Writopia Lab and the Scholastic Writing Awards

About the Awards

Every day at Writopia Lab, we witness the transformative power of being heard. Because of this experience, we are dedicated to giving teen writers the opportunity to be read—and celebrated—as part of the broader literary community. To help make this possible, Writopia Lab is the official affiliate partner of the Scholastic Writing Awards for these regions:

• Hudson-to-Housatonic Writing Region
• DC Metro Writing Region

If you do not attend school in one of the regions above, you can find the local Scholastic Writing Awards program in your area.

Since 1923, the Scholastic Writing Awards have recognized and celebrated teens for their creative accomplishments. Open to all students in grades 7-12, participation in the Awards can make a tremendous impact in a young person's life. Noteworthy past recipients include Joyce Carol Oates, Stephen King, Sylvia Plath, Truman Capote, Robert Redford, John Updike, Lena Dunham, and many more.

The Scholastic Awards is blindly adjudicated and there is no restriction on topic or content. Students can submit work to the Scholastic Writing Awards in the following categories.

• Critical Essay
• Dramatic Script
• Flash Fiction
• Humor
• Journalism
• Novel Writing
• Personal Essay & Memoir
• Poetry
• Science Fiction & Fantasy
• Senior Writing Portfolio
• Short Story

Awards Ceremonies

To recognize their outstanding work, Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention recipients are invited every year—along with their guests, teachers, and our esteemed jurors—to our Regional Scholastic Writing Awards Ceremonies.

School Visits

To recognize their outstanding work, Gold Key, Silver Key, and Honorable Mention recipients are invited every year—along with their guests, teachers, and our esteemed jurors—to our Regional Scholastic Writing Awards Ceremonies.

Educators and school administrators interested in learning about the Awards are encouraged to reach out to us at ScholasticSubmissions@WritopiaLab.org. We are happy to provide additional materials, or schedule an in-class visit to speak with young writers about opportunities provided by Writopia Lab and the Scholastic Writing Awards.

Submission Support for Students

Writopia Lab has been helping students compose and prepare work for the Scholastic Writing Awards since 2007. In that time, Writopia students have finished and submitted more than 4,000 works of writing to the Awards!

Writopia students have enjoyed unprecedented regional and national success in the Scholastic Awards. In workshops, however, our instructors place a premium on completing and polishing a work that the student is proud to submit.

The Scholastic Writing Awards is just one of many recognition and publications opportunities that Writopia Lab encourages students to pursue. Workshop students receive a monthly newsletter with a list of publication and recognition opportunities for young writers.