6 Essay Contests for High School Students

As I remember it, the rub with essay contests for high school students was that first, there are a lot of crappy ones so the good ones are hard to find, and second, it takes a lot of time and discipline to write a solid, thoughtful essay for those worth entering. Here are five I think are worth the time. Good luck, all! 

1. SPJ (Society of Professional Journalists) is accepting entries into its essay contest for high school students until February 16, 2016. The topic, Why is it important that we have news media that are independent of the government?' is both timely and near and dear to my heart. Write on, young citizens.

2. With a hefty $2,000 prize at stake, the Ayn Rand Anthem Essay Contest is open to 8th - 10th grade students. The deadline is March 25, 2016. Other essay contests related to Rand's books are also offered.

3. The 11th Annual DNA Day Essay Contest, sponsored by the American Society for Human Genetics, has set its deadline for March 11, 2016. This year, students are asked to either defend or refute the Society's position on genetic testing for adult-onset diseases and conditions. 

The organization's website offers a rubric as well as pitfalls to avoid when participating in the contest.

4. Hiram College has announced its second essay writing contest. The theme is "Borders," and the contest (with cash prizes) is open to 10th and 11th graders. Entry deadline is January 7, 2016.  

5. We The Students essay contest is accepting entries until February 7, 2016. Hosted by the Bill of Rights Institute, the contest is open to students ages 14-19 in grades 8 - 12. 

This year, students are asked to discuss in writing to what extent, in in what ways, our government has compromised individual liberties for the sake of general security or welfare. 

6. Profiles in Courage Essay Contest - read winning essays from recent years and get writing tips directly from students (and contest winners) on the organization's Facebook page.

Speaking of writing tips, the organization posted one from JFK, circa 1955.

High School Communications Contest - March 2015 deadline

The National Federation of Press Women hold several contests each year, one of which is for high school students. Time is nigh to register - and past nigh to start writing! - so consider yourself prodded.

More contests 

FreelanceWriting.com offers a nice list of Creative Writing Contests (for adults and young writers) with NO entry fees. Gotta like that! Check the website for one that may inspire you. Happy typing!

Twitter Fiction Festival & Fiction Fun

Twitter's Fiction Festival is set for March 12-16 but before you click away, note that the deadline for YOU to propose a storyline is Wednesday February 4. That's right, YOU can can help direct the tweetin' tales - but only if you hop in quick.

Have fun with it, folks.

#TWFICTIONFEST
#TWITTERFICTION

#amwriting

Writing for Money and Fame in May

Dear scribbling, scrabbling scribes,
 Here are a few of the writing contests in process this fine month of May:

The Writers' Circle contests are ongoing, judged monthly, and free to enter.

The Writer Mag lists a bunch of contests - some are free, some aren't.

New Pages will surely generate many new pages, thanks to its list of contests with May and June deadlines.

Have you entered the 2013 Writer's Digest competition? Well, too bad - you just missed the Early Bird deadline. But there's still time.

Goi Peace hosts an essay contest for writers under 25 years of age - so it's a little late for me - but if you're  still a spring chicken, you're in luck:  your deadline is June 30. 

Writing Contests! Somebody has to win...

...and it might as well be YOU, right?

From food and love (is that redundant?) to health, fingernails, and cleaning products, About guide Sandra Graushopf  keeps her list of writing contests current.

High School Essay Contest offers $1,000 prize

Why is it important that we have news media that are independent of the government? 

That's the topic for the Society of Professional Journalists' annual high school essay contest. Entries are due March 6. Rules can be found here. Inspiration and examples can be found...um, everywhere.