Mary Amato

The following contests and magazines have run in the past and may still be open to submissions from students. If you are interested in any, please check with the source. Let me know if any contests have been discontinued.

Contests

The Imaginormous Challenge offers a range of fun contests–from writing a book to creating your own candy. Teachers can also download classroom materials.

WETA often holds a write-your-own book contest for students in K-3. See rules for entering.

Time for Kids is holding a poetry contest. You must be a subscriber to get info.

The Gaithersburg Book Festival often holds a short story contest for students in grades 9-12 living in the Washington metropolitan area. Short stories must be no longer than 1,000 words and must begin with one of three lines provided on the contest website.

Washington Post KidsPost Annual Poetry Contest occurs every April in honor of National Poetry Month. See their website for rules on how to enter.

Scholastic Art and Writing Awards are for students in grades 7-12. Awards in many categories include: film, design, short story, poetry, and more.

Scholastic Bookfairs Kids are Authors Contest is an annual competition open to students in Grades K–8 in the United States and U.S. international schools and is designed to encourage students to use their reading, writing, and artistic skills.

Letters About Literature is a state and national writing contest sponsored by the Maryland Humanities Arts Council that encourages young readers in grades 4 to 12 to respond to an author through a letter expressing how that author and book changed their worldview and themselves.

American Pet Products Association is sponsoring a poetry contest about animals called Pets Add Life for grades 3-8.

NASA is planning a new contest, The Nasa Careers Poetry Contest. Find out more at: http://spaceflightsystems.grc.nasa.gov/girlscouts/gsusa_poetry.html

SOMIRAC (State of Maryland International Reading Association Council) sponsors a Young Authors’ Contest for Maryland students in Grades 2-12 at the local council and state levels. All entries must be original work and include a completed “Submission Form” signed by the student author and sponsoring teacher. To find out more, please see your school’s reading specialist or contact SOMIRAC.

Arts and Humanities Council of Montgomery County (MD) Fran Abrams Creative Writing Award for high school seniors.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY (MD) STUDENTS HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO BE PUBLISHED with BETHESDA YOUTH WRITING CONTEST. The contest is open to students in grades K-8 who live or attend school in Montgomery County. Students can enter the contest either as individuals or through their teacher, if the whole class would like to participate. For an entry form and more information, please visit www.bethesda.org or call 301-215-6660.

Magazines

Creative Kids magazine is the nation’s largest magazine by and for kids. The magazine bursts with games, stories, and opinions all by and for kids ages 8–14.

New Moon Girls Magazine focuses on girls, women, or female issues. New Moon Girls was created by girls and women for girls who want their voices heard and their dreams taken seriously. It is edited by and for girls ages 8 and up. New Moon Girls takes girls very seriously; the publication is structured to give girls real power. The final product is a collaboration of girls and adults. An editorial board of girls aged 8-14 makes final decisions on content for the magazine and website.

Stone Soup is made up of stories, poems, book reviews, and art by young people through age 13.

Teensite, a website for teens through Montgomery County (MD) Public Library, invites Montgomery County, MD, students to submit original writing to their ongoing site. They also hold an annual contest: Understanding Diversity through Creative Writing. Contact your branch librarian to find out more.

Teen ‘Zine, hosted by Howard County (MD) Public Library system, invites submissions from Howard County teens. The HC library also offers an annual Sherlock Holmes essay contest.