Writing Contests Open to Homeschoolers
Participating in writing contests offers homeschool students a fantastic opportunity to sharpen their writing skills and possibly earn scholarships or cash prizes. These competitions not only challenge young writers to think creatively and refine their craft but also help build confidence and bolster college applications. Whether you’re an aspiring author, a persuasive essayist, or a poet at heart, entering a writing contest can open doors to new opportunities and recognition. Below, you’ll find a list of writing competitions specifically open to homeschool students—so pick up your pen and start writing!
Essay Writing Contests
American Foreign Service National High School Essay Contest
Encourages students to write about the role of the Foreign Service in global affairs. Open to grades 9–12, with prizes up to $2,500 and additional opportunities for recognition.
Annual DNA Day Essay Contest
Contest for high school students surrounding specific prompts related to DNA. Annual deadline in March.
Ayn Rand Institute Essay Contests
These contests focus on Ayn Rand’s novels, with prompts for essays on “Anthem,” “The Fountainhead,” and “Atlas Shrugged.” Open to grades 8–12, including homeschoolers worldwide.
Jane Austen Society of North America Essay Contest
This contest invites high school students, including homeschoolers, to write essays on topics related to Jane Austen’s works. Winners receive cash prizes and recognition.
Engineer Girl Essay Contest
Open to girls in grades 3-12. The contest requires participants to write an essay on a topic related to engineering. The essay must be submitted through the contest website by the specified deadline. The essay topics are chosen each year by the NAE and are based on current engineering challenges and trends. Cash prizes and online recognition.
Fleet Reserve Association Americanism Essay Contest
Open to students in grades 7-12. Requires 350-word essay on a given prompt related to patriotism. Cash prizes.
George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest
Essays on American history are eligible for prizes ranging from $500 to $6,000. Open to grades 9–12.
Harvard Crimson Global Essay Competition
Open to students aged 13-18. Student will choose a prompt in one of three categories: creative, argumentative, or journalistic, and submit a maximum of 500 words on the topic.
Harvard International Economics Essay Contest
Students in grades 9-12 choose from several prompts and write a maximum of 1500 words on the topic.
John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest
This contest is open to U.S. high school students, including those in homeschool programs. Students write about political courage as demonstrated by a U.S. elected official. The winner receives up to $10,000.
National Center for State Courts Civics Education Essay Contest
Grades 3-12 eligible to enter. Specific essay prompts given with maximum word counts.
National Genealogical Society Rubincam Youth Writing Competition
Open to grades 6-12. Students prepare a genealogical essay going back four generations.
Naval Horizons Essay Contest
Students in grades 9-12 watch STEM-focused videos prepared by the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, select a topic based off the video content, and write an essay describing why the topic inspires you and how new technologies will change our lives in the future.
New York Times Summer Reading Contest
Annual contest for students to write about a piece that was published in the NYT in the current year. Guidelines state the emphasis is to share what got your attention and why. Winners are chosen weekly during the summer and have their response published.
Patriots of the American Revolution Essay Contest
Students in grades 9–12 write about individuals who contributed to the American Revolution. Open to homeschoolers registered in a home-study program. You may need to contact them to determine eligibility.
Optimist International Essay Contest
Open to students under 19, including homeschoolers. Essays focus on optimism, with regional contests held through local Optimist Clubs before advancing. Must contact your local Optimist Club for essay requirements. Contact information for local clubs is on the website.
Stossel in the Classroom Essay Contest
Open to grades 5-12. Choice of a few different essay topics.
VFW Voice of Democracy Audio Essay Contest
Students in grades 9-12 must submit a 3-5 minutes audio recording of their response to a prompt question. Winners receive scholarships.
World Historian Student Essay Contest
A global contest with a $500 prize for essays connecting personal stories to world history. Open to grades K–12.
Young Reporters for the Environment Essay Contest
Students ages 11–25 can submit essays, videos, or photos focused on environmental issues.
Poetry Writing Contests
Creative Communication Poetry Contest
Open to students in grades K–9, including homeschoolers, with three contest cycles per year. Winning entries are published in an anthology. Top 10 winners also receive $25 and a book.
Gannon University High School Poetry Contest
Students in grades 9-12 may enter. Cash prizes.
Haiku Society of America Haiku Competition
Students in grades 7-12 may submit up to three haiku for scholarship prizes.
Kenyon Review’s Patricia Grodd Poetry Prize for Young Writers
Offers public scholarships to their Young Writers Workshop. Open to high school sophomores and juniors only.
Poetry Society: Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award
Open to students aged 11-17. No entry fee.
The Society of Classical Poets International High School Poetry Competition
Open to high school students worldwide. $5 submission fee for one poem.
Tom Howard/Margaret Reid Poetry Contest
Open to all high school students, offering cash prizes for traditional and modern poetry. Length limit: 250 lines maximum per poem. No restriction on age of author. $25 entry fee.
Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest
Length limit: 250 lines maximum. No restriction on age of author. No fee to enter.
Fiction Writing Contests
Bluefire $1,000 for 1,000 Words Contest
Encourages students in grades 6–12 to write fiction of exactly 1000 words.
Breakwater Review Fiction Contest
All ages eligible. 1000-4000 words. $10 entry fee.
Eugene O’Neill Theater Young Playwrights Festival
Students aged 12-18 may submit an original 10-15 page play. Winners invited to spend a weekend at the theater with a creative team to help develop and workshop their play.
Hollins University Nancy Thorp Poetry Contest
Open to high school girls in sophomore or junior years only.
One Teen Story Contest
Short stories should be between 2,000 to 4,500 words. Publication and cash prize.
The Blank Theater Young Playwright’s Festival
Students 19 and younger may submit an original play in any genre. No submission fee.
The Claymore Award
For best first 50 pages of an unpublished manuscript, play, or screenplay. High school students may enter. Entry fee required.
Read: 100 Vocabulary Words to Learn in High School
Multiple Category Writing Contests
Benington College Young Writers Awards
Writers in grades 9-12. No entry fee. Submission may include three poems, a short story, or a nonfiction essay. Cash prizes and scholarships for winners.
Interlochen Center for the Arts: Virginia B. Ball Creative Writing Scholarship Competition
Students in grades 8-11 eligible. Winner receives full scholarship.
Lewis Center for the Arts Poetry and Play Contests
Open to students in 11th grade only.
Polyphony Lit
Poetry, fiction, or creative nonfiction/personal memoir submissions accepted.
Roadrunner Review High School Writing Contest
High school students may submit prose or poetry entries.
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Categories include poetry, short story, and personal essay/memoir. Open to grades 7–12, including homeschoolers. Submissions are judged on originality, technical skill, and voice. Regional deadlines vary by state.
Tom Howard/John H. Reid Fiction & Essay Contest
For this contest, a story is any short work of fiction, and an essay is any short work of nonfiction. All themes accepted. Entries may be published or unpublished. Length limit: 6,000 words maximum. No restriction on age of author. $25 entry fee.
Write the World Contests
Multiple competitions throughout the academic year. Open to 13-19 year old students worldwide, offering cash prizes.
Writers Weekly 24-Hour Story Contest
Write a short story in 24 hours based on a given prompt. Minimal entry fee. Cash prizes. Limited entrants, so must register in advance to participate.
YoungArts National Writing Competition
Open to high school students aged 15–18. Includes categories such as creative nonfiction, poetry, and short story. Winners receive mentorship and opportunities for publication.
Additional Resources for Writing Contests or Publication
Apprentice Writer: High school students may submit for publication.
Fan Story: listing of contests, ability to receive feedback from community
Stone Soup: Find contests for students up to 13 years old. Stone Soup also has a helpful list of options for teens and older students wishing to publish their work.
Teen Ink: variety of writing contests throughout the year
The Interlochen Review: online journal allowing submissions of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, songs, plays from students in grades 9-12.
Winning Writers newsletter: provides regular email updates regarding free prose and poetry writing contests
Young Writers Project: students aged 13-19 can submit original work for online publication
Pick Up Your Pen
Whether you prefer crafting compelling fiction, thought-provoking essays, or powerful poetry, there’s a competition out there for you. And if you’re looking for additional ways to share your work, consider submitting to publications that welcome young writers. No matter where you are in your writing journey, these opportunities can help you grow as a writer and take your skills to the next level—so start submitting today!
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Writing Contests for Homeschool Students
