Contests are a great way to sharpen your submission skills, stretch your imagination, and get your work out in the world. That’s why the Institute runs adult and kidlit writing contests throughout the year. Each children’s book writing contest culminates in a Winners Webinars where we announce the winners and critique the winning entries to help all entrants improve their skills. Plus, each contest has cash prizes for the top five entries.
Check out our children’s book writing contests below.
Contests Tailored For Adult Authors
IFW New Beginnings Poetry Contest
There are so many new beginnings in life. New babies, new loves, new life phases. Sometimes those new life phases come after a great hardship—like grief, loss, or heartbreak.
For this contest, we want you to share a new beginning through poetry, specifically a blank verse poem.
Details:
- Must be no longer than 280 words
- Must be a blank verse poem.
- Entries must incorporate a new beginning.
- Click here for details
Children's Writers Contests
ICL YA Fantasy First Pages
Fantasy novels are always popular with the young adult crowd. Introduce us to a teen and their not-so-ordinary world in our YA Fantasy First Pages Contest.
Details:
- Winners will be announced at our Winners Workshop on February 5, 2025.
- Entrants will get into the webinar for free. An email invitation will be sent one week prior to the webinar.
- Non-entrants can attend for $7. Click here to claim your spot!
Winners Workshop
Following each writing contest, we hold a live webinar to announce the winners. The contest judge will reveal tips for writing in the contest genre and critique the winning entries sharing why they worked—and how they could be even better.
Sign up now to be notified when registration opens for next Winners Workshop coming February 5, 2025.
Looking to improve your contest entry?
