About the Young Writers’ Literary Competition
Our Story
Recognizing the heavy focus on analytical writing in traditional English classrooms, the Young Writers’ Literary Competition was founded in 2025 to give young writers a space to delve into creative writing, express their perspectives, and challenge themselves.
As we move forward, we hope to build a diverse literary community where young writers can encounter diverse perspectives and find an audience for their work.
Our Mission
The Young Writers’ Literary Competition aims to encourage Middle School students to write boldly, think deeply, and explore the possibilities of creative writing. We seek to create a space where aspiring writers can experiment, express, and have their work recognized beyond the traditional classroom.
The Competition
The YWLC hosts two rounds each year, with themes and categories varying by round. Writers have the freedom to interpret the theme through their own creative lens, choosing their approach and employing literary devices to enrich their work.
Submissions are evaluated anonymously through a structured rubric by the judging panel. With careful moderation, finalists pieces are selected to be formally recognized and published in the round’s anthology. We provide entries with written constructive feedback regardless of winning status, because we hope to encourage young writers to continue developing their literary skill and exploring the limitless possibilities of creative writing.
The Anthology
For every round, winning submissions selected by the judging panel are compiled into an anthology. We publish the anthologies onto this website to celebrate the winners.
Access our past anthologies here: