The Beautiful Truth Poetry Writing Contest for 11-18 year-olds

Array ( [article_id] => 21525 [company_id] => 1 [user_id] => 0 [article_type_id] => 58 [article_seo_url] => truth25 [details] => Array ( [Title] => The Beautiful Truth [Description] => Inspire and engage 10-18 year-olds to write poems about what matters to them. [Subheading] => [Age] => Ideal for 10-18 [Intro] =>

Ignite a passion for poetry in your students with The Beautiful Truth and help them discover the fun and freedom of creative expression.

Kick-start ideas and engage your students with the video trailer. Then, follow the lesson plan and accompanying PowerPoint slide deck (also available on Google Slides) which will help all your students to write a poem - we've done the planning so you can focus on the teaching.

There are also example poems, poetic techniques, how to plan a poem, and more free resources all designed to empower students of all abilities. They can write their poems on any theme and in any style, giving them the freedom to explore their creativity, or express their opinions, worries or hopes.

Benefits of entering

🖊️Empowers students to express themselves

🖊️Allows students to flex their creativity and imagination

🖊️Develops transferable skills including self-reflection, empathy and communication

🖊️Free resources to inspire creativity and teach poetry writing techniques

🖊️Open theme: link to current learning or let students write about what matters to them

🖊️Opportunity for your students to have their work published

🖊️Amazing prizes for schools and students

🖊️Free to enter

If you haven't tried the Online Writing Portal yet (where your students type their work during a lesson or as homework) check it out today at www.youngwritersusa.com/teachers

The Beautiful Truth will create a classroom full of confident writers, so get started today.

[Rules] =>

Only one entry per student, there is no limit to the number of entries per school. Teachers please submit your entries altogether where possible!
One teacher entry form per teacher entering.
Poems can be submitted on the entry form, a sheet of letter-sized paper or typed (on a computer or using the Online Writing Portal or Word Doc entry form)
Each student's name, age and school name should be included on their entry. (Entries can be submitted with first names only or initials if needed.)
Poems can be on any theme and in any style.
US entrants only.
Ideal for 10-18 year-olds.
Copyright remains with the author.
Free to enter.

[School Prizes] =>

Young Writers’ Award of Excellence is awarded to the school that submits the best set of entries for this contest.

PLUS every participating school receives a free copy of the book their students feature in.

(The more entries you send, the more free books you’ll receive: E.g. Send 1-30 entries & you'll receive 1 free copy, send 31-60 entries you'll receive 2 free copies, etc. Every participating school receives at least 1 free copy their students feature in.)

[Student Prizes] =>

Our favorite 3 writers will each win a $50 Amazon gift card.

PLUS every entrant receives a bookmark for taking part. Students who we'd love to publish also receive a certificate.

(The school & student winners will be chosen from the entries received Nov-Dec 2025.)

[Tips] =>
[YouTube] => qpte4rprK0E [Opens] => 2025-11-07 [Closes] => 2026-01-09 [Extended] => 1 [Orion ID] => 715 [RR Ontraport ID] => [DL Ontraport ID] => 737 [Post Class] => Middle & High [Orion Teacher Year] => Middle & High [How to Enter] => [Winners Subheading] => [Winners Intro] =>

[Winner Word] => Student [Schools/Clubs] => Schools [Thumbnail] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1729149210-647-TheBeautifulTruth_PageIcon_USA.jpg [Background] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1762257247-9348-TBT_Background_USA.jpg [Logo] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1729003302-3080-TBT_Banner-Logo.png [Independent Intro] =>

Ignite a passion for poetry with The Beautiful Truth and discover the freedom of creative expression.

Start by watching the video, which will engage you and kick-start your ideas.

There are more free resources to download which are all designed to empower and inspire children of all abilities. You can write their poem on any theme and in any style, giving you the freedom to explore your creativity.

Benefits of entering

🖊️Empowers young adults to express themselves

🖊️Allows writers to flex their creativity and imagination

🖊️Develops transferable skills including self-reflection, empathy and communication

🖊️Free resources to inspire creativity and learn poetry writing techniques

🖊️Opportunity for you to have your work published

🖊️Amazing prizes

🖊️Free to enter

We can't wait to see how you express yourself with The Beautiful Truth.

How To Enter
Please ask for your parent/guardian's permission to enter before you do!

Email your entry along with your name and full address to: [email protected]

OR

Upload your entry here or use the link below.

Mail your entry along with your name and full address to:

Young Writers - The Beautiful Truth
77 Walnut Street
Unit 11
Peabody, MA, 01960

Closing Date: December 19, 2025

[Independent Rules] =>

Only one entry per child.
Write your poem (or an adult can scribe/type it), ensuring your name, age and address are included.
(Entries can be submitted with first names only or initials if needed.)Work can be on the entry form or a letter-size sheet of paper or typed.
Poems must be your own work.
Please note on the entry if there is anything we need to take into consideration when reading the work.
No line limit
Poems can be written in any style
US entrants only.
Free to enter.
Ideal for 10-18 year-olds.
Copyright remains with the author.

[Independent Prizes] =>

Our 3 favorite published writers will each win a $50 Amazon gift card.

PLUS every entrant receives a bookmark for taking part. Students who we'd love to publish also receive a certificate.

(Winners will be chosen from entries received Nov-Dec 2025. Independent entrants are eligible for student prizes.)

[Meta Title] => The Beautiful Truth Poetry Writing Contest for 11-18 year-olds [Meta Description] => Teach your students how to write a poem, and empower them to express themselves and write about what matters to them with The Beautiful Truth [Meta Keywords] => The Beautiful Truth, poetry, poem, poetry contest, teacher resources, free resources, writing resources, poetry resources, teen writing contest [Share Title] => The Beautiful Truth Poetry Writing Contest for 11-18 year-olds [Share Description] => Teach your students how to write a poem, and empower them to express themselves and write about what matters to them with The Beautiful Truth [Layout] => main-comp [Icon] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1729149210-9010-TheBeautifulTruth_PageIcon_USA.jpg [Category] => Middle & High [Type] => poetry [Country] => USA [Resource Hub Text] =>
[Letters Sent Date] => 2026-03-09 [Letters Sent Satus] => [Books Published Start Date] => 2026-04-13 [Books Published End Date] => 2026-05-11 [Books Published Status] => [Winners Announced Date] => 2026-05-31 [Winners Announced Status] => [How to Enter Image] => [Video Placeholder] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1729003303-4500-TBT_Video.jpg [School Prize] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1761034904-8516-SchooltrophyFORWEBSITE.png [Student Prize] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1761034904-1694-2.png [Banner Background] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1762257247-1785-TBT_Banner-Background_USA.jpg [Banner Logo] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1729003304-5164-TBT_Banner-Logo.png [Share Image] => https://bonacia-sites.s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/young-writers/ems/competitions/1729149210-3889-TheBeautifulTruth_PageIcon_USA.jpg ) [date_created] => 2025-10-21 09:09:33 [last_updated] => 2025-12-17 11:24:29 [sort_order] => 7 [incoming] => 0 [live] => 1 [archived] => 0 [deleted] => 0 )

This contest is now closed.

If you have late entries, please email us at [email protected] and we'll do our best to accommodate them.

Open contests can be found here.

What happens now?

Our editorial team will read every single entry. Any child whose work they'd love to publish in a book will be sent a letter and certificate. Children whose work hasn't met the contest criteria will have the chance to resubmit their work. Winners will be chosen from published pieces once all the books in the series have been published.

Contest Timeline

Stage	Date	Status
Letters Sent	By 9^th March 2026	⏳ In Progress
Books Published	13^th April 2026 - 11^th May 2026	⏳ Coming Soon
Winners Announced	31^st May 2026	⏳ Coming Soon

Please note we aim to keep these dates as accurate as possible but can be subject to change.

For more detailed information about your school's entries, please log in (or create) your teacher account here using the email you included on your teacher entry form.