THE 2022-2023 PUBLISHING CONTEST IS NOW OPEN!
DEADLINE APRIL 30, 2023
Publishing is a powerful incentive for learning and is a unique way to validate that a child’s voice should be heard. Each year, young writers in the 3rd-12th grade all across the globe have the chance to be published authors. This first taste of success can last a lifetime! The iWRITE Non-Profit Organization offers students the opportunity to submit their writing and artwork to our annual publishing contest. This year’s theme is Sports Writing and Sports Artwork. Fiction and Non-fiction short stories or articles, poetry, and art submissions are accepted from August 2022 through April 30, 2023. The finalists will be named in September 2023. Our winners will be announced on our website and published in the I Write Short Stories by Kids for Kids 14th Volume Anthology. One hundred and twenty-five winners will be chosen and will receive one complimentary copy of the Anthology. Editor’s Choice Recipients will have the chance to read their work at iWRITE’s Annual Book Signing Celebration and receive additional media opportunities and prizes.
When preparing your entry, be sure to consider all of the different ways to incorporate sports into your writing. Sports writing has also been seen as a form of journalism where the event or athlete is the subject. There are numerous sports to consider, even when writing poetry. Consider Olympic-related events, athletes who are positive role models, problems that arise in sports, traditional sports, and seasonal sports, from surfing to quidditch to the Special Olympics, there is so much to consider, even if you don’t have experience playing a sport. Consider interviewing an athlete or if you are an athlete, utilizing your unique knowledge. Your goal as a writer is to allow your reader to relate and feel like they are a part of the story.
Rules for Writers Submitting Stories
- The required word count for stories written by students in 3rd grade is 700 to 2,500 words.
- The required word count for stories written by students in 4th – 12th grades is 1,000 to 2,500 words.
- Entries must be typed using only Times New Roman Font, 12-point size in black.
- Entries must include the name and story title at the top of the first page.
- Each contestant’s work will be judged based on how well the writer incorporated the sports theme into their work.
- Each contestant’s work will be judged on grade-level appropriate content, grammar, and spelling.
- Stories may not contain offensive material or language. iWRITE promotes positive values and lessons within its stories; therefore, students are encouraged to use good judgment when writing and developing stories.
- Note that iWRITE checks for plagiarism in order to respect copyright laws. Any entries not written solely by the student will be disqualified.
- If your story is chosen for publication, you will receive a licensing agreement allowing iWRITE to publish your work; however, you will remain the owner of the copyright.
- Stories must be written in English with the option to enter the English as a second language category.
- Always edit/revise multiple drafts and have fun!
- iWRITE does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender, or religion in its programs and contests.
- Not following any of these rules may result in disqualification.
Rules for Writers Submitting Articles
- The required word count for articles is 500-1,000 words.
- Entries must be typed using only Times New Roman Font, 12-point size in black.
- Entries must include the name and story title at the top of the first page.
- The author must cite sources used within the article. Check here for examples on how to properly cite.
- Each contestant’s work will be judged based on how well the writer incorporated the sports theme into their work.
- Each contestant’s work will be judged on grade-level appropriate content, grammar, and spelling.
- Articles may not contain offensive material or language. iWRITE promotes positive values and lessons within its articles; therefore, students are encouraged to use good judgment when writing and developing articles.
- Note that iWRITE checks for plagiarism in order to respect copyright laws. Any entries not written solely by the student will be disqualified.
- If your article is chosen for publication, you will receive a licensing agreement allowing iWRITE to publish your work; however, you will remain the owner of the copyright.
- Articles must be written in English with the option to enter the English as a second language category.
- Always edit/revise multiple drafts and have fun!
- iWRITE does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender, or religion in its programs and contests.
- Not following any of these rules may result in disqualification.
Rules for Writers Submitting Poetry
- Poems must be between 8 and 24 lines.
- Poems must be typed in Times New Roman Font, 12-point size in black ink.
- The author’s name and poem title must be placed on the top of the first page.
- Poems must fit the sports theme.
- Each poem will be judged on creativity, artistic quality, and correct word usage.
- Poems may not contain offensive material or language. iWRITE promotes positive values and lessons within its publications; therefore, students are encouraged to use good judgment when writing and developing their poems.
- Note that iWRITE checks for plagiarism in order to respect copyright laws. Any entries not written solely by the student will be disqualified.
- Poems must be written in English with the option to enter the English as a second language category.
- Poets should edit/revise multiple drafts and have fun!
- iWRITE does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender or religion in its programs and contests.
- Not following these rules may result in disqualification.
Rules for Artists Submitting Illustrations
- This year’s artwork should focus on the sports theme; however, we understand that there are many ways to interpret this idea.
- Hand-drawn illustrations, paintings, or digital artwork may be submitted. (NO other types of artwork such as photographs or sculptures may be submitted for consideration.)
- Artwork may be submitted in either a portrait or landscape orientation.
- Artwork should be a minimum of 8-1/2×11 and a maximum of 24”x48” in size to ensure a high-resolution, print-quality scan is possible.
- Pictures of artwork that are submitted need to be a minimum of 300 dpi.
- A 1/8 of an inch will be cut off of each margin during printing. Don’t put anything important at or near the edges.
- KEEP YOUR ORIGINAL ARTWORK. Winning artists may be asked to submit their original artwork to be professionally scanned for print publication.
- Don’t use words in your picture.
- Clean it up. Erase any stray pencil marks thoroughly. If it’s a mark on the piece of paper, it will print.
- Use bold colors and be sure to darken the colors if using colored pencils. We want your artwork to look good in print.
- Get inspired by art online, at the library, or at home, but don’t copy!
- Artwork may not contain offensive material. iWRITE promotes positive values and lessons within its stories; therefore students are encouraged to use good judgment when developing illustrations.
- If your illustration is chosen for publication, you will receive a licensing agreement allowing iWRITE to publish your work; however, you will remain the owner.
- Any entries not created solely by the student will be disqualified.
- Get creative and have fun!
- iWRITE does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin, gender, or religion in its programs and contests.
- Artwork that does not pertain to sports will not be eligible to win.
If you have any questions regarding the contest, please contact us at contest@iwrite.org
All about iWRITE
Since 2009, iWRITE has published more than 1,730 student authors and illustrators in its anthology, I Write Short Stories by Kids for Kids. Students from 11 different countries have participated, and there are 11,000 copies of our anthologies in print.
Check out all 13 anthologies and our “i” The Guy Writer’s Journal below.
Copies of our latest anthologies are available on
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Thank you to our sponsor, H-E-B for supporting our publishing contest program.
