Byline Magazine

Prompt: Write an alphabet poem. You can write a cute poem about a single letter. Another idea is to write a 26-line poem with each letter starting a new line to your poem.

Prizes: 1st=$35 2nd=$20 3rd=$10

Ages: All ages

Entry Fee: $3

Entry Deadline: December 12, 2008

Website: Byline Magazine

Write 2 Help!

Prompt: Write a short story about anything that you like!
Prizes: 1st=$1,000 2nd=$250 3rd=$100
Ages: 13+
Entry Fee: $10
Deadline: December 20, 2008
Website: Write 2 Help

The Austin Chronicle Short Story Contest!

Prompt: Write a short story that is no longer than 2,500 words.
Prize: $1500 divided among five winners!
Entry Deadline: December 15, 2008
Ages: All ages (you will be competing among adults)
Entry Fee: Free!
Website: The Austin Chronicle

Zaner-Bloser National Handwriting Contest

Prompt: Your teacher will have to do pick you to enter you into the contest. (Only one per classroom.) If you use Zaner-Bloser Handwriting products in your classroom AND you have good handwriting...you could win!
Prize: You will receive prizes totaling $1500 plus a computer for your school!
Entry Deadline: March 2, 2009
Ages: Grades 1-8
Entry Fee: Free!
Website: Zaner-Bloser Handwriting

The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of 2009

What is the prompt? Submit art or creative writing.

Prizes: Scholarships from a pool of 3.25 million in tuition support.

Entry Deadline: There are various regional deadlines that range from November until January.

Ages: Grades 7-12

Entry Fee: FREE!

Website: The Scholastic Art and Writing Awards of 2009.

My Very Good Reason For Not Posting in Awhile!

My students won a contest!!! Three of them! I am so excited. I will post details about it after they know. We are keeping it a secret until December 5 so they can be presented with a high honor! It's weird, I feel as though I have won it myself. (How bad is that?) I am gearing up to go to the NCTE conference in San Antonio this weekend. I went to the same conference in Denver ten years ago and I can't wait to go again. I am hoping that my blog will get some readership after I network with some teachers. If you are around the San Antonio area this weekend, check out this conference. A lot of professors, authors, and teachers will be taking over San Antonio!

And the other reason I haven't posted in awhile is....we just got a Nintendo Wii. It is losing its luster so I should be up and running again. =)

My Home: The American Dream Contest

What is the prompt? Tell your own story, through both images and words, about how your home, apartment, or condominium is a special place to build memories and dreams for the future.
Prizes: 3 prizes of $2,000 and 7 prizes of $500! For teachers: There will be 3 classroom prizes! Teachers will receive a document camera valued at $600.
Entry Deadline: December 8, 2008
Ages: Grades K through 8
Entry Fee: FREE!
Website: The American Dream Contest through Scholastic

**All entries must combine a visual and written/oral component. For example, an essay without illustrations will not be considered.

Texas Book Festival!

All good writers read. A LOT. Instead, of posting a contest, I am going to encourage you to go to the Texas Book Festival. There are authors every hour at the Capitol in downtown Austin. There is a Cookbook Tent, a Children's Tent, and authors speaking on multiple subjects. Today was a reminder to me of how lucky I am that I moved to Austin. Tomorrow is going to be even better! Go to the Texas Book Festival. And write me a note about how much you LOVED it!

Website: Texas Book Festival

UIL Writing Competition

What is the prompt? Write a story for your school's UIL competition. (Texas)
Prizes? Last year, the winners received $250. The winners from 2008 will be presenting their stories Saturday at the Texas Book Festival.
Entry Deadline: March. However, stop by to hear the 2008 winners at 2:00 in our State Capitol in the Capitol Extension Room.
Ages: Junior High and High School
Website: Texas Book Festival

I will post more specific information closer to the date of the competition. If you live in or around Austin, I encourage you to attend the Texas Book Festival. I will be camped out there all weekend. (It is like Christmas for me!) A great place to eat while you are there is the Texas Chili Parlor.

Next Step Magazine

What is the prompt? Write a first person, real life story.
How much should you write? Under 1,000 words
Prizes: $100 plus publication in Next Step Magazine
Entry Deadline: Ongoing
Entry Fee: FREE
Ages: Teens
Website: Next Step Magazine



**You will need to log-on to their website to get the official rules and to enter the contest. I logged on to the website and it seems like a good place for kids that are interested in going to college.

Scribophile Halloween Stories!

What is the prompt? Submit your best horror or Halloween story.
How much should you write? No more than 4,000 words.
Prizes: 1st=$50 gift certificate to Amazon 2nd=$25 Amazon giftcard
Entry deadline: October 31, 2008
Entry fee: FREE
Ages: All ages
Website: Scribophile!

Voice of Democracy

What is the prompt? "Service and Sacrifice by America's Veterans Benefit Today's Youth by..."
How much should you write? This is a 3-5 minute audio essay!
Prizes: First=$30,000 college scholarship plus a trip to Washington D.C. There are many other prizes ranging from $1,000 to $16,000 in college scholarships.
Entry Deadline: November 1, 2008
Entry Fee: FREE
Ages: Grades 9-12
Website: Veteran's of Foreign Wars

100 Words or Fewer

What is the prompt? You must write a fictional story with 100 words or fewer. You only get 100 words so choose each word wisely!
How much should you write? 100 words or fewer. (Anyone writing more will be eliminated!)
Prizes: 1st=$500 2nd=$200 3rd=$100
Entry Deadline=November 16, 2008
Entry Fee: $15 payable through Paypal
Ages: All ages
Website: 100 Words or Fewer Writing Contest

**Idea for teachers: See if your school board will pay the entry fee for one student. Have a competition in your own classroom or school. Send in the best one and it will have a better chance of winning!

Flowers Bloom in the Moonlight

What is the prompt? Write a short story, poem, letter or essay. The story should reveal themes of life's beauty awakened in darkness.
How much should you write? 500 to 1500 words
Prizes: Unfortunately, there is no prize at this time. Royalties will be discussed later if your submission gets published.
Entry deadline: October 31, 2008 Entry Fee: Free!
Ages: All ages
Website: Flowers Bloom in the Moonlight

Note: After researching, I think this is a new author trying to get submissions for a book that she is writing about beauty and nature. This author gives good feedback. This contest looks great for writers that are starting out and would like some feedback on their work.

Abilene Writer's Guild

What is the prompt: No prompt. They are accepting submissions in several different categories. Categories include poetry, fiction, articles of general interest, compositions of inspiration, and children stories.
How much should you write? Poems:50 lines/Flash Fiction: 250 words/Articles and stories: 1200 words.
Prizes: 1st=$100, 2nd=$65, 3rd=$35 in each category!
Entry Deadline: October 31, 2008 Entry Fee: $5
Ages: All ages
Website: Abilene Writer's Guild

Kids Can Do It!

What is the prompt? Tell us your true story about the most difficult decision you've had to make between right and wrong.
How much should you write? Up to 300 words
Prize: $50 and autographed book by Sandra Mcleod Humphrey
Entry Deadline: December 31, 2008 Entry Fee: $5
Ages: All ages (I am thinking it is geared mostly for 6th grade and below.)
Website: Kids Can Do It

Borderlands: Texas Poetry Review

What is the prompt? Ekphrasic poetry. (Poetry written in response to viewing art.)
How much should you write? There is a maximum of four poems. Essays should be no longer than 2500 words. Reviews should be less than 1500 words.
Prize: Unfortunately, there is no monetary prize for this contest. However, Borderlands is a national publication which can lead to great exposure for your work.
Entry Deadline: December 15, 2008 Entry fee: FREE
Ages: All ages (You will be competing with adults in this one!)
Website: Borderlands

Patriot's Pen

Writing Prompt: Why should America's veterans should be honored?
How much should you write? 300-400 words
Prizes: 1st=$10,000 Savings Bond and a trip to Washington D.C.! Other prizes range from $1,000 to $10,000 in Savings Bonds.
Entry Deadline: November 1, 2008
Entry Fee: FREE!
Ages: 6th-8th grade
Website: The Official Site of Veteran's of Foreign Wars of the United States

**If you enter the contest, leave a comment and let us know! It is helpful to know which contests are popular!

Funds for Writers

Writing Prompt: What is the best advice that you ever had and ignored? OR What is the best advice that you ever had and followed?

How much should you write? 750 words

Prizes: $50, $20, and $10

Entry Deadline: October 31, 2008

Entry Fee: FREE!

Ages: All ages (You will be competing with adults so make sure that you follow all the rules!)

Website: Funds for Writers (Double click on this link and scroll down to the bottom of page for guidelines.)

Pockets Magazine

Writing Contest: Write a story, poem, or activity around the theme of priorities. This is a religious magazine so think about how you could guide a 6-12 year-old towards God. "How do we guide them to prioritize their lives based on their Christian faith and help them to have the courage to stand by their priorities?" (Find this and other ideas at the website Pockets.)

How much should you write: 400-1000 words (Short story)

Prizes: 14 cents a word. $25 for poems or activities

Entry Deadline: February 8, 2008

Ages: High School. (You will be competing against adults, but I found no age requirement on the website.)

Website: Pockets Magazine Upper Room

Rita Williams Young Adult Prose Prize

Writing Prompt: Write an essay, story, journal entry, memoir, or creative nonfiction.
How much should you write: Up to 3,000 words
Prizes: 1st=$100 2nd=$50 and 3rd=$25
Entry Deadline: November 30, 2008

Entry Fee: $5

Ages: Grades 9-12
Website: Soul Making Literary Competition

Ayn Rand Institute's Yearly Read and Write

Writing Prompt: Why is life expectancy so short in the main character's society?
How much should you write? Between 600 and 1200 words
Prizes: 236 prizes between $30 and $2000
Entry Deadline: March 20, 2009
Entry Fee: Free, but you must read the book Anthem, by Ayn Rand.
Ages: 8th through 10th grade
Website: The Ayn Rand Institute

Olive Garden Pasta Tales

Writing Prompt: How would you use the Internet to change your community for the better?
How much should you write? 50-250 words
Prize: A three day trip to NYC and a $2500 Savings Bond!
Submission Dates: October 6-December 5.
Entry Fee: $Free!
Ages: 1st through 12th grade
Website: Olive Garden