Writing Contest Categories and Length Limits

Instructions for all writing categories

Font: Times New Roman or Arial at 12 pt.
Titles: Titles at the top of the first page only. Do not use a separate title page. Poems should be titled individually.
No Name: The student's name should NOT appear anywhere on the manuscript.
No Images: No illustrations, photographs or graphics.
Sources: Sources must be cited. Footnotes/works cited are not considered part of the word count.
Collaboration: Collaborative works are not allowed in any writing categories.

Categories do sometimes change from year to year. If you have submitted in a category in a previous year, please check to see if guidelines have changed. If you are not sure which category or categories you should submit in, or if you have a question not answered by the category descriptions, please e-mail us.

Note about Art Entries: The Missouri Writing Region accepts writing entries only. We do not accept art submissions. Even if you are a student in Missouri, your art submissions will be made to a different region. You can check which writing and art regions you belong to on the artandwriting.org website.

Note about Novels: Novels are not judged at a regional level; they are judged at a national level. Details are in the Novel category description below.

Categories

Dramatic Script
Writing that uses dialogue, action and stage direction to tell a story, including scripts for television, film, or stage. Length Limits: Grades 7 - 12, Maximum 30 pages.

Excerpts may be submitted.

Flash Fiction (formerly Short Short Story)
A highly focused story characterized by its brevity. A short form of storytelling. Length Limits: Grades 7 - 12, maximum 1,300 words.

Please note word length for Short Story compared to Flash Fiction. Stories in which humor or science fiction/fantasy are key elements should be submitted in those respective categories.

Humor
Writing that uses satire, parody or humorous anecdote. Length Limits: Grades 7 - 12, 600 - 3,000 words.

Work in any genre in which humor is the key element should be submitted in this category.

Journalism
Writing that informs and educates the general public about newsworthy topics or current events. Works of journalism are intended for publication in newspapers, magazines or online media, and are characterized by a presentation of facts or description of events. Length Limits: Grades 7 - 8, 400 - 2,000 words; Grades 9 - 12, 500 - 3,000 words.

This category includes nonfiction work only. Fictional essays should be submitted in the Short Story or Flash Fiction categories. Sources must be cited. Footnotes/works cited are not considered part of the word count.

Personal Essay/Memoir
A self-revelatory work dealing with individual experience. Length Limits: Grades 7 - 8, 500 - 3,000 words; Grades 9 - 12, 750 - 3,000 words.

This category includes nonfiction work only. Fictional essays should be submitted in the Short Story or Flash Fiction categories.

Persuasive Writing
Writing that makes an argument to support a particular point of view or position. The writer presents a clear stand or opinion, and then provides facts and data to support it. Examples of persuasive writing include: editorials, position papers, essays prepared for debate or speech. Length Limits: Grades 7 - 8, 400 - 2,000 words; Grades 9 - 12, 500 - 3,000 words.

Sources must be cited. Footnotes/works cited are not considered part of the word count.

Poetry
Writing in verse. May include prose poetry, free verse, structured poetry (sonnets, sestinas, tankas, cinquians, villanelles, etc.), song lyrics, and spoken word. Length Limits: Grades 7 - 8, 20 - 100 lines (total for the entire collection); Grades 9 - 12, 30 - 200 lines (total for the entire collection).

Each submission consists of 2 - 5 poems to be considered as a collection. Each collection of 2 - 5 poems counts as one submission. Students may submit more than one collection, but must register each as a separate work.

Science Fiction/Fantasy
Writing that uses supernatural elements or invented technologies. Length Limits: Grades 7 - 12, 600 - 3,000 words

Work in any genre in which science fiction/fantasy is the key element should be submitted in this category. Do not base characters or plots on already published works (books, movies, comics, etc.).

Short Story
A tightly crafted fictional narrative. Length Limits: Grades 7 - 12, 1,300 - 3,000 words.

Please note word length limits for Short Story compared to Flash Fiction. Short Stories in which humor or science fiction/fantasy are key elements should be submitted in those respective categories.

Writing Portfolio (for Graduating Seniors)
PORTFOLIOS ARE OPEN ONLY TO STUDENTS GRADUATING IN 2012. Writing Portfolios must include 4-8 different works and can be in a wide variety of genres (outlined in the 9 writing categories).

Length Limits: Grade 12 ONLY. The word count for each piece submitted in a writing portfolio should adhere to the length limits listed in each individual category. The maximum number of words for a writing portfolio is 24,000 (not including the table of contents or writer's statement). Please do a word count BEFORE submitting work.

Portfolio must include a table of contents and a writer's statement. Seniors may resubmit works that may or may not have won in previous Scholastic Awards as part of their Portfolio. A portfolio can consist of works in any assortment of the 9 writing categories, but it cannot include a Novel submission.

Please do a word count BEFORE submitting work.

Categories for National Judging

Novel Writing is a National Category and judged only in New York. The deadline is POSTMARKED by February 17, 2012. Novels are not judged at the regional level. Please register online, upload work, and mail submission forms and fees to the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers in New York. DO NOT send submission forms and fees to your Regional Affiliate (Missouri Writing Region).

Novel Writing
A novel is an extended, fictitious work of prose. In collaboration with Scholastic's PUSH imprint, one national-level Novel Gold Medalist will work with a professional editor to complete his/her manuscript, with the possibility of publication.

Length Limit: Grades 7 - 12, submit the first 50 pages of your manuscript (not including outline).

Special Instructions

Please note the following:

  • Submissions must be uploaded online AND printed and mailed to the address below, along with the submission form.
  • Include an outline, up to two pages, for the entire book, which is not counted in the page requirement. The outline is meant to provide readers with a full understanding of the scope of your novel, and should include a list of chapters as well as plot and character development summaries.
  • Work must be double-spaced in 12-point font with one-inch margins.
  • The title of the work should appear at the top of the first page only. Do not use a separate title page.
  • The student's name and school must NOT appear anywhere on the manuscript itself.
  • Adaptation of or sequels to already existing published series are not accepted.
  • Due to the large volume of submissions, we're unable to give feedback on manuscripts.

DEADLINE: POSTMARKED by February 17, 2012 and sent directly to:

Alliance for Young Artists & Writers
Attn: Novel Submission
557 Broadway
New York, NY 10012

Email info@artandwriting.org with subject line: Novel Writing if you have questions.