85% of Aralia Students Place in Top Writing Competitions
1. Future Scholar Foundation Short Story Competition
The Future Scholar Foundation, a nonprofit co-founded by students, aims to inspire and empower young writers to articulate their thoughts effectively. Through monthly short story contests, the foundation has engaged over 3,000 students from more than 20 U.S. states and 8 countries, helping them grow as creative individuals. With support from the New York Times, Seattle Times, and other media outlets, the foundation provides young voices with a wide-reaching platform to be heard.
Eligibility: Elementary and middle school students around the world
Deadline: Each competition opens on the 1st and closes on the 28th of the month
Entry Fee: Free
November Prompt:
One November morning, a stranger arrives in your town. They’re dressed like they’re from another somewhere far away, and you find that you can’t quite understand what they’re saying. You get the idea that this stranger is searching of critical importance to them – yet they refuse to explain exactly why or what it is they’re looking for. Write a story about a mysterious traveler who arrives in your city, town, or neighborhood – who are they, and what are their intentions?
Students can sign up for one-on-one coaching calls to enhance their writing skills.
Submission Guide: Stories should be within a 350-word limit, though entries slightly over (by 5-15 words) will not be disqualified. Students can submit multiple stories each month.
Prizes:
- 1st Place – $25 Amazon Gift Card, and writing published in their Hall of Fame.
- 2nd Place – $15 Amazon Gift Card, and writing published in their Hall of Fame.
- 3rd Place – $5 Amazon Gift Card, and writing published in their Hall of Fame.
- Runner Up – Writing published in their Hall of Fame.
2. Dante Literary Prize
The Dante Literary Prize is a semi-annual writing contest that celebrates outstanding high school essays on topics related to Western classical literature. They aim to recognize and reward exceptional students who demonstrate intellectual creativity and a deep understanding of these timeless works. The organization believes that by grappling with great books, students gain insights into human nature, moral complexities, and enduring virtues that shape strong, independent thinkers who can contribute positively to the world.
Eligibility: Open to high school students (grades 9-12)
Division:
- Junior Division: Age 11-14 years
- Senior Division: Age 15-18 years
Upcoming Deadlines:
- Winter 2024 Cycle: December 31, 2024
- Spring 2025 Cycle: March 28, 2025
Format:
- Short-form essay on a selected theme related to Western literature
- Finalists will present a 15-minute oral defense on Scholar’s Oratory Day
Winter 2024 Theme: “Echoes of the Classics – Lessons from the Great Books” Choose a work from classical Western literature (e.g., The Iliad, The Odyssey, The Divine Comedy, Don Quixote, Shakespeare’s plays, etc.) and write an original essay exploring how it has influenced your understanding of human nature, moral challenges, or timeless virtues. Connect the work to personal experiences or modern societal issues.
Submission Guidelines:
- Word count: 800-1200 words
- Writing style: Formal, original, and intellectually rigorous
- AI-generated content is prohibited
Prizes:
- Individual prizes for submissions with a passing score
- Gold, Silver, and Bronze medals for finalists based on performance
- Certificates of completion for all participants
Link: https://www.juniorclassicsleague.com/literary-excellence-prize
3. The Incandescent Review Acton Writing Competition
The Incandescent Review is a literary magazine run by students that focuses on amplifying the voices of underrepresented youth and provides young writers with the opportunity to get published. Students in the competition will explore complex topics and propose actionable solutions to real-world issues.
Eligibility: Students aged 14-18
Deadline: September 15, 2024
Entry Fee: Free
Categories: Social Justice & Human Rights, Environmental Sustainability, Technology & Ethics, Economic Innovation, and Global Governance & Policy
Prizes often include publication and cash awards, and the contests are open to international high school students.
Submission Guidelines: Submitted essays should be 1500-2000 words in length
Prizes:
- First Prize: $300 + Publication in our Acton Writing Anthology
- Second Prize: Certificate of Excellence
- Third Prize: Certificate of Excellence
- Shortlisted Entries: Certificates and a feature on our website
Link: https://www.theincandescentreview.org/acton-writing-competition-2024
Unlock Your Writing Potential: Students in Our Writing Competition Preparation Class Are More Likely to Secure Awards
4. WriteCause Writing Contest
WriteCause is a volunteer-run organization that inspires teens to think critically about global issues through quarterly writing contests focused on major world topics. By participating, young writers gain awareness of significant challenges and are encouraged to brainstorm potential solutions while developing their writing skills.
Eligibility: Open to anyone aged 12-18 worldwide
Deadline: September 30, 2024
Submission Types: Accepted forms include poems, short stories, and essays; visual formats like graphic novels and black-out poetry are not accepted. Submissions must be in English. Students may submit individually or in groups; collaborative entries are encouraged and do not affect scoring.
Submission Length: 6,000 characters or fewer
Prompt: Intersectionality is a framework for understanding how individuals’ social and political identities can lead to differences in their treatment, power, and privilege. Factors such as gender, race, and religion have an essential role in determining one’s social identity. Living in a constantly evolving society, it is essential to be aware of the unique identities and circumstances of those around you. Throughout this quarter, we invite you to explore INTERSECTIONALITY and its implications on society, while delving into its impacts on individual experiences and opportunities within the fields of politics, healthcare, education, and more.
Prizes: Winners (Gold, Silver, Bronze Pen) and two honorable mentions will be featured on the WriteCause website in the Winners’ Gallery and receive a Certificate of Achievement.
5. Further your writing skills with Aralia
Aralia is also offering various year-round preparation programs for writing competitions for teen and high school students, along with academic writing courses for students worldwide. Our teachers are more than regular tutors because we are committed to providing the best-personalized support for students’ growth!
This class is offered in the summer every year. Students from 13 to 18 years old wanting to learn how to shape their written English into effective and publishable creative pieces will find this particular Writing Competition course very exciting. The class will be shown a range of tools to learn the nuances of controlled, purposeful writing, including: figurative language, effective structuring and specific forms that they will apply to their own pieces.
