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The latest creative writing contest ideal for 6-13 year-olds
Captivate your students and get them excited and eager to write with Spook Squad!
Writing a mini saga (a story told in up to 100 words) takes away the fear of long-form writing, and gives every student the confidence to take part.
Stories can be funny or creepy, scary or mysterious. It's an awesome way to engage your students and introduce writing with tension, suspense, and atmosphere.
There are lots of free resources available to help your students learn how to write a story, including examples, story starters, a lesson plan, and a PowerPoint slide deck (also available in Google Slides). Download them now!
Entries can be written on the graphic organizer (which also includes story prompts), typed in Word or Google Docs, or check out the Online Writing Portalwhere your students type their work and you can submit them all together with the click of a button!
By taking part you can give your students the opportunity to see themselves as real published authors, and the prizes will help motivate them too! Everyone gets a bookmark for taking part, students whose work we'd love to publish receive a certificate of merit, and there are prizes for our favorite stories.
So join the Spook Squad today and teach your students how to write a scary story - you'll have a classroom full of confident, proud writers in no time!
Extended
Closing Date: Friday Apr 17, 2026
We've worked with over 20,000 schools. Here's what some of them have to say...
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This is my sixth year using YW to publish my students' writing and they are so easy to work with! My students are always excited to use the provided theme and challenge themselves to be chosen!
Thank you so much for another opportunity! The class really enjoyed this.
Justina Denapoli, Father Vincent Capodanno Catholic Academy, NYSee more...
The students enjoyed the freedom of this project (Peculiar Pets). It got them excited to write.
Amanda Peterson, Christ The King School, NYSee more...
Peculiar Pets was a great activity!
Anne Piccoli, Immaculate Heart Of Mary School, NYSee more...
Thank you for the intriguing prompts and engaging activities! I look forward to these contests each year.
Mike Carter, Millis Middle/High School, MASee more...
My students absolutely loved the challenge of writing mini sagas!
Darla Bubar, Edward Town Middle School, NYSee more...
The story starters are so fun!
Nichole Charbonneau, Old Rochester Regional Junior High School, MASee more...
My students look forward to this contest every year, and so do I!
Rachel Barnes, Monomay Regional High School, MASee more...
This was such a fun way to have my students engaged with their writing!
Christina Guertin, Midland Street School, NYSee more...
This is my sixth year using YW to publish my students' writing and they are so easy to work with! My students are always excited to use the provided theme and challenge themselves to be chosen!
To make sure your entries are valid, please follow the rules listed below:
Extended
Closing Date: Friday Apr 17, 2026
Only one entry per student, there is no limit to the number of entries per school. Teachers, please submit your entries altogether where possible.
Use one teacher entry form for each teacher who submits work.
Mini sagas can be submitted on the entry form or a sheet of 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.)
Mini sagas have a 100-word limit. The title is not included in the word limit.
If a story starter/ending is used, it must be included in the 100-word limit.
US entrants only.
Students' mini sagas must be their own work! (Please note on the entry if there is anything we need to take into consideration when reading the work.)
Copyright remains with the author.
Free to enter.
If you are unsure on any rules or have any queries, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.
For Schools
The school that submits the best set of entries will win the Young Writers' Award of Excellence.
PLUS every participating school receives a free copy of the book their students feature in!
(Remember, you receive 1 free copy for every 30 entries you submit! E.g. 1-30 entries you receive 1 copy, 31-60 entries you receive 2 copies, etc. Every participating school will receive at least 1 copy of the book their students feature in.)
For Students
Our 3 favorite published writers will each win a fantastic creative writing goody bag!
PLUS
Every entrant receives stickers & a bookmark for taking part, and we award a certificate of merit for all young writers whose work we'd like to publish.
(School and student winners will be chosen from entries received Feb-March 2026 from stories that have permission to be published. Goody bag image is an example, contents may differ.)
Enter Online
Email
Email your entries to [email protected]
and please ensure your students' names and ages are on their work, and that you include your name, school name and school address in your email. Thank you!
Please ensure your name, email and school name and address are included with your entries if you send entries digitally via a non-Young Writers service.
Send by Mail
Send your entries, along with your school entry form, to:
Young Writers Elementary 77 Walnut Street Unit 11 Peabody MA 01960
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