iWRITE Annual Publishing Contest

iWRITE Annual Publishing Contest

What is it?

The iWRITE Publishing Contest is an annual competition hosted by the iWRITE Literacy Organization, a nonprofit dedicated to inspiring youth to write and publish. The contest is open to students in grades 3 through 12 and selects creative writing and illustration submissions for publication in a professionally printed anthology titled "I Write Short Stories by Kids for Kids."

Who can enter?

• Students in Grades 3–12, anywhere in the United States
• Individual students, classrooms, and homeschoolers are all welcome
• No entry fee required

Categories:

• Short Stories
• Poetry
• Personal Narratives
• Illustrations (artwork for selected stories)

What do winners receive?

• Their work published in the annual iWRITE anthology
• An invitation to the iWRITE Book Signing & Literacy Celebration in Houston, TX
• Professional recognition as a published author or illustrator
• 
  

Why is it important?
The contest provides a unique opportunity for young writers and artists to experience the full publishing process—writing, editing, illustration, and promotion. It empowers students by showing them that their voices matter and their creativity is worth sharing with the world.

Deadline:

• Typically around early summer (May–June)—check the website for current deadlines.

Learn more:
👉 https://iwrite.org/our-work/publishing-program-annual-contest/

https://iwrite.org/our-work/publishing-program-annual-contest/

A national writing and illustration contest for students in grades 3–12. Winners are published in the iWRITE anthology and honored at a Houston celebration.

​This year’s theme:
​
Entry entries must be centered around the theme of “Heroes and Superheroes.”

Acceptable submission formats:

Only hand-drawn drawings, paintings, or digital illustrations will be accepted.

Photographs, sculptures, AI-generated images, etc. will not be accepted.

Orientation:

Portrait or landscape formats are acceptable.

Size:

Minimum 8.5” x 11”, maximum **24” x 48”**.

Please work within this range for high-resolution scanning.

Digital submission criteria:

Image files must be at least 300 dpi for print.

Guidelines for book cover artwork:

Final book cover size is **5.5” x 8.5” (portrait)**.

The illustration size including the entire background should be **6.5” x 9.5”**,
and the centrally located main image (character, etc.) should not exceed 5” x 8”.

The 1/8 inch edge may be cut off when printed, so do not place important elements close to the border.

Retention of the original:

If selected, the original may be mailed to you. Please keep the original in a safe place.

Design considerations:

Do not include text within the illustration.

Leave space in the artwork for the title.

Clearly erase any unnecessary marks such as pencil marks.

When using colored pencils, color them darkly to increase clarity.

It is recommended to use vivid and bold colors, as the colors may appear faint when printed.

Creative ethics:

You may be inspired by the internet, books, or artwork around you, but you should never copy them.

Artworks that imitate someone else’s ideas or designs will be disqualified.

Illustrations must be original creations of the student.

Content Guidelines:

Works containing offensive or negative messages or inappropriate images will not be accepted.

iWRITE values ​​positive messages and educational value.

Including Fantasy Genre Required:

Illustrations must include elements of imagination or fantasy.

Realistic images or non-genre subjects will not be eligible for awards.

Copyright Notice:

Selected works may be used in iWRITE publications through a licensing agreement,
and the copyright will remain with the original student.

Other:

iWRITE provides open opportunities to all students regardless of race, gender, origin, religion, etc.

The most important thing is to express yourself freely, with creativity and enjoyment!