The 2026 Teen Writing Contest for grades 6-12 begins January 5, 2026.
The Ann Arbor District Library is excited to host its 34th annual Teen Writing Contest in Winter 2026! The contest will accept submissions from January 5 to March 1, 2026.
Young Adult authors take part as judges each year, reading and selecting the winning stories. Stories are judged in three different categories: Grades 6-8, Grades 9 & 10, and Grades 11 & 12. The top three writers in each age group receive prizes. The Teen Writing Contest award winners will be announced on May 16 in a pre-recorded awards ceremony video.
Looking for the kids' writing contest? Kids in grades 3-5 can also enter AADL's Kids' Short Story Writing Contest. Click for more details.
General Contest Guidelines:
• Writers must reside within or attend school in Washtenaw County
• Writers may submit one entry per writing form each year
• Writers cannot use AI tools to help write their work (ChatGPT, etc.)
• Poems and stories must be written by only one person
• Writers must be in grades 6-12
• Previously submitted or published work will not be accepted
• For full guidelines, see the links below
How to Enter the Teen Writing Contest:
Submission form links are below!
1. Review the Poetry Guidelines, Flash Fiction Guidelines, and the Short Story Guidelines
2. Write! Need some help? Check out this Writing Resource Guide.
3. Send us your work using the Short Story Submission Form, Poetry Submission Form, and/or the Flash Fiction Submission Form.
Questions about the contest may be directed to teenswrite@aadl.org.