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Creative writing competitions for high school students are an open invitation to stretch your imagination, voice and craft. Whether you gravitate toward fiction, poetry, scripts or memoir, these contests give young writers the platform and permission to explore ideas that might not fit in a classroom essay. There’s something liberating about writing with an audience in mind, but the real joy often comes from discovering what you have to say.
Some competitions are themed – perhaps a specific genre, prompt or line – while others are wide open, welcoming entries in any form or subject. Judging panels may include teachers, authors, journalists or even fellow students. Most look for originality, authenticity, and technical care: it’s not just what you say, but how you shape it.
Winning isn’t the only goal. Many competitions offer feedback, publication or workshops, creating space for writers to connect and grow. And with more international platforms opening up to school-age entrants, the reach is broader than ever.
If you’re someone who writes in the margins, builds worlds in your head, or loves playing with language, there’s almost certainly a competition that will feel like home – or a launchpad.
To enter these writing competitions, find additional tips, and find competitions across many other disciplines visit succeed.immerse.education/competitions.
Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize
Leonard L. Milberg ’53 High School Poetry Prize is an annual contest run by Princeton University’s Lewis Center for the Arts to recognize outstanding work by U.S. high school juniors. Students submit up to three original poems, which are judged by Princeton’s creative writing faculty. The competition aims to encourage young poets and foster a love of poetry at the pre-college level.
Type of competition: High school poetry competition.
Prize: First prize $500; second prize $250; third prize $100; all winners receive certificates and are invited to a celebratory event at Princeton.
Eligibility: U.S. high school juniors (11th grade).
Guidelines: Submit up to three original poems in English. Entries must be submitted online and accompanied by a statement of originality. Poems should not have been previously published or submitted to other contests.
More details can be found on the Princeton University website.
Ocean Awareness Contest for High School Students
Ocean Awareness Contest, organized by Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs, invites students aged 11–18 worldwide to explore ocean conservation and environmental issues through art, poetry, prose, film, music, and interactive media. The contest’s annual theme encourages creative reflection on the human relationship with oceans, climate change, and environmental justice. Entries are judged on creativity, message, and understanding of environmental issues.
Type of competition: Multidisciplinary creative contest (writing, poetry, art, film, music).
Prize: Cash awards up to $1,500, scholarships, publication, and exhibition opportunities.
Eligibility: Students aged 11–18 worldwide, in middle and high school divisions.
Guidelines: Submit original work in one of several categories (poetry, prose, art, music, etc.) responding to the annual theme. Entries must be accompanied by a reflection and meet category-specific requirements.
More details can be found on the Bow Seat website.
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The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition
The Canterbury Tales Writing Competition is an annual contest run by the Chaucer Heritage Trust, inviting students aged 5–18 to write poetry or stories inspired by Geoffrey Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales or its themes. The competition encourages creative engagement with medieval literature and offers prompts that change each year (e.g., “Surprise, Surprise!” for 2024–25).
Type of competition: Poetry and story competition.
Prize: Book tokens, certificates, and publication on the Chaucer Heritage Trust website.
Eligibility: Students aged 5–18, UK and international.
Guidelines: Submit a poem or story (length varies by age group) inspired by the annual theme. Entries must be original and submitted by a teacher or parent.
More details can be found on the Chaucer Heritage Trust website.
Join the Immerse Education 2025 Essay Competition
Follow the instructions to write and submit your best essay for a chance to be awarded a 100% scholarship.
Poem:99 Children’s Poetry Competition
An annual contest for children aged 4–14, encouraging them to write and submit original poems. The competition aims to foster creativity and confidence in young writers, with winners published in a special anthology.
Type of competition: Children’s poetry competition.
Prize: Certificates, anthology publication, and poetry-related prizes.
Eligibility: Children aged 4–14.
Guidelines: Submit an original poem (no set theme or length). Entries must be the child’s own work and submitted via the competition website or by mail.
More details can be found on the Poem:99 website.
The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award
The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious creative writing competitions for high school students, run by The Poetry Society. It invites poets aged 11–17 from around the globe to submit up to six poems on any theme or style. Winners receive mentoring, publication, and opportunities to participate in poetry events and workshops.
Type of competition: International youth poetry competition.
Prize: Top 15 winners receive mentoring, publication in the Foyle Young Poets anthology, and invitations to poetry events; 85 commended poets also published and celebrated.
Eligibility: Poets aged 11–17 worldwide.
Guidelines: Submit up to six original, unpublished poems in English. Entries can be on any theme and must be submitted online or by post.
More details can be found on the Poetry Society website.
Rachel Carson Intergenerational Sense of Wonder / Sense of the Wild Contest
This annual contest encourages intergenerational teams (children and adults) to explore and celebrate the natural world through poetry, essays, photos, or dance. Inspired by environmentalist Rachel Carson, the contest fosters environmental awareness and creative expression across generations.
Type of competition: Intergenerational creative contest (poetry, essay, photography, dance).
Prize: Certificates, publication on the contest website, and recognition by environmental organizations.
Eligibility: Intergenerational teams (at least one child and one adult), international.
Guidelines: Submit an original poem, essay, photograph, or dance video inspired by nature. Entries must include a brief statement about the intergenerational collaboration.
More details can be found on the Rachel Carson Landmark Alliance website.
Time to Write
Time to Write Creative Writing Competition is a UK-based contest for students aged 7–13, run by the Independent Schools Examinations Board (ISEB). The competition encourages children to write original stories or poems on a set theme, aiming to foster creativity and literacy.
Type of competition: Creative writing competition (story or poem).
Prize: Book tokens, certificates, and publication in the ISEB anthology.
Eligibility: Students aged 7–13, UK and international.
Guidelines: Submit an original story or poem on the annual theme. Entries must be submitted via a school or teacher.
More details can be found on the Time to Write website.
Write On Creative Writing Competition
Write On Competition is an annual creative writing contest for students aged 7–18, encouraging them to submit original stories or poems on a given theme. The competition is open internationally and aims to inspire young writers to develop their voice and creativity.
Type of competition: Creative writing competition (story or poem).
Prize: Publication, certificates, and writing-related prizes.
Eligibility: Students aged 7–18, international.
Guidelines: Submit an original story or poem (length and theme vary by year). Entries must be submitted via the competition website.
More details can be found on the Write On Competition website.
10-Minute Play Festival
10-Minute Play Festival is an annual competition run by Actors Studio, inviting writers of all ages to submit original 10-minute plays. The festival provides a platform for emerging playwrights to have their work performed and critiqued by theatre professionals.
Type of competition: Playwriting competition.
Prize: Staged reading or production of winning plays, feedback from professionals, and certificates.
Eligibility: Open to all ages, international.
Guidelines: Submit an original 10-minute play (typically 8–10 pages). Plays must be unpublished and unproduced.
More details can be found on the Actors Studio website.
Immerse Education Essay Competition
The Immerse Education Essay Competition may not immediately come to mind when considering creative writing competitions for high school students. The competition invites students to explore thought-provoking questions across a wide range of subjects. For those who wish to write in a more narrative or imaginative style, there is a Creative Writing question available, allowing essays to take a more creative or story-driven form – and allowing you to reflect on the art of creative writing.
Type of competition: Subject-based essay competition, with an option for creative writing.
Prize: 100% scholarships to attend 2-week academic and professional programmes with Immerse Education – including Creative Writing programmes.
Eligibility: Students aged 13–18, worldwide.
Guidelines: Choose a question from the available subjects and write an original 500-word essay. Creative Writing submissions are welcome for students who prefer to write in a narrative or fictional format. Previous Creative Writing questions include “What key factors drive a narrative?” and “How have pieces of creative writing or film been used to address issues that matter to their
creator(s)? Choose one example and explore its effectiveness.”
Find more detailson the Immerse Education Essay Competition website.
The Betjeman Poetry Prize
The Betjeman Poetry Prize is a UK poetry competition for children aged 10–13, established in memory of poet Sir John Betjeman. The contest encourages young people to write poems on the theme of “place,” celebrating imagination and observation.
Type of competition: Children’s poetry competition.
Prize: £500 for the winner, £500 for the winner’s school, and poetry-related prizes for runners-up.
Eligibility: Children aged 10–13, UK.
Guidelines: Submit an original poem on the theme of “place.” Entries must be the child’s own work and you can submit online or by post.
More details can be found on the Betjeman Poetry Prize website.
Christopher Tower Poetry Competition for High School Students
Christopher Tower Poetry Competition is a prestigious annual contest run by Christ Church, Oxford, for UK students aged 16–18. Entrants submit poems on a set theme, with winners receiving cash prizes and publication.
Type of competition: Youth poetry competition.
Prize: First prize £5,000; second £3,000; third £1,500; publication and invitation to a prize ceremony at Oxford.
Eligibility: UK students aged 16–18.
Guidelines: Submit an original poem on the annual theme. Only one poem per entrant; must be unpublished.
Find more details on the Tower Poetry website.
Royal Mint Short Story Competition
Royal Mint Short Story Competition is an annual contest run by the Royal Mint Museum, inviting children to submit stories inspired by coins, history, or the Royal Mint’s heritage.
Type of competition: Children’s short story competition.
Prize: Publication, certificates, and Royal Mint-themed prizes.
Eligibility: Age categories vary.
Guidelines: Submit an original short story inspired by the Royal Mint or coins. Entries must be the child’s own work.
More details can be found on the Royal Mint Museum website.
The Stephen Spender Prize for Poetry
Unlike our other recommended creative writing competitions for high school students, the Stephen Spender Prize for Poetry in Translation doesn’t involve original work.This annual UK competition invites entrants of all ages to translate a poem from any language into English, accompanied by a commentary. The contest celebrates linguistic diversity and the art and creativity behind successful translation.
Type of competition: Poetry translation competition.
Prize: Cash prizes, publication, and certificates.
Eligibility: Open to all ages, UK and international, with specific youth categories.
Guidelines: Submit an English translation of a published poem, with a commentary explaining translation choices. Entries must be original translations and include the original poem.
More details can be found on the Stephen Spender Prize website.
If this has sparked your inner storyteller, there’s plenty more to discover. You’ll find dozens of creative writing competitions for high school students — from poetry prizes to flash fiction calls — at succeed.immerse.education/competitions. The blank page is calling, and your words could go further than you think.
