15 Short Story Competitions for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 4 hours ago
- 12 min read
Perfect your writing skills and compete for recognition and valuable rewards
Short story competitions can be a valuable opportunity for high school students interested in creative writing, literature, or storytelling. These contests allow you to explore different writing styles, experiment with narrative techniques, and strengthen your ability to communicate ideas clearly and creatively. Participating in a competition can also help you build a competitive academic profile by demonstrating initiative, originality, and commitment to extracurricular interests. Many well-known competitions are judged by published authors, literary organizations, universities, or national publications, thereby adding credibility and recognition to your work.
Why Should I Participate in a Short Story Competition in High School?
Participating in a short story competition in high school can help you develop skills that extend beyond creative writing itself. These competitions encourage you to think critically about structure, character development, pacing, and language while working within specific prompts or submission guidelines. They can also help you become more comfortable with editing, revision, and meeting deadlines, all of which are useful academic and professional skills. Some contests also offer publication opportunities, scholarships, mentorship, or cash prizes for selected participants.
This list highlights 15 short story competitions for high school students.
If you’re looking for international online competitions, check out our blog here.
Key takeaways
These competitions span literary fiction, speculative fiction, flash fiction, environmental writing, and multi-genre creative writing, so students with a wide range of storytelling interests can find a relevant contest.
Most competitions are free to enter, including the Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, One Teen Story Contest, Narrative Magazine, Bennington Young Writers Awards, and NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship, while a few, such as Adroit Prizes and Francine Ringold Awards, charge a small submission fee.
Prize structures vary widely, from modest cash awards ($50 to $500 for most contests) to substantial scholarships, including Bennington's full-tuition scholarship of up to $60,000 per year for YWA winners who enroll at the college.
Application deadlines span the full academic year, with early fall deadlines including Bennington (November 1) and YoungArts (October), while several competitions, such as Polyphony Lit, Parsec, and Ann Arbor District Library, run through winter and spring with deadlines in March.
Location: Online
Cost/Prizes: Varies based on category; National Medalists are eligible for scholarships of up to $12,500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Varies every year
Application Deadline: Typically between December and January, varies each year
Eligibility: Teens in grades 7–12, ages 13 and up
The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards are a national creative competition for students in grades 7–12, including a dedicated Short Story category for original fiction. You can submit short stories, along with other forms of creative writing such as poetry, flash fiction, and dramatic scripts, through the program’s regional affiliates. Entries are first evaluated at the regional level, and selected works advance to national judging panels made up of writers, editors, educators, and creative professionals. The competition recognizes submissions through Gold Keys, Silver Keys, honorable mentions, and national medals. Some participants are also selected for scholarships, exhibitions, and publication opportunities through the organization. The program, organized by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, is one of the most widely recognized student creative competitions in the United States.
Location: Online
Cost/Prizes: Free; winners receive $500 upon submission
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: September 15 – December 1
Application Deadline: December 1
Eligibility: Writers between the ages of 13 and 19
The One Teen Story Contest is a short fiction competition run by One Teen Story, a literary magazine dedicated to publishing work by teenage writers. You can submit an original, unpublished short story between 2,000 and 4,500 words in any genre, including literary fiction, fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and romance, as long as the story centers on the teen experience. Submissions are organized into three age brackets (13–15, 16–17, and 18–19) and are reviewed by the magazine's editorial team. Winners will be published in an upcoming issue of One Teen Story.
Location: Online
Cost/Prizes: Free; cash and prizes of up to $3,000, 1st place: $500, 2nd place: $250, 3rd place: $100, finalists: $50
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Submissions open in January
Application Deadline: Varies each year
Eligibility: Students from the US and internationally, grades 9–12
The Narrative High School Writing Contest is an annual competition hosted by Narrative Magazine, in which high school students submit original short fiction, essays, or poetry in response to a yearly prompt. You can write a story or essay of no more than 600 words, or a poem of 10 to 50 lines, and submit it through your teacher, with names and school affiliations removed before judging. Winning works are published in Narrative alongside established writers, and winners meet with experts over Zoom to discuss and edit their pieces before publication.
Location: Online
Cost/Prizes: Free | Prize of $2,000 for first-place winners, $1,000 for second-place winners, and $500 for third-place winners | $250 for YWA distinguished writers | YWA winners who enroll at Bennington will receive a full-tuition scholarship of up to $60,000 per year | YWA distinguished writers will receive a half-tuition scholarship of more than $30,000 per year | YWA finalists who enroll will get a scholarship of up to $25,000 per year
Dates: Open for entries from September 1
Application Deadline: November 1
Eligibility: Students currently enrolled in Grades 9-12 | Grade 12 students should submit their YWA entry by completing either the Common Application or Coalition Application
The Bennington Young Writers Awards is an annual writing competition hosted by Bennington College that invites high school students worldwide to submit original work in fiction, nonfiction, or poetry. Rooted in Bennington's long literary tradition, the contest recognizes outstanding writing at the high school level across all three categories. You can submit a single entry of up to 1,500 words, which must be reviewed and approved by a sponsoring teacher before submission. There is no entry fee, and first-, second-, and third-place winners are selected in each category, along with distinguished writer designations by grade level. Winning work is published on the Bennington College website, and students who enroll at Bennington after winning or placing are eligible for substantial undergraduate scholarships.
Location: Online
Cost/Prizes: Submission fee of $15; $200 awarded to winners
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: April 1 – May 1
Application Deadline: May 1
Eligibility: Open to US and international high school and international students
The Adroit Prizes for Poetry and Prose is an annual writing competition run by The Adroit Journal, open to high school and undergraduate students worldwide. You can submit original work in one of two categories: poetry, with up to five poems per submission packet, or prose, which includes fiction and creative nonfiction with a combined limit of 3,500 words. Each entrant can submit up to five separate packets per category, and individual pieces within each packet are judged independently. Submissions are reviewed by established writers selected as judges each year, with separate judges for poetry and prose. Winners and runners-up have their work published in The Adroit Journal, and finalists receive a copy of the judge's latest book.
Location: Online; Headquarters in Biscayne Boulevard, Miami
Cost/Prizes: Application fee of $35; YoungArts Award of $250, YoungArts Award With Distinction of $500
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Submissions typically open in Summer
Application Deadline: Typically in October
Eligibility: Open to 15- to 18-year-old (grades 10–12) visual, literary, or performing artists based in the United States
The YoungArts Writing Competition is the writing category of the YoungArts National Arts Competition, which recognizes work across 10 artistic disciplines. In the writing discipline, you submit original work, including short stories in one of five categories: fiction, nonfiction, play or script, poetry, or spoken word. Submissions are evaluated through multiple rounds of review by discipline-specific panels of established artists. Winners will be selected at different award levels and invited to participate in National YoungArts Week, a multi-day program in Miami that includes workshops, master classes, and performances with guest artists. Award winners also gain access to the YoungArts Post, an ongoing portal connecting them to fellowships, residencies, microgrants, and a network of peers and mentors.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prizes: Free; cash award of $1000 for Gold Award, $750 for Silver Award, $500 for Bronze Award, $250 for Pearl Award, $50 each for Distinguished Honorable Mention and Honorable Mention
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Varies each year
Application Deadline: June 8
Eligibility: Middle and high school students ages 11-18
The Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Contest is an international creative writing and arts competition that invites original work responding to an annual environmental theme focused on the ocean and climate. You can submit short stories, poetry, or creative nonfiction in the Writing category, with entries that explore personal or imaginative connections to ocean-related issues such as sustainability, climate change, and environmental justice. Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of educators, writers, and environmental professionals associated with Bow Seat. The contest recognizes outstanding entries with cash awards, publication opportunities, and inclusion in a global youth environmental arts collection. Selected works may also be featured through exhibitions, digital showcases, and partner platforms.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prizes: Free; Three (3) $2,000 awards for the Fiction category, three (3) $2,000 awards for the Poetry category
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: May 4 – October 2
Application Deadline: October 2
Eligibility: Rising high school students graduating in the next 4 years and recently graduated seniors
The NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship is an annual writing award for high school students, organized by the National Society of High School Scholars, that recognizes original fiction and poetry submissions. You can submit a short fiction piece of up to 5,000 words in any genre, including traditional short stories or experimental formats such as graphic narratives. Entries are evaluated by a selection panel on creativity, technique, expression, and originality. The competition awards multiple winners in both fiction and poetry categories, with cash prizes and publication of selected works on the NSHSS website. Applicants are typically required to submit supporting materials, such as an educator recommendation, transcript, resume, and headshot, as part of the application process.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prizes: Free; Youth Story Prize winner receives $50 and publication in the short story contest ebook
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: January 1 – March 31
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: Teen writers aged 19 or younger and currently attending high school are eligible for Youth Story prize
The Parsec Short Story Contest is an annual speculative fiction writing competition that includes a dedicated Youth Story Prize for writers aged 19 and under. You can submit an unpublished short story of up to 3,500 words that responds to a yearly theme, with entries typically exploring imaginative or speculative interpretations of change, identity, or transformation. Submissions will be reviewed by a team of readers and judges associated with Parsec, a nonprofit organization focused on speculative fiction and the arts. The contest recognizes winning entries with cash prizes, publication in a contest anthology or program book, and inclusion in a digital ebook shared with members. A separate Youth Story Prize is offered to teen writers currently in high school, allowing younger participants to be considered in a dedicated category.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prizes: Free; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd prize winners receive $200, $100, and $50
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Celebratory event on March 28
Application Deadline: Varies each year
Eligibility: Open to high school students
The Bucks County Community College High School Short Fiction Contest recognizes original short stories. You can submit a single previously unpublished short story between 1,450 and 2,400 words, with no restrictions on theme or subject matter. Faculty from the School of Language and Literature evaluate entries based on originality, storytelling quality, and narrative execution. Winners will be selected and receive cash honorariums in recognition of their work. Selected participants may also be invited to read their stories at a campus-based event.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prizes: Free; cash prizes awarded to winners
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Begins on January 5
Application Deadline: March 1
Eligibility: Students in grades 6 to 12
The Ann Arbor District Library Flash Fiction Contest is a creative writing competition that challenges writers to craft complete stories in a flash fiction format. Stories are typically very short, requiring participants to build character, setting, and plot within a limited word count. Entries will be evaluated by library staff and community judges, who focus on originality, narrative impact, and effective use of language within tight constraints. The contest emphasizes experimentation with concise storytelling. Selected entries are featured through library platforms and related programming that highlights community writing.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prizes: The first 200 submissions are free, with a $4 submission fee after this; cash prizes are awarded to winners
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: January 1 – March 31
Application Deadline: March 31
Eligibility: High school students from anywhere in the world; editors who currently serve on the staff of Polyphony Lit are not eligible
The Polyphony Lit Seasonal Contest is a recurring short fiction and poetry competition that invites students worldwide to submit original work in response to a themed prompt each season. To participate, you are required to submit a short story or creative nonfiction piece of up to 1,800 words or a poem of up to 80 lines, with all entries reviewed blind by a guest judge. Each contest cycle centers on a single theme, and you are free to interpret it across any genre or form. One winner and two finalists are selected per cycle, with winning work published in Polyphony Lit and recipients eligible for the Claudia Ann Seaman Awards. Winners and finalists also receive editorial feedback from the contest judge and a full scholarship to Polyphony Lit's literary editing course.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prizes: Free
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Varies each year
Application Deadline: Varies each year
Eligibility: High school or middle school students between the ages of 13 and 19
The New York Times Learning Network Student Contest Calendar is an annual collection of writing, multimedia, and creative competitions designed for middle and high school students to respond to prompts published by The New York Times. The contest brings together multiple contests across the school year, including short narrative writing, photo essays, reviews, open letters, podcasts, and multimedia storytelling. Each contest invites you to respond to a specific theme or question, often connected to current events, personal experiences, or cultural topics. Entries will be submitted online and evaluated by editors and educators associated with The New York Times Learning Network, who assess work based on originality, clarity, and engagement with the prompt. Selected submissions are published on The New York Times platform, where they are showcased alongside student work from around the world.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prizes: Free; £1,000 junior prize
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Late January – July 7
Application Deadline: July 7
Eligibility: Anyone can enter; separate categories for writers under 21 and over 21
The H. G. Wells Short Story Competition is an annual international writing competition that invites writers to submit original short fiction based on a set yearly theme. You can submit a short story, typically between 1,500 and 5,000 words, with entries written in English and responding creatively to the prompt for that year’s contest. Submissions will be reviewed through a blind judging process by a panel of editors and literary judges associated with the competition. The contest awards a dedicated prize for writers aged 21 and under, along with a separate category for adult writers, with winning entries receiving cash prizes. Selected and shortlisted stories are also published in a professionally produced anthology featuring work from across all submissions.
Location: Virtual
Cost/Prizes: $12 entry fee; $500 each awarded to fiction and poetry winners
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not publicly disclosed
Dates: Varies each year
Application Deadline: Varies each year
Eligibility: Open to all writers whose work has not appeared or is not scheduled to appear in more than 2 publications in the genre in which they are submitting
The Francine Ringold Awards for New Writers is a fiction and poetry competition run by Nimrod International Journal that recognizes emerging writers, including students submitting original short stories. Submissions are limited to unpublished short fiction of up to 5,000 words, with a parallel category for poetry. Entries undergo blind evaluation by editors and guest judges affiliated with Nimrod, with attention given to voice, originality, and literary craft. Winners are selected in both fiction and poetry categories and published in the journal. Cash prizes are awarded to winning entries, with additional recognition sometimes given through publication or as an honorable mention. In select cases, writers may be invited to revise their work in collaboration with the editorial team before final publication.
Frequently asked questions
What short story competitions are available for high school students?
Options include large national competitions, such as Scholastic Art and Writing Awards and YoungArts, literary magazine contests, such as One Teen Story and Narrative Magazine, genre-specific competitions, such as Parsec Short Story Contest for speculative fiction and H. G. Wells Short Story Competition, and themed or cause-based contests, such as the Ocean Awareness Contest and The New York Times Student Contests.
Which short story competitions offer scholarships rather than just cash prizes?
Bennington Young Writers Awards offers the most substantial scholarship opportunity, with winners who enroll at Bennington receiving up to $60,000 per year in full tuition, distinguished writers receiving half-tuition scholarships of over $30,000, and finalists receiving up to $25,000 per year. NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship also awards $2,000 prizes intended to support students' broader academic goals.
Are there free short story competitions for high school students?
Yes, most competitions on this list are free to enter, including Scholastic Art and Writing Awards, One Teen Story Contest, Narrative Magazine High School Contest, Bennington Young Writers Awards, Ocean Awareness Contest, NSHSS Creative Writing Scholarship, Parsec Short Story Contest, and The New York Times Student Contests. Adroit Prizes charges a $15 fee and Francine Ringold Awards charges a $12 fee.
Which short story competitions are best for students interested in speculative or genre fiction?
Students interested in speculative fiction might consider the Parsec Short Story Contest, which includes a dedicated Youth Story Prize for writers 19 and under, and the H. G. Wells Short Story Competition, which awards a junior prize for writers 21 and under based on a themed prompt. YoungArts also accepts genre fiction within its broader writing categories.
When should I apply to short story competitions for high school students?
Early deadlines include Bennington Young Writers Awards (November 1) and YoungArts (typically October). Spring deadlines include Parsec Short Story Contest and Polyphony Lit (both March 31), Ann Arbor District Library Flash Fiction Contest (March 1), and Adroit Prizes (May 1). Later deadlines include the Ocean Awareness Contest (June 8) and H. G. Wells Short Story Competition (July 7), so students can find opportunities across the entire school year.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.