Nonfiction Contests & Opportunities
Below is a list of nonfiction writing competitions that are free to enter.
April
OxBright Essay Competition: Placeholder.
For ages 15-18.
Entries are due on April 15.
May
June
Jane Austin Society Essay Contest: JASNA conducts an annual student Essay Contest to encourage the study and appreciation of Jane Austen's works in new generations of readers.
For Grades 9-12, University Students.
Entries are due on June 1.
Generation of Changemakers: The Institute for Youth in Policy International Essay Contest was launched to empower students to critically think about the issues that matter to them. By providing a platform for students to express their ideas and opinions, we aim to spotlight valuable insights and ideas from young people around the world. Ultimately, the Institute for Youth in Policy International Essay Contest may be seen as an opportunity for the Institute to invest in the future by supporting and uplifting the voices of young people, and by fostering a sense of civic engagement and social responsibility in the next generation.
For Grades 9-12, University Students.
Entries are due on June 1.
Goi Peace Foundation International Essay Contest: This annual essay contest is organized in an effort to harness the energy, creativity and initiative of the world's youth in promoting a culture of peace and sustainable development. It also aims to inspire society to learn from the young minds and to think about how each of us can make a difference in the world. Conflicts occur for a variety of reasons, including differences in opinions and values. Have you ever had an experience of overcoming a conflict that you were involved in? What did you learn from that experience? How do you want to make use of what you learned, for your own life and for society?
For ages 8-14 and 15-25.
Entries are due on June 15.
July
August
Pen & Quill Summer Competition: “Longing and Dreamscapes” calls for works that intertwine the boundaries of fiction and reality. We invite you to explore the borders of past and present, old and new, desire and disgust. In the Northeast of the U.S., the summer heat can be so strong it makes everything feel like a dream. We invite you, too, to soak in your sweat and share with us the whispers of your dreams and the longings of your heart.
For ages 12-21.
Entries are due on August 18.
September
Ad Meliora: Student Writing Contest: Placeholder.
For Grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12.
Entries are due on TBA.
Write the World: Science Writing Competition 2025: Placeholder
Word Limits: TBA
Competition Opens: TBA
Submit for Expert Review (**NOTE: cap of 50 submissions**): TBA
Final Entries Due: TBA
For ages 13-19.
Entries are due on TBA.
November
i-Learner Writing Competition: Write an essay about 'Should governments have any control over the housing market?'.
For Grades 7-9.
Entries are due on November 30.
i-Learner Writing Competition: Write an essay about one of the following topics:
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Should young people obey their parents without question?
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Is there any point in learning another language when technology is able to translate quickly and accurately?
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A recent study revealed that income happiness correlation is stronger in places with greater income inequality. What does this tell us about the link between money and happiness?
For Grades 10-12.
Entries are due on November 30.
December
Love Letters to London: The annual Love Letters to London writing competition from The London Society returns for its fourth year with a new theme and venue for the winners’ reveal.
This year we have teamed up with St Paul’s Cathedral and they will be hosting the prizegiving in St Paul’s Crypt on Saturday, 29 March 2025. The prize is being launched this year, which marks the 60th anniversary of Martin Luther King’s sermon at St Paul’s, so we are theming the competition around: Dreams for London.
What are your passions, hopes and dreams for this incredible city? We all need to dream to conjure up a brighter future. Let your imagination run riot, spill your dreams onto the page in prose and poetry (or both!).
For ages 5-11, 12-18, Adults.
Entries are due on TBA.
Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation: The Kemper Human Rights Education Foundation (khref.org) is offering prizes of $4000, $2000, and $1000 to high school students judged to have written the best answers to the question. There are two contests and two sets of prizes: one for high school students in the U.S. and one for high school students who are citizens and residents of other countries.
For Grades 9-12.
Entries are due on December 10.
Benjamin Franklin House Literary Prize: Placeholder.
For ages 18-25.
Entries are due on December 15.
January
The Rising Voices Awards: The Rising Voices Awards are a collaboration between seven youth literary magazines–The Stirling Review, The Incandescent Review, SeaGlass Literary, The Globe Review, The Trailblazer Review, HaluHalo Journal, and Outlander Zine, as well as our 501(c)(3) partner Humanity Rising. The contest represents the first event ever of its kind, where a team of youth arts organizations join hands with renowned guest authors to create something amazing and display the immense changemaking potential of youth in literature. We are proud to present to you the first-ever Rising Voices Awards: a writing contest for youth creatives aged 13-18, with $2,350 in prize money.
For ages 13-18.
Entries are due on January 30.
February
Engineer Girl Better Writing Contest: Placeholder.
For Grades 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12.
Entries are due on February 1.
Write the World: Co-Op Competition 2025: Perhaps the most democratic form of journalism, the op-ed is founded on the idea that every person has a voice worthy of a public platform. That includes you, dear writers! This month, we challenge you to write an op-ed about something that you believe is not talked about enough. Whether you think we need to better classify heatwaves, or you want people to talk more about your city’s dead Christmas tree: you can feel strongly about anything! Dig deep on something you care about (the American Dream? tipping etiquette?), and then speak it out.
Word Limits: 400-1,000 words
Competition Opens: February 3
Submit for Expert Review (**NOTE: cap of 50 submissions**): February 10
Final Entries Due: February 24
For ages 13-19.
Entries are due on February 24.