Awesome Writing Contests for Teens to Enter in 2025

If you love to write and you're a teen, joining a writing contest is a fun way to show off your skills, meet other young writers, and even win prizes. Whether you’re into poetry, fiction, essays, or something in between, there’s a contest out there with your name on it. Let’s check out some of the best writing contests for teens happening this year.

1. Horizon Academic Essay Prize

The Horizon Academic Essay Prize invites high school writers to tackle one of three big-picture prompts on AI, privacy, or social media. Essays are capped at 1,000 words and judged by faculty from top global universities.

• Category: Academic essay

• Who can enter: Any student enrolled in high school on September 1, 2025 (worldwide)

• Awards: Up to $1,000 cash plus Horizon research scholarships

• Cost to enter: Free

• Submission window: Opens May 1, closes July 13; winners announced August 26

• Judging criteria: Originality, depth of analysis, use of evidence, structure, clarity

Why Choose This Contest

If you love research-driven arguments and want feedback from academic experts, this is a prestigious opportunity with generous prizes.

2. The New York Times Learning Network Summer Reading Contest

Each week of the summer, teens respond (150-300 words) to any article or piece from The New York Times that resonated with them.

• Category: Short reflective response

• Who can enter: Ages 13-19

• Awards: Publication on The New York Times website

• Cost to enter: Free

• Submission window: Weekly rounds from June to late August

• Judging criteria: Personal connection, clarity, thoughtfulness, writing quality

Why Choose This Contest

It’s a low-pressure way to sharpen your analytical writing and get featured by a major news outlet.

3. Scholastic Art & Writing Awards

This well-known national contest features 28 writing categories, from poetry and flash fiction to journalism and memoir.

• Category: Multiple (poetry, short story, essay, etc.)

• Who can enter: Students in grades 7-12 in the U.S. and Canada

• Awards: Medals, exhibitions, and scholarships up to $12,500

• Cost to enter: $10 per piece, $30 per portfolio (fee waivers available)

• Submission window: Fall through early winter, deadlines vary by region

• Judging criteria: Originality, technical skill, personal voice

Why Choose This Contest

Prestigious and wide-ranging, this contest is perfect for building a standout college application.

4. Young Authors Writing Competition (Columbia College Chicago)

This annual competition encourages students to submit poetry, fiction, or nonfiction up to 10 pages.

• Category: Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry

• Who can enter: High school students worldwide

• Awards: Cash prizes and potential publication

• Cost to enter: Free

• Submission window: Typically September to mid-November

• Judging criteria: Originality, style, technical ability, strength of voice

Why Choose This Contest

It’s free to enter and offers a chance to be recognized by a respected arts college.

5. River of Words Youth Art and Poetry Contest

This nature-themed contest invites poems and art that explore environmental awareness and connections to local ecosystems.

• Category: Poetry and visual art

• Who can enter: Ages 5–19, enrolled in school

• Awards: Publication in annual anthology, certificates

• Cost to enter: Free

• Submission window: October 15 – January 31

• Judging criteria: Originality, vivid imagery, emotional connection to nature

Why Choose This Contest

Perfect for creative teens who care about the environment and love expressing it through words or art.

6. John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest

Write about a U.S. elected official who took a courageous political stand and explore what made their actions bold.

• Category: Historical-political essay

• Who can enter: U.S. high school students (grades 9–12)

• Awards: $10,000 top prize, plus runner-up and finalist awards

• Cost to enter: Free

• Submission window: September to mid-January

• Judging criteria: Understanding of political courage, quality of research, clarity, originality

Why Choose This Contest

It's highly respected, with a generous prize and a strong emphasis on civic awareness and writing skill.

7. Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award

This international contest accepts poems on any theme or style and is one of the most competitive poetry prizes for teens.

• Category: Poetry

• Who can enter: Ages 11–17 worldwide

• Awards: Mentorship, publication, and certificates for winners and commended poets

• Cost to enter: Free

• Submission window: Deadline is July 31

• Judging criteria: Original voice, emotional depth, poetic skill

Why Choose This Contest

Highly regarded with global reach, Foyle gives young poets a chance to shine and grow their craft.

8. Write the World Nature Poetry Competition

Write the World hosts monthly themed contests, and the nature poetry edition focuses on experiences in the natural world.

• Category: Poetry

• Who can enter: Ages 13–19 worldwide

• Awards: Cash prizes and publication

• Cost to enter: Free

• Submission window: January (exact dates vary yearly)

• Judging criteria: Creativity, use of language, connection to theme

Why Choose This Contest

Great for receiving feedback, getting published, and joining an active community of young writers.

9. Harvard International Economics Essay Competition (HIEEC)

Choose one of several economics-based prompts and write a thoughtful, researched essay on a global issue.

• Category: Economics essay

• Who can enter: High school students worldwide

• Awards: Publication, recognition by Harvard students and faculty

• Cost to enter: $20 (U.S.) or $30 (International); waivers available

• Submission window: November to early January

• Judging criteria: Originality, argument strength, use of evidence, writing clarity

Why Choose This Contest

It’s ideal for students interested in economics and policy, with the bonus of Harvard-level visibility.

10. World Historian Student Essay Competition

Submit a 1,000-word essay that connects a personal or family story to broader world history themes.

• Category: Personal-historical essay

• Who can enter: K–12 students worldwide

• Awards: $500 and a year-long membership in the World History Association

• Cost to enter: Free

• Submission window: Deadline is May 1

• Judging criteria: Personal insight, historical connection, structure, clarity

Why Choose This Contest

It’s a unique way to tie personal heritage to historical themes, while also earning cash and academic recognition.

11. Ocean Awareness Contest – Creative Writing Category

This contest invites students to reflect on the environment and our relationship with nature through creative writing.

• Category: Poetry, fiction, and nonfiction

• Who can enter: Ages 11–18

• Awards: Up to $1,000 in prizes

• Cost to enter: Free

• Submission window: Opens fall, deadline is June 9

• Judging criteria: Creativity, message clarity, impact, originality

Why Choose This Contest

Great for creative writers who are passionate about the planet and want to be part of an activist community.

12. YoungArts National Writing Competition

A prestigious national competition that supports students in genres like fiction, nonfiction, poetry, script, and spoken word.

• Category: Multiple writing genres

• Who can enter: U.S. students in grades 10–12 or ages 15–18

• Awards: $250–$10,000 and eligibility for National YoungArts Week

• Cost to enter: $35 (fee waivers available)

• Submission window: Opens July

• Judging criteria: Originality, artistic potential, technical skill

Why Choose This Contest

Known for opening doors to elite arts programs, YoungArts offers mentorship, visibility, and financial rewards.

13. The Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose

These prizes are awarded to standout poetry and prose submissions by teen and college writers.

• Category: Poetry or prose (creative fiction or nonfiction)

• Who can enter: High school and college students

• Awards: $200 per category, publication in The Adroit Journal

• Cost to enter: $15 (waivers available)

• Submission window: Deadline is May 1

• Judging criteria: Literary quality, originality, craft

Why Choose This Contest

If you’re looking for elite literary publication and professional validation, Adroit is a smart step.

14. Ten-Minute Play Contest (Princeton University)

Submit a short play (up to 10 pages) for this high-profile contest from Princeton’s Lewis Center for the Arts.

• Category: Drama/scriptwriting

• Who can enter: 11th-grade students

• Awards: $100–$500 and potential publication

• Cost to enter: Free

• Submission window: Fall to early winter (closes after 250 submissions)

• Judging criteria: Structure, dialogue, originality, dramatic impact

Why Choose This Contest

It’s perfect for aspiring playwrights looking to get feedback and exposure from an Ivy League institution.

15. Ayn Rand Institute – Anthem Essay Contest

Analyze the philosophical themes in Ayn Rand’s novella Anthem through a personal, structured essay.

• Category: Literary/philosophical essay

• Who can enter: Students in 8th–10th grade

• Awards: Up to $2,000, with many runner-up prizes

• Cost to enter: Free

• Submission window: Deadline is July 31

• Judging criteria: Depth of understanding, structure, clarity, originality

Why Choose This Contest

It’s an easy way to enter the essay contest world and potentially earn scholarship money, all while improving your persuasive writing.

Tips for Entering Writing Contests as a Teen

Joining a writing contest can be exciting, but it also helps to go in prepared. Here are some simple tips to give your submission the best shot:

• Start early: Give yourself enough time to brainstorm, write, edit, and revise. Rushing the night before rarely leads to your best work.

• Follow the rulesL Read the contest guidelines carefully. Pay close attention to word limits, formatting, and deadlines.

• Write for the prompt: If there’s a specific theme or question, make sure your piece clearly connects to it. Judges want to see that you read and understood the assignment.

• Be original: Judges read a lot of similar ideas. Share your unique voice, perspective, or story. Even familiar topics can feel fresh when told from a personal angle.

• Edit and proofread: Typos and grammar issues can distract from great ideas. Ask a teacher, parent, or friend to read your work with fresh eyes.

• Submit with confidence: Don’t second-guess yourself. Hit submit, and be proud that you shared your work with the world.

Writing With Freewrite: Our Focused Tools for Contest Success

We created theFreewrite family of devices because we know how easy it is for writers to lose momentum when pop-ups, pings, and endless browser tabs get in the way. By stripping out every distraction and giving you a clean E Ink or LCD canvas, we help you sink into the flow state that contest-winning drafts demand. Whether you are hammering out an essay for the Horizon Academic Prize or polishing a poem for Foyle, Freewrite keeps you locked on the words and nothing else.

From the ultra-portable Traveler to the all-aluminum Wordrunner keyboard that shows your live word count, each tool is tuned for fast, fearless drafting. Seamless cloud syncing means your work lands safely in Google Drive, Dropbox, or Evernote the moment you reconnect, so you can edit and format later without breaking focus now. Writers in our community routinely double their hourly word count and tell us those extra pages are the difference between submitting on time and missing a deadline.

If you want to join them, now is the perfect moment. We built these devices so you can chase contest glory without the digital noise. Power up, press one key, and let the words run free.

Alpha (Raven Black with Backlight)

Alpha is Freewrite’s lightweight, distraction-free writing tool designed to keep you focused and in the zone. With a warm backlight, minimal interface, and no internet browser, Alpha is built for writers who want to sit down, tune out the noise, and simply write. Whether you're working at a café, on a plane, or at your kitchen table, Alpha makes it easy to get words on the page without the usual digital clutter.

It weighs less than 2 pounds, fits easily into a backpack, and can store up to one million words. The mechanical keyboard is smooth and satisfying to type on, while the anti-glare screen displays just a few lines at a time so you're not overwhelmed by a full page. Alpha also syncs automatically to the cloud when connected to Wi-Fi, and backs up your work to Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or Evernote.

Key Features:

• Warm backlight with 5 brightness levels for day or night writing

• Ultra-light at just 1.6 lbs with 100-hour battery life

• Mechanical keyboard with low-profile switches for comfortable typing

• Automatic cloud syncing and offline file transfer via USB

• Supports 30+ languages and 60+ keyboard layouts

Traveler

Traveler is the grab-and-go writing buddy built for life away from your desk. It weighs about the same as a paperback and folds up to roughly half the footprint of a laptop, so slipping it into a backpack or tote is easy. Its E Ink display uses ambient light, meaning you can draft under bright sun without eye strain. Because it has zero apps or browser tabs, you stay in the flow and finish drafts faster.

When you reconnect to Wi-Fi, every word you wrote syncs straight to the cloud via Postbox, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, or Evernote. A four-week battery keeps you writing through long travel days, while the smooth scissor-switch keyboard offers laptop-quality comfort. Traveler supports dozens of languages and layouts, so you can keep typing even if inspiration strikes on another continent.

Key Features:

• Featherweight 1.6 lb body that fits anywhere

• Glare-free E Ink screen with adjustable angle for sunny or low-light work

• Full-size scissor-switch keyboard with 2 mm travel for comfortable sessions

• Automatic cloud backup plus offline USB transfer for peace of mind

• Four-week battery life based on 30 minutes of daily writing

Smart Typewriter

Smart Typewriter is Freewrite’s flagship desktop device for writers who crave a classic feel without old-school hassles. Its sturdy die-cast aluminum shell and retractable handle echo vintage typewriters, while the built-in E Ink screen with frontlight lets you draft day or night without glare. By separating drafting from editing, the Smart Typewriter keeps your head in your story instead of in menus and notifications.

Under your fingertips are Kailh Box Brown mechanical switches rated for 50 million presses, paired with thick PBT keycaps that resist shine and wear. Like every Freewrite, it saves your words locally and to the cloud, so nothing vanishes. A long-lasting battery and wide Wi-Fi support round out a tool that feels like a faithful writing companion, not another gadget.

Key Features:

• Rugged all-aluminum body with built-in handle for easy carrying

• Front-lit E Ink display that stays readable in any lighting

• Mechanical keyboard with Kailh Box Browns for tactile precision

• Continuous local and cloud saves to Postbox, Dropbox, Drive, and more

• Multi-week battery designed for marathon drafting sessions

Alpha Cosmic Edition

Alpha Cosmic Edition takes the stripped-down power of Alpha and wraps it in a space-inspired terrazzo finish, complete with a custom felt sleeve. Weighing under 2 lbs, it travels anywhere and starts up instantly, ready to capture ideas at home, in a cabin, or on a midnight stargazing trip. The warm backlight offers five brightness levels, so late-night writing feels cozy rather than glaring.

Cosmic stores up to one million words and backs them up the moment it hits Wi-Fi, syncing with major cloud services through Postbox. The low-profile mechanical keyboard keeps typing quiet yet satisfying, while 100 hours of battery life mean you can unplug for days. It is the same focused drafting experience Alpha fans love, now with a style that sparks imagination.

Key Features:

• Terrazzo-speckled finish plus exclusive felt sleeve for on-the-go protection

• Warm five-level backlight for comfortable day or night writing

• Light 1.6 lb frame with 100-hour battery for extended unplugged sessions

• Instant cloud sync and offline USB transfer to keep every draft safe

• Supports 30+ languages and 60+ keyboard layouts for global creativity

Smart Typewriter Valentine

TheSmart Typewriter Valentine isn’t just a writing tool - it’s a design statement. Inspired by the iconic 1969 Italian Valentine typewriter, this limited edition device is bold, and built to stand out. It blends retro flair with modern tech to give writers a focused, distraction-free experience that feels both stylish and deeply intentional.

Inside the aluminum shell is the same powerful drafting engine as the original Smart Typewriter: a mechanical keyboard with satisfying tactile switches, a crisp E Ink display for eye comfort, and seamless syncing to cloud services. It also comes with a specially designed carrying case and strap system, turning the whole setup into a portable, eye-catching writing studio.

Key Features:

• Striking aluminum body inspired by 1969 Italian design

• E Ink screen with frontlight for glare-free writing anytime

• Water-resistant fitted carrying case with strap included

• Cloud sync plus offline backup via USB for safe storage anywhere

Hemingwrite (Ernest Hemingway Signature Edition)

TheHemingwrite is a tribute to literary legend Ernest Hemingway and the writing life he lived. Designed in collaboration with the Hemingway estate, it combines the rugged durability of the Smart Typewriter with premium finishes and meaningful extras. From the green keycaps to the raw aluminum body that ages with a patina over time, every detail feels deliberate.

This special edition also includes a genuine leather attaché case with a velvet interior, giving your device the same level of care and style Hemingway might have packed for a journey. Beneath the surface, it’s powered by the same distraction-free tech - E Ink screen, mechanical keys, cloud backup - that makes Freewrite devices a hit among focused writers.

Key Features:

• Hand-polished raw aluminum body with green keycaps

• Laser-engraved Hemingway signature on the chassis

• Includes luxury leather attaché case with velvet lining

• Mechanical keyboard and E Ink screen for long, comfortable sessions

• Built-in cloud sync and USB transfer for secure writing backups

Conclusion

If you’re a teen who loves to write, there’s never been a better time to put your words out into the world. Whether you're into poetry, essays, fiction, or plays, there’s a writing contest out there with your name on it. These competitions are more than just chances to win prizes – they’re a great way to challenge yourself, get feedback, and connect with a bigger writing community.

So pick a contest that speaks to you, read the guidelines carefully, and go for it. You never know where one great piece of writing might take you. Happy writing, and good luck!

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