The Winners of Our 3rd Annual Personal Narrative Essay Contest for Students

Eight short, powerful essays from teenagers about the moments, big and small, that have shaped them.

essay competitions for 2021

By The Learning Network

For a third year, we invited students from 11 to 19 to tell us short, powerful stories about a meaningful life experience for our Personal Narrative Writing Contest . And for a third year, we heard from young people across the globe about the moments, big and small, that have shaped them into who they are today: a first kiss that failed to meet expectations, a school assignment that led to self-acceptance, an incident at airport security that made the world look much less sweet, and more.

Our judges read more than 11,000 submissions and selected over 200 finalists — eight winners, 16 runners-up, 24 honorable mentions and 154 more essays that made it to Round 4 — whose stories moved us and made us think, laugh and cry. “I’m always blown away by the vulnerability and tenderness so many of these stories hold,” one judge commented.

Below, you can read the eight winning essays, published in full. Scroll to the bottom of this post to find the names of all of our finalists, or see them here in this PDF .

Congratulations, and thank you to everyone who shared their stories with us.

(Note to students: We have published the names, ages and schools of students from whom we have received permission to do so. If you would like yours published, please write to us at [email protected] .)

The Winning Essays

“the best friend question”.

  • “504 Hours”
  • “T.S.A. and Cinnamon Buns”
  • “Lips or Slug?”
  • “The Bluff”
  • “Autocorrect”
  • “Purple Corn”

By Blanche Li, age 13, Diablo Vista Middle School, Danville, Calif.

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Goi Peace Foundation – 2021 International essay contest for young people

International Essay Contest for Young People

Deadline: 15 June 2021

This annual international essay contest is organized in an effort to harness the energy, creativity and initiative of the world’s youth in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development. It also aims to inspire society to learn from the young minds and to think about how each of us can make a difference in the world.

The program is an activity within the framework of UNESCO’s Education for Sustainable Development: Towards achieving the SDGs (ESD for 2030).

The theme of the contest: “What is Life?”

What does life mean to you? Have you had an experience that made you think about the meaning of life? What kinds of things can you do to cherish and invigorate your own life and all life on earth?

Guidelines :

  • Essays may be submitted by anyone up to 25 years old (as of June 15, 2021) in one of the following age categories: a) Children (ages up to 14) b) Youth (ages 15 – 25)
  • Essays must be 700 words or less in English or French, or 1600 characters or less in Japanese. Essays must be typed, with your name and essay title included at the top of the first page. There are no particular rules regarding formatting (font style, size, line space, etc.). However, essays must be submitted in either MS Word (DOC/DOCX) or PDF format.* Your name and essay title are not included in the word count limit.
  • Entries must be submitted online. To send your essay online, you must go to the online registration page at www.goipeace.or.jp and follow the required steps. Entries submitted by postal mail or e-mail are not accepted. Teachers and youth directors may submit a collection of essays from their class or group by creating an ‘account for school/organization entrant’ on the online registration page. * Only one entry per person is accepted. * We are unable to con”rm receipt of essays.
  • Essays must be original and unpublished. Plagiarized entries will be rejected.
  • Essays must be written by one person. Co-authored essays are not accepted.
  • Copyright of the essays entered will be assigned to the organizer

Entries must be received by June 15, 2021 (23:59 your local time).

The following awards will be given in the Children’s category and Youth category respectively:

  • 1st Prize: Certificate, prize of 100,000 Yen (approx. US$900 as of March 2021) and gift ………… 1 entrant
  • 2nd Prize: Certificate, prize of 50,000 Yen (approx. US$450 as of March 2021) and gift …………. 3 entrants
  • 3rd Prize: Certificate and gift …………. 5 entrants
  • Honourable Mention: Certificate and gift …………. 25 entrants

* 1st to 3rd prize winners will be invited to the Winners Gathering to be held online. * Additional awards (Best School Award, School Incentive Award) will be given if applicable. * All prize winners will be announced on October 31, 2021 on the Goi Peace Foundation website: www.goipeace.or.jp .

Additional links:

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  • The Goi Peace Foundation (website)

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essay competitions for 2021

Your Ultimate Guide to Writing Contests Through 2024

Regardless where you are on your writing journey, you can benefit from entering contests.

The right contest can tell you:

  • Where you stand
  • How you measure up against the competition
  • What you still need to learn

And you could win cash.

That’s why my team researched a wide range of high-quality contests. We’ve included free competitions and also many with modest entry fees.

  • Short Story Writing Contests
  • Full Manuscript Writing Contests
  • Poetry Writing Contests

Great American Fiction Contest

Prize: 1st: $1,000, publication in The Saturday Evening Post

Runners-up (5): $200

Entry Fee: $10

Deadline: TBD 2024 (Annual Contest)

Sponsor: The Saturday Evening Post

From Website: “Unpublished short stories of 1,500 to 5,000 words in any genre touching on the publication’s mission, “Celebrating America—past, present, and future.” No extreme profanity or graphic sex. Work published on a personal website or blog is still eligible.”

SiWC Writing Contest

Prize: 1st: $1,000 plus publication

Honorable Mention: $150

Entry Fee: $15

Deadline: September 15, 2024

Sponsor: Surrey International Writers’ Conference

From Website: “Short stories in any genre must be 2,500-4,000 words. All submissions must contain original material and may not have been previously published, accepted for publication, or have been a winner in another contest prior to the deadline.”

WOW / Women On Writing Quarterly Flash Fiction Competition

Prize: 1st: $400, $25 Amazon gift certificate

2nd: $300, $25 Amazon gift certificate

3rd: $200, $25 Amazon gift certificate

Runners-up (7): $25 Amazon gift certificate

Honorable mentions (10): $20 Amazon gift certificate

Entry Fee: $10 (or $20 with feedback)

Deadline: Quarterly (next deadline February 2, 2024)

Sponsor: WOW / Women On Writing

From Website: “Runs four times a year and is open to all styles and genres. Closes each quarter after 300 entries have been received, or at the deadline. WOW also runs a quarterly nonfiction essay competition with cash prizes.”

Bristol Short Story Prize

Prize: 1st: £1,000 (~$1,242)

2nd: £500 (~$621)

3rd: £250 (~$310)

Shortlisted (17): £100 (~$124)

Entry Fee: £9 (~$11)

Deadline: TBD 2024

Sponsor: Bristol Short Story Prize

From Website: “Open to all published and unpublished writers 16 and up. No geographical restriction, but all entries must be in English. Maximum length 4,000 words (not including title). No minimum length. Stories can be on any subject.”

Aesthetica Creative Writing Award

Prize: £2,500 (~$3,105)

Winners also receive further non-monetary prizes including publication in the Aesthetica Creative Writing Annual.

Entry Fee: £18 (~$22) (Poetry Category entry fee is ~$15) 

Deadline: August 31, 2024

Sponsor: Aesthetica Magazine

From Website: “Fiction entries should be no more than 2,000 words. Works published or entered elsewhere are accepted. Any theme accepted. You may enter as many times as you wish, however, each work requires a separate fee and submission form.”

The Lascaux Prize

Prize: $1,000

Finalists receive $100

Deadline: June 20, 2024

Sponsor: The Lascaux Review

“Flash Fiction and Creative Nonfiction categories. 

Flash fiction entries should not exceed 1,000 words. All genres and styles welcome. 

From Website: “Creative nonfiction entry length must not exceed 10,000 words. All topics welcome but should be written in a nonacademic style. May include memoirs, chronicles, personal essays, humorous perspectives, literary journalism—anything the author has witnessed, experienced, learned, or discovered.”

The Alpine Fellowship Writing Prize

Prize: First place: £3,000 cash grant (~$3,726)

Second place: £1,000 travel expense (~$1,242)

Third place: £1,000 travel expense (~$1,242)

Entry Fee: Free

Deadline: March 1, 2024

Sponsor: The Alpine Fellowship

From Website: “Entries must fit the annual theme. Maximum of 2,500 words. All genres of writing are permitted, including fiction, non-fiction, and non-academic essays. Open to all nationalities but must be written in English. Stories must not have been published, self-published or accepted for publication in print or online. No entries that have won or been placed in another competition at any time.”

ServiceScape Short Story Award

Deadline: November 29, 2024

Sponsor: ServiceScape

From Website: “All entries must be original, unpublished works of short fiction or nonfiction, up to 5,000 words in length. Any genre or theme accepted.”

Bacopa Literary Review Contest

Prize: $200 Award 

$100 Honorable Mention in each of six categories

Sponsor: The Writers Alliance of Gainesville

From Website: “Awards in 6 categories (contestants may submit to only ONE category). Fiction (up to 2,500 words), Creative Nonfiction (up to 2,500 words), Humor (up to 2,000 words), Formal Poetry (1-3 poems), Free Verse Poetry (1-2 poems), Visual Poetry (1 poem).”

Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award

Prize: $.08 per word and publication

Deadline: February 1, 2024

Sponsor: National Space Society and Baen Books

From Website: “Write a short story of no more than 8,000 words, that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration. What they want to see: Moon bases, Mars colonies, orbital habitats, space elevators, asteroid mining, artificial intelligence, nano-technology, realistic spacecraft, heroics, sacrifice, and adventure.”

Parsec Short Story Contest

Prize: First place: $200 and publication in the Confluence program book. 

Second place: $100 

Third place: $50 

Best Youth Story: $50

Deadline: March 31st, 2024

Sponsor: Parsec, Inc.

From Website: “Each annual contest is based on a theme provided. This can be conveyed in the setting, plot, characters, and dialogue; the only limit is your imagination. The theme must be integral to the story in some way and not just mentioned in passing. No minimum word count, no more than 3500 words. The 2024 Contest theme is ‘AI mythology.’” 

The Raymond Carver Short Story Contest

Prize: First place: $2000 

Second place: $500 

Third place: $250 

Two Editor’s Choice: $125

Entry Fee: $18

Deadline: May 15, 2024

Sponsor: Carve Magazine

From Website: “One short story per entry. No limit to entries. Must be previously unpublished (including online) with a 10,000 maximum word count. We accept entries from anywhere in the world, but the story must be English-language. No genre fiction (romance, horror, sci-fi); literary fiction only.”

Blurred Genres Flash Contest

Prize: First Place: $750 

Second Place: $350 

Third Place: $150 

Publication of Top Five

Sponsor: Invisible City (University of San Francisco)

From Website: “Based on a theme (for example last year’s theme was “Levity”) that can be interpreted through prose, poetry, or some combination of the two. All genres and themes are welcome. Contest submissions must be 750 words or less and can be flash fiction/nonfiction, prose poetry, or some unique combination of the three. Submissions must be the original work of the submitter and unpublished (and not slated for future publication).”

Imagine 2200: Write the future

Prize: First Place: $3,000

Second Place: $2,000 

Third Place: $1,000

An additional nine finalists will each receive $300 

All winners and finalists will have their stories published in an immersive collection on Grist’s website

Sponsor: Grist

From Website: “Imagine 2200 is an invitation to writers from all over the globe to imagine a future in which solutions to the climate crisis flourish and help bring about radical improvements to our world. 3,000 to 5,000 word stories envisioning a world where we prioritize our well-being, work to mend our communities, and lead lives that celebrate our humanity.”

The Elegant Literature Award For New Writers

Prize: First place: $3,000 and 10c/word and publication. Free enrollment in the New Novelist Accelerator.

Second – Tenth: 10c/word and publication.

Eleventh – Thirty-fifth: $20 and an honorable mention in the magazine

Entry Fee: Requires Elegant+ Membership ($9.99 a month)

Deadline: Ongoing (monthly)

Sponsor: Elegant Literature Magazine

From Website: “Write a story involving annual theme. New or unpublished authors may enter. Word count is 500-2000. All genres are welcome as long as it involves the theme.”

F(r)iction Contests

Prize: $300.00 and consideration for publication in F(r)iction

Entry Fee: $10 for a single entry, $12 for three entries

Deadline: April 30, 2024

Sponsor: F(r)iction

From Website: “Competitions in several categories, short stories (1,001 – 7,500 words), flash fiction (up to 1,000 words), and Poetry (up to three pages per poem). Entries are accepted regardless of genre, style, or origin. Experimental, nontraditional, and boundary-pushing literature is strongly encouraged. Their guidelines include the phrase ‘Strange is good.’”

Manchester Fiction Prize

Prize: £10,000 (~$12,420)

Entry Fee: £18 (~$22) 

100 reduced-price (£10 or ~$13) entries are available to entrants who might not otherwise be able to take part in the competition.

Sponsor: Manchester Metropolitan University

From Website: “The Manchester Fiction Prize asks for a short story of up to 2,500 words in length. Stories submitted should be new work, not previously published elsewhere. The Prize is open internationally to those aged 16 or over.”  

Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition

Prize: Grand Prize $5000, an interview with them in Writer’s Digest (Nov/Dec 2023 issue) and on WritersDigest.com, a paid trip to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, including a special trophy presentation at the keynote, a coveted Pitch Slam slot at the Writer’s Digest Conference where the winner will receive one on one attention from editors or agents, and publication of their winning piece on WritersDigest.com

First Place: $1,000 and publication of their winning piece on WritersDigest.com

Second Place: $500 

Third Place: $250 

Fourth Place: $100 

Fifth Place: $50 

Sixth through Tenth Place: $25 gift certificate for writersdigestshop.com.

Entry Fee: $20-30 (varies depending on category)

Deadline: May 6, 2024 

Sponsor: Writer’s Digest

From Website: “Only original works that have not been published (at the time of submission) in print, digital, or online publications will be considered. Self-published work in blogs, on social media, etc. will be considered. For the script category, only unproduced scripts will be considered. Entries in the Nonfiction Essay or Article category may be previously published. All entries must be in English. Memoirs/Personal Essay, Nonfiction Essay or Article, and Children’s/Young Adult Fiction: 2,000 words maximum. Mainstream/Literary Short Story, Genre Short, Story, and Humor: 4,000 words maximum. Inspirational Writing: 2,500 words maximum. Rhyming Poem and Non-rhyming Poem: 40 lines maximum.”

Emerging Writer’s Contest

Prize: Publication, $2,000, review from Aevitas Creative Management, and a 1-year subscription for one winner in each of the three genres

Entry Fee: Free for subscribers to Ploughshares, $24 for nonsubscribers

Sponsor: Ploughshares (Emerson College)

From Website: “The contest is open to writers of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry who have yet to publish or self-publish a book. Fiction and Nonfiction: Under 6,000 words. Poetry: 3-5 pages.”

Wells Festival of Literature Short Story Competition

Prize: First Place £750 (~$932)

Second Place £300 (~$373)

Third Place: £200 (~$248)

Entry Fee: £6 (~$8)

Sponsor: Wells Festival of Literature

From Website: “Stories may be on any subject and should be between 1,000 and 2,000 words. All entries must be the exclusive and original work of the entrant. At the time of entry, the work submitted must not have been entered into any other Competition and must not have been published in any format or location.”

Anthology Short Story Competition

Prize: First Place: €1,000 (~$1098), the chance to see their work published in a future issue of Anthology, and a one-year subscription to Anthology 

Second Place: €250 (~$275)

Third Place: €150 (~$165)

Entry Fee: Early Bird: €12 (~$13)

Standard fee: €18 (~$20)

Deadline: July 31, 2024

Sponsor: Anthology Publishing

From Website: “Established to recognize and encourage creative writing and provide a platform for publication, the Anthology Short Story Competition is open to original and previously unpublished short stories in the English language by a writer of any nationality, living anywhere in the world. There is no restriction on theme or style. Stories submitted must not exceed the maximum of 1,500 words.” 

The Queen Mary Wasafiri New Writing Prize

Prize: £1,000 (~$1,246) and publication in Wasafiri’s print magazine

Entry Fee: £10 (~$12) for a single entry, £16 (~$20) for a double entry

Sponsor: Wasafiri Magazine 

From Website: “Exceptionally international in scope, the prize supports writers who have not yet published a book-length work, with no limits on age, gender, nationality, or background. No entry may exceed 3,000 words. A single poetry entry can include up to three poems, which together total no more than 3,000 words.”

2024 Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize

Prize: $1000 and a free 10-week course with Gotham Writers

Entry Fee: $25

Sponsor: Gotham Writers and Selected Shorts

From Website: “This long-running series at Symphony Space in New York City celebrates the art of the short story by having stars of stage and screen read aloud the works of established and emerging writers. Selected Shorts is recorded for Public Radio and heard nationally on both the radio and its weekly podcast.”

Robert and Adele Schiff Awards

Prize: $1,000 All entries will be considered for publication in The Cincinnati Review

Entry Fee: $20

Sponsor: The Cincinnati Review (University of Cincinnati)

From Website: “Writers may submit up to 8 pages of poetry, 40 pages of a single double-spaced piece of fiction, or 20 pages of a single double-spaced piece of literary nonfiction, per entry. Previously published manuscripts, including works that have appeared online (in any form), will not be considered. There are no restrictions as to form, style, or content; all entries will be considered for publication. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable under the condition that you notify us if your manuscript is accepted elsewhere.” 

Salamander 2024 Fiction Prize

Prize: First Place: $1,000 and Publication

 Second Place: $500 and Publication

Deadline: TBD 2024 

Sponsor: Salamander Magazine

From Website: “All entries will be considered for publication and will be judged anonymously. Each story must not exceed 30 double-spaced pages in 12-point font. Previously published works and works accepted for publication elsewhere cannot be considered. Salamander’s definition of publishing includes electronic publication.”

BOA Short Fiction Prize

Prize: $1,000 and publication by BOA Editions, Ltd.

Deadline: May 31, 2024

Sponsor: BOA Editions, Ltd.

From Website: “Entrants must be U.S. citizens, legal residents of the U.S., or have Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or Legal Permanent Status (LPS). Entrants must be at least 18 years of age. Minimum of 90 pages; maximum of 200 pages. Manuscript text should be at least 12 pt. font, double-spaced. As with all BOA fiction titles, our prize-winning short story collections are more concerned with the artfulness of writing than the twists and turns of plot. It is our belief that short story writing is a valuable and underserved literary form that we are proud to support, nurture, and celebrate.”

Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest

Prize: First Place: $3,000 

Entry Fee: $22

Deadline: May 1, 2024

Sponsor: Winning Writers (Co-sponsored by Duotrope)

From Website: “For this contest, a story is any short work of fiction, and an essay is any short work of nonfiction. All themes accepted. Entries may be published or unpublished. Length limit: 6,000 words maximum. No restriction on the age of the author.”

Gabriele Rico Challenge for Nonfiction

Prize: $1,333

Deadline: November 1, 2024

Sponsor: Reed Magazine

From Website: “C reative nonfiction, such as personal essays or narratives, not scholarly papers or book reviews. All works should be stand-alone essays, not chapters of a longer work. Previously published work is not eligible. Up to 5,000 words.”

53-Word Story Contest

Prize: Publication in Prime Number Magazine and a free book from Press 53.

Deadline: Ongoing. 15th of each month

Sponsor: Prime Number Magazine

From Website: “New prompt each month. Judges are looking for stories with a surprising approach to the prompt, something unusual and creative. Stories must be 53 words—no more, no less. Stories with fewer than or more than 53 words will be disqualified. Send only stories; poetry with line breaks will not be considered.”

Letter Review Prize for Short Fiction

Prizes: Three Winners are announced who are published and share in the $1000 USD total prize pool. Twenty writers are Longlisted. All entries considered for publication, and for submission to the Pushcart Prize and other anthologies.

Deadline: Awarded every two months

Sponsor: Letter Review

From Website: “Word Length: 0 – 5000 words. Open to anyone in the world. There are no genre or theme restrictions.”

Letter Review Prize for Nonfiction

Entry Fee: $20.

From Website: “0 – 5000 words. Open to anyone in the world. We welcome all forms of nonfiction including: Memoir, journalism, essay (including personal essay), fictocriticism, creative nonfiction, travel, nature, opinion, and many other permutations.”

essay competitions for 2021

University of New Orleans Press Lab Prize

Prize: $10,000 advance on royalties and a contract to publish with the University of New Orleans Press

Entry Fee: $28

Sponsor: University of New Orleans

From Website: “Entries must be unpublished novels or short story collections. The work does not have to be regionally focused. There is no word limit. There is no restriction on subjects covered. The contest is open to all authors from around the world, regardless of publishing history.  Works of fiction (novels and short story collections) only. Submissions must be your entire manuscript.”

The Bath Novel Awards 

Prize: Two £3,000 (~$3738) prizes are awarded annually for the best manuscript as judged by literary agents

All shortlistees win feedback on their full manuscript.

Entry Fee: £29 (~$36)

Deadline: May 31st 2024

Sponsor: The Bath Novel Award (co-sponsored by Cornerstones Literary Consultancy and Professional Writing Academy)

From Website: “Submit the opening 5,000 words plus one-page synopsis of novel manuscripts for adults or young adults. Completed works must be over 50,000 words. Novels can be for adult or young adult readers and any genre. Must be your original work and submitted in English. Novels can be unpublished, self-published, or independently published.”

The Times/Chicken House Competition

Prize:  First Place: worldwide publishing contract with Chicken House with a royalty advance of £10,000 (~$12,459), plus an offer of representation by this year’s agent judge, Davinia Andrew-Lynch of Curtis Brown. 

Second Place: Lime Pictures New Storyteller Award. A publishing contract with a royalty advance of £7,500 (~$9,344) plus an offer of representation by Davinia Andrew-Lynch.

Entry Fee: £20 (~$25)

Deadline: June 1, 2024

Sponsor: The Times and Chicken House 

From Website: “To enter, you must have written a completed full-length novel suitable for children/young adults aged somewhere between 7 and 18 years. A minimum of 30,000 words and a maximum of 80,000 words suggested.”

The Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction

Prize: $5,000 advance and publication by Dzanc Books

Deadline: September 30, 2024

Sponsor: Dzanc Books

From Website: “The Dzanc Books Prize for Fiction recognizes daring, original, and innovative novels (generally over 40,000 words, but there is no hard minimum). The contest is open to new, upcoming, and established writers alike. Agented submissions are also eligible, and we ask that you include all agency contact information with the application. All submitted works must be previously unpublished novel-length manuscripts and should include a brief synopsis, author bio, and contact information.”

Claymore Award

Prize: Discounted admission to Killer Nashville International Writers’ Conference, with introductions to agents/editors (And probably publishing contract)

Entry Fee: $45 (Full critique included for $125)

Deadline: April 1, 2024

Sponsor: Killer Nashville

From Website: “The contest is limited to only the first 50 double-spaced pages of unpublished English-language manuscripts containing elements of thriller, mystery, crime, or suspense NOT currently under contract. These can include Action Adventure, Comedy, Cozy, Historical, Investigator, Juvenile/YA, Literary, Mainstream/Commercial, Mystery, Nonfiction, Sci-fi/Fantasy, Short Story Collections, Southern Gothic, Supernatural, Suspense, Thriller, and Western manuscripts, and any of their derivatives. (Self-published manuscripts are considered already published and are not eligible.)”

St. Martin’s Minotaur / Mystery Writers of America First Crime Novel Competition

Prize: Publication and a $10,000 advance

Sponsor: Minotaur Books and Mystery Writers of America

From Website: “Open to any writer, regardless of nationality, aged 18 or older, who has never been the author of any published novel and is not under contract with a publisher for publication of a novel. All Manuscripts submitted must be original works of book length (no less than 220 typewritten pages or approximately 60,000 words), written in the English language, written solely by the entrant, and must not violate any right of any third party or be libelous. Murder or another serious crime is at the heart of the story.”

The Restless Books Prize for New Immigrant Writing

Prize: $10,000 advance and publication

Sponsor: Restless Books

From Website: “Created in 2015 to honor outstanding debut literary works by first-generation immigrants, awarded for fiction and nonfiction in alternating years. Fiction manuscripts must be complete. Nonfiction submissions must consist of either a complete manuscript or a sample of at least 25,000 words and a detailed proposal that includes a synopsis and an annotated table of contents. All submissions must be in English (translations welcome). Fiction candidates must not have previously published a book of fiction in English. Nonfiction candidates must not have previously published a book of nonfiction in English.”

New American Fiction Prize

Prize: $1,500 and a book contract, as well as 25 author’s copies and promotional support

Deadline: January 15, 2024

Sponsor: New American Press

From Website: “Manuscripts should be at least 100 pages, but there is no maximum length. All forms and styles of full-length fiction manuscripts are welcome, including story collections, novels, novellas, collections of novellas, flash fiction collections, novels in verse, and other hybrid forms.”

Your Next Best Read

Prize: First Place (Fiction & Nonfiction): $100 Cash Price, 6-month Advertising Package, Press Release, Editorial Review, Newsletter Announcement, Promotional Creatives

Second Place Awards (Fiction & Nonfiction): 6-month Advertising Package, Editorial Review, Newsletter Announcement

Third Place (Fiction & Nonfiction): 3-month Advertising Package, Editorial Review, Newsletter Announcement

Deadline: May 5, 2024

Sponsor: Excalibre Publishing

From Website: “ The contest is open to writers of all backgrounds, ages, and nationalities. Both published and unpublished works are welcome. We encourage submissions in various/ALL genres –  fiction, non-fiction, poetry (submit in nonfiction), and short stories. No specific wordcount requiered. Submissions must be in English.”

Letter Review Prize for Manuscripts

Prizes: Three Winners are announced who have a brief extract published, receive a letter of recommendation from our Judges for publishers, and share in the $1000 USD total prize pool. Twenty writers are Longlisted.

Entry Fee: $25.

Deadline: Awarded Every two months

From Website: “Please submit the first 5000 words of your manuscript, whether it be prose or poetry. Open to anyone in the world. The entry must not have been traditionally published. We are seeking all varieties of novels, short story collections, nonfiction, and poetry collections. We will accept manuscripts which are unpublished, self published, and some which are indie published. Review full entry guidelines for further details.”

2nd place in fiction & non-fiction $750 cash prize and trophy

3rd place in fiction & non-fiction $500 cash prize and trophy

Winner of each of the 80+ categories $100 cash prize and gold medal

Stan and Tom Wick Poetry Prize

Prize: $2,500 plus publication

Entry Fee: $30

Sponsor: Kent State University Press

From Website: “Offered annually to a poet who has not previously published a full-length collection of poems. The winner and the competition’s judge will give a reading together on the Kent State campus. The competition is open to poets writing in English who have not yet published a full-length collection of poems (a volume of 50 or more pages published in an edition of 500 or more copies).”

Blue Lynx Prize for Poetry

Prize: $2,000 plus publication

Sponsor: Lynx House Press

From Website: “Awarded for an unpublished, full-length volume of poems by a U.S. author, which includes foreign nationals living and writing in the U.S. and U.S. citizens living abroad. Manuscripts may include poems that have appeared in journals, magazines, or chapbooks. Poems that have previously appeared in full-length, single-author collections, are not eligible.”

Ó Bhéal Five Words International Poetry Competition

Prize: First Place: €750 ($890) 

Second Place: €500 ($590) 

Third Place: €250 ($295)

Entry Fee: €5 ($6)

Deadline: Every Tuesday at 12pm (Irish time) from April 11, 2023 – January 30, 2024

Sponsor: Ó Bhéal

From Website: “Five words will be posted on this competition page. Entrants will have one week to compose and submit one or more poems which include all five words given for that week. Entry is open to all countries. Poems cannot exceed 50 lines in length (including line breaks), and must include all five words listed for the week.”

Letter Review Prize for Poetry

Prizes: Three Winners are announced who are published and share in the $800 USD total prize pool. Twenty writers are Longlisted. All entries considered for publication, and for submission to the Pushcart Prize and other anthologies.

Entry Fee: $15.

From Website: “70 lines max per poem Open to anyone in the world. There are no style or subject restrictions.”

  • Advice for Researching Writing Competitions

This list includes only a few of the many writing contests you can find online.

Here are some tips for looking into options on your own:

1. Narrow your search with details that are relevant to you, for example, “writing contests in Texas,” “writing contests for women authors,” or “writing contests for veterans.” 

2. Be genre-specific.

3. Include the year in your search to ensure the most up-to-date results. 

4. Carefully read the guidelines and eligibility requirements. 

5. Pay attention to the contest sponsor. Only submit to reputable hosts.  

Worried your writing isn’t quite ready to compete? Take my free writing assessment and see personalized guidance on how to improve your skills. https://jerryjenkins.com/quiz/

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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 .

Student Essay Contest Flyer

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

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Sixth circuit announces winners of 2024 student essay contest.

The Sixth Circuit Student Essay Contest was open to high school students (grades 9–12) enrolled in public, private, parochial, and charter schools and home-schooled students of equivalent grade status in the four states that comprise the Sixth Circuit (Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee).

More Information

Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

essay competitions for 2021

Guidelines for the 2024–25 Nurse Essay Contest

Nurses, nurses’ aides, and nursing students are encouraged to submit to Hektoen International’s 2024–2025 Nurse Essay Contest. Submissions will be initially reviewed by the Hektoen International Editorial Staff, followed by a panel of nursing professionals, who will determine the recipients of the following awards:

Grand Prize: Single winner of $3,000 Runner-Up: Single winner of $2,000

Winners will be published in the journal and featured in our newsletter and on X (Twitter) ,  Facebook ,  Instagram , Threads , and  LinkedIn .

Essays must be between 500–1,600 words and on any topic as it relates to medicine, including:

  • Famous healthcare workers
  • Famous hospitals

Original poetry, fiction, and standalone artwork will not be considered. Before submitting an article, please search for your topic on our site to see that it has not been fully covered in a previous publication. Essays on previously published subjects will not be accepted. For possible topic categories, see our Sections .

Authors will receive notice of receipt of submission.

All submissions due by January 15, 2025. Late submissions will not be considered. Contest submissions should be sent to  [email protected] or via the form below. Participants must certify that their work is original. Participants must have copyright ownership or permission to use any images submitted.

  • Submission of an article implies consent to publish in  Hektoen International . If major edits are made, proofs will be sent to the author before publication.
  • Inquiries about the contest should be sent to [email protected] .
  • Single-author essays only; multiple authors on one article are not allowed.
  • Entries must be written in English and follow our article guidelines, including a cover page and proper formatting of both text and illustrations. Incomplete submissions may be deemed ineligible for consideration in the contest.
  • Submissions will be read by Hektoen International ’s editors and contest judges. They will review contributions for appropriateness, originality, style, and content.
  • Submissions are processed on weekdays during business hours. Please check your email for confirmation of your submission. Please wait one week before inquiring about the reception of your article if you do not receive a confirmation email.
  • Articles and the images within them may also be publicized via our newsletter , which is currently received by 40,000+ subscribers, and on our

Articles must be unpublished, original work, saved as a Word document by the author’s last name followed by the title (or abbreviated title). For example, the article “Big Hugh” by Dr. Smith, should be saved as Smith_Big Hugh.docx . Each submission should include:

  • Author’s name, titles/degrees, professional affiliation, email address, and location (as you would like these listed in the journal)
  • A biography no longer than 100 words, written in the third person, that includes your current educational status and future educational/career goals. See the bottom of our articles for examples.
  • The title and page numbers in the document header
  • The full text of the article in Times New Roman, size 12, and double-spaced. Please format according to the Chicago Manual of Style 17 th Edition ( chicagomanualofstyle.org ) or the American Medical Association Manual of Style 11 th Edition ( academic.oup.com/amamanualofstyle/book/27941 )
  • References for quoted and cited material formatted according to Vancouver, Chicago, or AMA style, with the endnotes in numerical order.

Articles may include images. If you provide an image, review and follow the guidelines below prior to submission.

  • Final image choice will be determined by journal staff.
  • Rights to use and publish images in  Hektoen International must be acquired by the author prior to submission , either via a source’s declaration the images are in the public domain or under a Creative Commons or similar license, or by obtaining permission from the copyright holder(s) of the images. For more information, see https://guides.library.stonybrook.edu/copyright/public-domain or contact us at [email protected] .
  • Images must be high quality and saved as a .JPG
  • Images must be titled by author’s surname and short article name. For example, an image to accompany the article “Big Hugh” by Dr. Smith would be saved as Smith_Big Hugh.jpg. Add a number at the end to distinguish additional images (e.g.,  Smith_Big Hugh2.jpg ).
  • Caption, source, and permission/copyright/licensing information (including the address of the website where you found the image)
  • For artwork, please provide the title and date of work, the artist’s name, and the location of the artwork (museum or private collection)
  • Save the caption as a Word document by author last name. In the example of Dr. Smith, the illustration would be captioned as Smith_Caption.docx .
  • Caption example:  Spock Behind G.W. Library . Photo by Warren K. Leffler, October 15, 1969. U.S. News & World Report Magazine Photograph Collection, Library of Congress . No known restrictions on publication.

General Guidelines for All Submissions

We DO NOT accept clinical studies All submissions should be the stated author/artist’s original work Authors are responsible for obtaining publication rights for accompanying images

Patient Consent/Confidentiality

Our confidentiality policy is based on the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Please refer here if you have any questions:  https://www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/ . Authors/artists should protect the confidentiality of all persons and not reveal personal details without their consent.

Copyright (©) and Plagiarism

Authors retain the copyright to their submissions to  Hektoen International . We request, however, that authors refrain from submitting their work for publication for four months after the piece has been published in our journal. Authors are requested to notify us and reference the  Hektoen International  website as the original publisher in subsequent publications of the article.

By submitting your work to us via Forminator or by email for consideration for publication, you consent to the scanning of your work by third-party plagiarism checker programs along with, on a case-by-case basis, research by our staff of your publication history to ensure the work published in our journal is original. By performing these checks, we protect our reputation as well as your own.

Plagiarism is, in its simplest wording, claiming someone else’s work as your own. When you submit work or portions of a work that you yourself did not write, without giving credit to its original author, that is plagiarism. Plagiarism ranges from copying another’s entire publication to rewording portions and ideas from another’s publication without a citation.

We also acknowledge the concept of self-plagiarism, in which you republish work you have already written without permission from the copyright holder. Examples of self-plagiarism include you submit an article to us that was already published in another journal without that journal’s permission; you draw information and/or concepts from an article you wrote that is already published elsewhere without citing that article in your submission.​

Submissions are processed on weekdays during business hours. Please check your email (including junk or spam) for confirmation of your submission. If form is unavailable, please submit to [email protected] . Please only submit via each method once and allow 5 business days before inquiring about missing submissions. Thank you!

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IMAGES

  1. Winners of the Queen’s Commonwealth Essay Competition 2021

    essay competitions for 2021

  2. Edugrant Essay Competition 2021 for Secondary School Students

    essay competitions for 2021

  3. Global Essay Competition 2021- John Locke Institute

    essay competitions for 2021

  4. CIIM Research Essay Competition 2021

    essay competitions for 2021

  5. LAW AUDIENCE’S 6th NATIONAL ONLINE ESSAY WRITING COMPETITION 2021

    essay competitions for 2021

  6. Rigter Essay Contest 2021

    essay competitions for 2021

VIDEO

  1. Tomorrow's Leaders Essay Contest Winners

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  4. Drawing and essay competitions at SRV #voice of Raj Kiran

COMMENTS

  1. The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition

    The Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition provides a platform for young, ambitious high school students to exercise their writing skills and compete with students from all over the world! ... 2021 Winner gallery. About the competition . Find out more about the competition format, key dates, and upcoming webinars! Learn more! Resources. Find ...

  2. 40 Free Writing Contests: Competitions With Cash Prizes

    Maximum word count is 2,500, and this is open to all nationalities and to anyone 18 or older. The winner gets a £10,000 cash prize, second place gets £3,000 and third place gets £2,000. Deadline: Applications open at the beginning of each year. Follow the Alpine Fellowship on Instagram for updates.

  3. Our 3rd Annual Personal Narrative Writing Contest (Published 2021)

    Our 3rd Annual Personal Narrative Writing Contest. We invite students to tell a short story about a meaningful life experience in 600 words or fewer. Contest Dates: Oct. 13 to Nov. 17, 2021. Our ...

  4. Global Winners

    CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2021 GLOBAL WINNERS! Read the Winning essays Follow us on social media

  5. Oxford and Cambridge Essay Competitions

    This essay competition is designed to give students the opportunity to develop and showcase their independent study and writing skills. Unfortunately, for external reasons, the essay won't be running in 2023, but may well be running in 2024 so do keep an eye out so you don't miss it! Sample Essay Questions from 2020.

  6. Our Eighth Annual Student Editorial Contest

    A new book, "Student Voice," that collects 100 of the best student essays from this contest all in one place, categorized by subjects like "Teenage Life Online," "Gender and Sexuality ...

  7. 2024 Essay Competition

    Academic conference: 20 - 22 September, 2024. Awards dinner: 21 September, 2024. Contact. Any queries regarding the essay competition should be sent to [email protected]. Please be aware that, due to the large volume of correspondence we receive, we cannot guarantee to answer every query.

  8. Writing Contests, Grants & Awards

    The Writing Contests, Grants & Awards database includes details about the creative writing contests—including poetry contests, short story competitions, essay contests, awards for novels, and more—that we've published in Poets & Writers Magazine during the past year. We carefully review the practices and policies of each contest before including it.

  9. The Queen'S Commonwealth Essay Competition

    The Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition is the world's oldest international writing competition for schools, proudly delivered by the Royal Commonwealth Society since 1883. Find out more about the competition and how to enter. ... QCEC 2021 Junior Runner-up from India shares her experience of Winners Week and receiving her award.

  10. 25 Writing Contests and Publication Opportunities for Teens

    Deadline: The new prompt and deadlines for 2021 will be announced in the fall of 2020. International Essay Contest for Young People. This annual themed essay contest is organized by the Goi Peace Foundation in an effort to harness the energy, creativity and initiative of the world's youth in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development.

  11. Berkeley Prize Essay Competition

    Launch of 2022 Essay Competition. November 1, 2021 (Stage One) 500-word essay proposal due. Mid-December, 2021: Essay Semifinalists announced. February 1, 2022 (Stage Two) Essay Semifinalists' 2,500-word essays due. February 8, 2022: Launch of Community Service Fellowship Competition for Essay Semifinalists.

  12. The Ultimate List of Writing Contests in 2024 • Win Cash Prizes!

    Genres: Fantasy, Fiction, Horror, Humor, Memoir, Mystery, Romance, and Short Story. The Booksie 2024 Short Story Contest invites writers to submit original short stories, with a maximum length of 5,000 words. The contest offers a grand prize of $500, along with badges for winners encoded on the blockchain.

  13. Essay Contests

    Start Your Essay Today! The Ayn Rand Institute has hosted annual essay contests on Ayn Rand's fiction since 1985, awarding over $2.2 million in total prizes to students worldwide. Enter one of our contests today for a chance to win up to $10,000! Enter Contest.

  14. Competitions

    Writer's Digest's newest competition, the Personal Essay Awards, is currently accepting entries. Winners of the competition are announced annually in our May/June issue of Writer's Digest. By Tara Johnson Jul 12, 2021

  15. These 11 Essay Contests with Generous Prizes Will Change Your Life

    The 2021 Essay Contest topic is tied to the theme of our upcoming Annual General Meeting: "Jane Austen in the Arts." It encompasses a wide variety of arts, including fine arts, performance arts, decorative arts, and crafts. The deadline for the essay submissions is June 1 st, 2021.

  16. The Winners of Our 3rd Annual Personal Narrative Essay Contest for

    Published Jan. 20, 2022 Updated Jan. 25, 2022. For a third year, we invited students from 11 to 19 to tell us short, powerful stories about a meaningful life experience for our Personal Narrative ...

  17. 2021 Essay Competition Winner

    The Immerse Education annual essay competition is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to win a scholarship to a Cambridge or Oxford summer school. If you're aged 13-18 and you're interested in applying to the Immerse Education essay competition then please visit our essay competition page for more details.

  18. Essay Competition 2021

    Senior Group Winner. Liza Brook and Eleanor Giles, Year 12, Magdalen College School: La venganza salida mala. Junior Group Winner. Sophie Walker, Elspeth Watson, Antonia Norris, Year 11, Sevenoaks: La santé mentale podcast. Congratulations to the winners of the CLC Competition 2021! We hope you enjoy reading their submissions.

  19. Personal Essay Awards

    Estelle Erasmus, author of Writing That Gets Noticed: Find Your Voice, Become a Better Storyteller, Get Published (June 2023), is a professor of writing at New York University, the host of the Freelance Writing Direct podcast, a contributing editor for Writer's Digest, an instructor at Writer's Digest, and the final judge for the 2024 Writer's Digest personal essay contest.

  20. Goi Peace Foundation

    Source Goi Peace Foundation / UNESCO. Deadline: 15 June 2021. This annual international essay contest is organized in an effort to harness the energy, creativity and initiative of the world's youth in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development. It also aims to inspire society to learn from the young minds and to think about how ...

  21. Your Ultimate Guide to Writing Contests Through 2024

    Prize: 1st: $1,000, publication in The Saturday Evening Post. Runners-up (5): $200. Entry Fee: $10. Deadline: TBD 2024 (Annual Contest) Sponsor: The Saturday Evening Post. From Website: "Unpublished short stories of 1,500 to 5,000 words in any genre touching on the publication's mission, "Celebrating America—past, present, and future.".

  22. Essay Competition:

    The Immerse Education Essay Competition is open to entries from young people aged 13-18 interested in all subjects, from Architecture to Medicine, Creative Writing to Film Studies. However, students aged 18 should only submit an essay if they will still be 18 when the programmes the scholarships are valid for begin.

  23. 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.

  24. FFRF awards $19,600 to 2024 college student essay contest winners

    FFRF has offered essay competitions to college students since 1979, high school students since 1994, grad students since 2010, one exclusively for students of color since 2016 and a fifth contest for law students since 2019. The winning essays will be reprinted or excerpted in the November issue of Freethought Today, FFRF's newspaper.

  25. Call for entries for Indiana Statehood Day Essay Contest

    Winners of the essay contest will be honored on Wednesday, Dec. 11 at in-person ceremonies at the Indiana Statehouse and the Indiana State Museum. The winners will be expected to record their essays as well. Each winner - first place through fourth place - will receive a CollegeChoice 529 deposit of $529 made possible by the Indiana ...

  26. Sixth Circuit Announces Winners of 2024 Student Essay Contest

    The Sixth Circuit Student Essay Contest was open to high school students (grades 9-12) enrolled in public, private, parochial, and charter schools and home-schooled students of equivalent grade status in the four states that comprise the Sixth Circuit (Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio, and Tennessee).

  27. Guidelines for the 2024-25 Nurse Essay Contest

    Nurses, nurses' aides, and nursing students are encouraged to submit to Hektoen International's 2024-2025 Nurse Essay Contest. Submissions will be initially reviewed by the Hektoen International Editorial Staff, followed by a panel of nursing professionals, who will determine the recipients of the following awards: Grand Prize: Single winner of $3,000Runner-Up: Single winner of $2,000 ...

  28. Essay Competition Winners

    2022 Essay Competition Winners. 2022 Essay Competition Winner - Business Management. 2022 Essay Competition Winner - Chemistry. 2022 Essay Competition Winner - 16-18 - Earth Sciences. 2022 Essay Competition Winner - 16-18 - Physics. 2022 Essay Competition Winner - 16-18 - Creative Writing.