Writing is a skill and something that everyone should be able to do. The best time to practice and learn is in the early stages of life.
The beauty of attending elementary school is that it teaches reading and writing skills; children must learn to write and become proficient in writing before adulthood.
Writing competitions are a great way to get children excited about writing and reading, and they can also help develop their creativity, critical thinking skills, and communication abilities.
Here are 15 writing competitions for children recognized by organizations such as the American Library Association (ALA) and the Young Authors Guild (YAG).
Importance Of Writing Competitions For Children
We can all agree that children are excellent learners who learn quickly and absorb every little detail. The writing competition is an opportunity for children to practice and improve their writing.
Participation in the writing competition is beneficial for children, and they can practice their writing in front of an audience and are rewarded for their unique talent.
When children participate in writing competitions, they get their first experience with competitive writing.
Through competitive writing, children understand the importance of choosing a topic, term, and word count.
Writing Competitions For Children
1. The Write Path
The Write Path is a creative writing contest for young people. It’s open to students in grades 6-8, and they can submit short stories, poems, or essays that are 200 words or less. Winners receive a $1,000 prize!
The Write Path was started by Dan Robinson, who said the goal of this competition is “To give kids who might not normally be encouraged or inspired with their writing skills someone else who thinks it’s great.”
2. Ron Hubbard’s Writers Of The Future Contest
The renowned L. Ron Hubbard’s “Writers of the Future Contest” is open to writers of all ages, in all genres, and from around the world.
The contest is also open to unpublished authors and those who have not yet published their books, so long as they are still writing them, you can submit up to three manuscripts.
You may not need to be a professional writer or have any training at all; if you have an idea for your own story, then this competition could be just what you need.
3. PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest
Write a story about a character from one of PBS Kids’ shows. The contest is open to children ages 13 and under, so if your child has an imagination and loves reading, this could be the perfect opportunity to give them something fun to do over the summer.
The entry fee for this competition is $10, but don’t worry. You won’t have to pay again if you win! Your child will receive the following:
- A savings bond worth $500 (which can be used as collateral)
- An autographed copy of your winning book
4. Young Author Writing Contest
This is a writing contest for children ages 8-12 and 13-17. The topic can be any topic, and the entry fee is $10.
Deadline: April 1, 2020 (or when entries are received). Prizes include $500, $200, and $100 for each participant who wins.
5. Letters About Literature
What: A competition for children aged between five and eight years old. It’s open to all babies, toddlers, and preschoolers who can write their names in English or Spanish.
The competition runs between March 1st and 31st every year, with a winner chosen at the end of each month. The winning entries are published in a book for children that also includes poems by other writers.
You must complete an online application form with your name, address, email address, contact details, and details about yourself, including your age group.
6. American Board Of Pediatrics Writing Awards Program
The American Board of Pediatrics is a non-profit organization that provides educational services and certifications in pediatrics.
They also offer various writing competitions for children, ranging from grade school to college.
The awards are based on your child’s performance in the writing competition, not their score on a standardized test.
In order to enter these competitions, you will need to contact them directly via postal mail or email and request an application form along with instructions on how to submit it.
7. SCBWI (Society Of Children’s Book Writers And Illustrators) Writing Contests
SCBWI is a non-profit organization that provides resources and services to writers.
SCBWI offers writing contests for young adult (YA) and middle-grade fiction, picture book manuscripts, poetry, and nonfiction.
The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) hosts numerous writing competitions each year.
These competitions offer prizes in the form of cash awards or publication contracts with major publishing houses such as HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House Press, or Macmillan Children’s Books/Penguin Random House U.K. Limited Partnership.
8. National Geographic Photo Contest
The National Geographic Photo Contest is a great way for kids to get involved in the world of photography. The entry fee is $15, which includes all processing and shipping costs.
All photos are submitted online, so you don’t need to worry about printing out your submission or anything like that. The age limit for this competition is 13-18 years old, the minimum age requirement.
There’s no upper age limit because they want to make sure it’s possible for someone who doesn’t feel comfortable with technology yet can still take their own photos.
After all of your entries have been entered into a computer database by one person at NGP staff headquarters in New York City, they will be put through some automated processes before being sent off again.
9. C-SPAN StudentCam Documentary Competition
C-SPAN StudentCam is a documentary competition that allows students in grades 9-12 to make their own documentaries.
Students must submit a 10-minute video, which must be related to civics and government.
The videos then go through an audition process and are put on C-SPAN’s website so they can be viewed by people worldwide.
The winning team gets $5,000 and may also be invited to attend an exclusive awards ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C.
10. The Christopher Columbus Awards
The Christopher Columbus Awards is an annual awards ceremony that honors the best in children’s literature.
It is sponsored by the Children’s Book Council and The International Reading Association.
In its 40-year history, it has awarded over $1 million to authors, illustrators, editors, and publishers who have made significant contributions to children’s literature.
The International Reading Association administers this award program on behalf of CIRA (the Conference on Information Literacy Research), which develops research into reading comprehension in school settings worldwide.
11. National PTA Reflections Program
The National PTA Reflections Program is open to students in grades 6-12. Students are encouraged to submit a reflection on their school, community, or life experience that captures their feelings about the past year and what they will do differently next year.
Submissions should be 800 words or less, and topics must be based on the theme of the year: “What Makes Me Proud” (2019) or “What Am I Learning About?” (2020).
12. Do The Write Thing Challenge Essay Contest
This Challenge Essay Contest is open to students in grades 6-12 who reside in all 50 states and are interested in writing.
All participants must be of good moral character and be able to complete their essays on topics related to the contest theme: “The Magic of Writing.”
The deadline for entry into this year’s competition is February 14, 2020, at midnight EST (GMT-5).
13. Global Youth Justice Challenge Essay Contest
The Global Youth Justice Challenge Essay Contest is open to middle and high school students in the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States.
Students will be asked to write an essay on a topic related to juvenile justice or juvenile justice reform.
The winner will receive $2,500 in cash prizes (1st place), $1,000 in books (2nd place), $500 in magazines (3rd place), and $250 for honorable mention(s).
14. Compass Book Awards
Compass Book Awards is a competition for children’s books. It’s open to students in grades 4-8; you can submit your book online or by mail.
There are three categories: fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. The award winners are announced at the National Book Awards ceremony.
15. National Science Fair Competition
The National Science Fair Competition is an annual event in the United States.
It is sponsored by the Department of Energy, with support from other organizations such as NASA and NSF (National Science Foundation).
The competition was first held in 1950, but it wasn’t until 1963 that it became an official event. The age groups for this competition are K-12, College/University, and Undergraduate.
In order to enter this competition, you must be a high school or college student who has completed your sophomore year of college at least one year before entering your senior year.
You must also have been accepted into any accredited university with either full-time or part-time enrollment options.
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FAQ
Are Writing Contests Worth Entering?
They give you experience. They will help you perfect your craft. It teaches you to meet deadlines and pay attention to instructions. It’s worth your time and a few dollars to try.
What Are The 5 Types Of Writing?
There are only five main types of writing: expository, descriptive, persuasive, narrative, and journal or letter writing. Each genre of writing has a unique purpose and requires different skills.
Can You Get Caught Using An Essay Writer?
If you hire a low-rated essay writing service, you could be exposed. Students who buy poorly written essays and articles from essay-writing companies are subject to heavy penalties. However, you can avoid these risks by hiring a professional service.
How Much Money Does A Children’s Author Make?
ZipRecruiter sees annual salaries as high as $101,000 and as low as $18,500. Most Children’s Book Writer salaries currently range from $30,500 (25th percentile) to $56,000 (75th percentile), with the highest earners (90 . percentile) earning $79.50 per year in the US. of states.
How Fast Should A 10-Year-Old Write?
Speed was calculated as the number of letters typed per minute. In a study by Ziviani and Watson-Will (1998), the average writing speed was 69.9 ± 33.8 letters/min for boys aged 7 to 14 years and 55.18 ± 17.87 letters/min for boys aged 7 to 10 years.
Which Age Is Best For Writing?
Basic (ages 8-10) – Write more complex sentences and start learning to self-edit your work. They will also begin to understand the process of planning, to draft, and revising their written work. Many children also start keyboarding for longer written assignments at this age.
Can A 10-Year-Old Be A Writer?
Children’s authors show us that there is no minimum age to sit at a bestseller’s table. From epic fantasy to dating advice, these young writers have great ideas to share.
Can A 10-Year-Old Write And Publish A Book?
You can be any age as long as an adult is ready to help.
Does Creative Writing Increase IQ?
Every day makes you smarter (especially if you write by hand). Writing makes you think. Some studies even show that handwriting increases cognitive activity and can make you smarter if you put down the keyboard and handwrite.
Why Is My Child Slow In Writing?
All young children have some difficulty when it comes to writing or perfecting their handwriting.
However, if your child’s handwriting is consistently distorted or unclear, it may be due to a learning disability called dysgraphia. This nervous system problem affects the fine motor skills needed to write.
Conclusion
There are many writing competitions for children to enter. The common thing is that they encourage young writers to experiment with their writing style and improve their skills.
Now, all you need to do is find the right competition for yourself.