Young Writers USA

The Young Writers USA Contest is a writing competition for young writers in the United States. It is organized by Young Writers USA, a program that aims to promote and encourage writing among young people.

Interested in the competition?

Competition Overview

Any students from elementary to high school

Eligibility

Free

Entry Fee

February 13 and 27, 2026

Submission Deadline

📌 Note: Aralia is not the organizer of this competition. For official rules, deadlines, and updates, please refer directly to the competition organizer. Aralia provides listings and information about competitions for student reference. Aralia is an online education platform offering competition preparation classes to students worldwide.

Competition Details

1. Introduction

Young Writers is a national organization founded in the East of England in 1991, dedicated to nurturing creativity and writing confidence in students through engaging school-based writing contests. By partnering with educators across the US, Young Writers provides exciting themes, high-quality teaching resources, and rewarding prizes that inspire students to express themselves through words. Each contest transforms imagination into achievement, empowering young authors to see their work published in real books they can proudly call their own.

2. Young Writers’ Competitions

My First Poem

My First Poem introduces young students to poetry and rhyme, celebrates their uniqueness, and supports language development. Students use a specially designed template to create a poem about their favorite things and a special person.

Eligibility: Pre-K & Kindergarten

Submission Deadline: February 27, 2026

Prizes: $500 Amazon gift card for the winning school, and a free copy of the book featuring the students’ poem.

Monster Mini Tales

Monster Mini Tales invites children to unleash their imagination by designing a unique monster and writing a story about it in a mini saga of up to 100 words.

Eligibility: Students 6-13 years old

Submission Deadline: February 13, 2026

Prizes: Every entrant in the contest is guaranteed a special keepsake, with all students receiving a bookmark and certificates of merit awarded to those whose work stands out for potential publication. Additionally, 5 favorite published writers will each win a creative writing goody bag.

Unsolved

In Unsolved, participants choose from 8 story starters to spark their imagination, whether solving a crime, writing from the viewpoint of the wrongly accused, or serving justice. o get started, check out the story starters and find additional inspiration using the provided graphic organizer.

Eligibility: Middle and High School Students

Submission Deadline: February 13, 2026

Prizes: favorite writers each win a $50 Amazon gift card. Every entrant receives a bookmark, and young writers whose work stands out for potential publication will also be awarded a certificate of merit.

Once Upon A Dream

Once Upon A Dream Poetry Contest invites children to explore the wonders of poetry with an open theme, allowing them to write about anything that inspires them—whether it’s the strange and magical things they see in dreams, their hopes and aspirations, or even the darker side of nightmares.

Eligibility: All ages

Submission Deadline: February 13, 2026

Prizes: 3 favorite writers will each win a creative writing goody bag. Every entrant receives a bookmark for participating, and students whose work stands out for potential publication will also receive a certificate of merit

Winter Wonderland

The Winter Wonderland Poetry Contest invites young poets to submit poems in any style on the theme of winter. Children can draw inspiration from winter celebrations, snowy nights, New Year’s resolutions, seasonal nature, winter sports, magical creatures, or cozy moments.

Eligibility: All ages

Submission Deadline: February 27, 2026

Prizes: Favorite opet wins a $50 e-gift card of their choice. Every entrant receives a bookmark for participating, and students whose work stands out for potential publication will also receive a certificate of merit