Young Writers Awards

Award is open to students in 10th, 11th, and 12th grades. Students may submit a poem, work of fiction (a short story or one-act play), or nonfiction work (a personal or academic essay).

Award: Up to $500

Deadline: Nov. 1, 2015

More info: http://www.bennington.edu/NewsEvents/YoungWritersAwards

Williams-Mystic/Joseph Conrad Ocean Essay Contest

This essay contest is for high school seniors and college undergraduates of any major who are attending an accredited college or university. To qualify, applicants must submit a fiction or nonfiction essay between 1,000 and 5,000 words about any topic and in any genre as long as the ocean or a major body of water is the primary setting or aspect of concern. See website for complete details.

Award: $500

Deadline: Oct. 23, 2015

More info: http://mystic.williams.edu/conradcontest/

Letters About Literature Competition

This competition is for students in grades 4 through 12 and home-schooled students at equivalent grade levels. To qualify, applicants must be at least 9 years of age and legal US residents. To apply, applicants must write and submit a letter addressed to the author of a book of their choice. Applicants should address how the author's work--novel, nonfiction, poetry--changed their view of the world or themselves.

Deadline: December 10, 2013

Award: $200-$1000

More info: http://www.read.gov/letters/