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The Beautiful Truth | Poetry Contest | Ideal for 10-18
Inspire and engage 10-18 year-olds to write poems about what matters to them.
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.
Extended
Closing Date: Friday Jan 9, 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 Jan 9, 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!
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.
If you are unsure on any rules or have any queries, please don't hesitate to Contact Us.
For Schools
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.)
For Students
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.)
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 Middle & High 77 Walnut Street Unit 11 Peabody MA 01960
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