2024 First Line & Theme will be announced at the SLWG Summer Writers Camp and posted here soon!

2023 Winners

First Place
     Sunstreaks by Devika Eluru – 9th Grade   

Second Place
     Revivifie by Kira Tabeau – 11th Grade

Third Place
     Light Found in Darkness by Daxton Sjodin – 10th Grade       

Honorable Mention
     A Dog Who Walks with the Stars by Amelia Pierce – 10th Grade

Fill out the form and upload the story to enter.
File Formats Accepted: doc, docx, pdf, txt, (a few more might be available)
There is No Entry Fee for this contest.

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Young Writers Awards
High School Edition!

St. Louis Writers Guild has expanded the Young Writers Awards to include High School students!

The Young Writers Awards by St. Louis Writers Guild were started in 2011 to continue the legacy of encouraging tomorrow's authors. This year we're excited to announce, all the Winners and Finalists will be published in a collection! Details are on the entry form. Winners receive a free print copy of the YWA Collection. The YWA Collection is in response to multiple requests to give everyone the feeling of not only having their story honored, but also published!

Young Writers in High School can write an original story that represents the theme of the contest. Stories must be between 500 and 1500 words and can be in any genre. The winners will be published in the YWA Collection.

2024 THEME: CHANGE

Deadline: October 15, 2024

To enter fill out the form and upload your entry. Contest opens on August 1, 2024

What to do?
Write an original story that explores the THEME: CHANGE
Stories must have more than 500 words to a maximum of 1500 words. Stories may be scary, adventurous, humorous, or just plain fun. Judging will be based on originality, characters, cohesiveness, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

Who is Eligible:

Any young writer may enter who qualifies for the age group. Group: High School: 9th – 12th Grades

Academic year is defined by the school district in which the writer attends or the curriculum the writer studies in a home school setting as of Oct. 15 of the current year.

Contest Rules
Stories must have over 500 words and a maximum of 1500 words
Stories must be based on the theme: Light
Stories must be the original creative work of the writer submitting it
Stories may be scary, adventurous, humorous, essays, or just plain fun.
Stories will be judged based on originality, cohesiveness, spelling, punctuation, and grammar.
Do not include pictures with your story.
Do not write the young writer’s name on the story pages
Title should be different from the first line
Multiple entries are allowed.
Each entry should be typed using a standard 12-point black font. No fancy fonts or colored paper! Use black ink on white paper if handwritten – print neatly

How to Enter the Young Writers Awards
·        No entrance fee is required.

·        The contest is open to submissions from Aug 1 through Oct 15

·        Multiple entries are allowed

·        Please visit https://www.stlwritersguild.org/young-writers-awards

·        Fill out the online form, and upload the file to enter.

·        File name should include title and author name: StoryTitle_FirstNameLastName

·        File types accepted for upload: PDF, .doc, .docx, .txt

Online Submission are preferred but stories may be mailed as well.
Please submit Entry and Cover Letter
Cover Letter should contain Author Name, Age or Grade, Title, Address, Email address, Name of Parent or Guardian

For Mailed Submissions,
The USPS address for submission is:
St. Louis Writers Guild, Attn: Young Writers Awards
P.O. Box 411757, St. Louis, MO, 63141.

The Prizes

First, Second, and Third Place, plus an Honorable Mention receive:

Certificate
Invitation to the Readings
Print copy of YWA Collection
SLWG Associate Membership (one year)

Winners are published in an Anthology!

First, Second, and Third Place, plus an Honorable Mention will be published in an anthology with the Young Writers Award Winners. The YWA Collection, is produced by St. Louis Writers Guild. No money will be paid. A print copy will be awarded to the winners. The collection will be sold at the lowest possible price point at launch for friends and family to purchase. Any money made is directed into future young writers programming. A recording may be made of the Book Fair Reading and will only be viewable to SLWG Members and Associate Members.

Know a Young Writer in 4th-5th or 6th-8th grades? Check out the Young Writers Awards