Resources for Writers
The Highland Piper aims to amplify the voices of Shorecrest’s student journalists, poets, authors, photographers, cartooners, and videographers. In a society that struggles to provide guidance to emerging creatives, it’s difficult for students to find opportunities to build one’s resume or gain experience in fields of interest. Listed below by subject matter are a few accessible resources for students seeking to develop their skills. Whether you’re interested in entering a writing competition, submitting work to get published, or applying for a program/mentorship – there are plenty of opportunities available to help you succeed. Information on this page will be updated monthly! Have more to add? Feel free to contact us via Instagram (@sc.highland.piper), email ([email protected]), or comment!
Updated for April 2022
Competitions
U.S. Institute for Peace Essay Contest – deadline April 4th, 2022
Essay
https://www.usip.org/public-education/students/AFSAEssayContest
“Describe a current situation where American diplomats and peacebuilders are working with other world powers, as well as local and/or regional actors, in a conflict-affected country to champion democracy, promote human rights, and/or resolve violent conflict.”
Bill of Rights Institute “We the Students” Essay Contest – deadline April 15th, 2022
Essay
https://billofrightsinstitute.org/we-the-students-essay-contest
2022 Prompt: How does an understanding of natural rights and respect build a free society?
Press 53 53-Word Story Contest – deadline 15th day of each month
Fiction, Short Story, Prose
https://www.press53.com/53word-story-contest
“It’s free, it’s fun, and the winner gets published in Prime Number Magazine and receives a free book from Press 53. Be sure to subscribe to our email updates for free. You’ll receive an email on the first day of each month with our winning story and the prompt for our next contest.”
Bow Seat’s Ocean Awareness Contest – deadline June 13, 2022
All Writing Genres
http://www.bowseat.org/contest
“This 11th annual writing contest is centered around a specific theme in regards to environmentalism and climate activism. The 2022 Contest, THE FUNNY THING ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE, challenges students to learn about climate change and its impact on the ocean, and to explore new ways to communicate the urgency of the climate crisis. Use humor, positivity, irony, or other unconventional approaches that are not typically used in environmental communication to address the climate crisis in an approachable and accessible way.. ..”
Fischer and Cantor Prizes – deadline August 31, 2022
Poetry
https://www.tellurideinstitute.org/fischer-prize/
“Founded in 1997 to honor a beloved Telluride poet who died young, the 23rd Annual Fischer Prize is a national poetry contest open to English language writers of all ages living in the U.S. or to U.S. citizens living overseas. All styles and subject matter are welcome. Deadline for the contest is the last day of August each year. Winners are announced in October. Prizes include $1000 Fischer Prize winner, $500 Cantor Prize winner, and five $200 Fischer Prize finalist awards. The 2021 Fischer Cantor Prize Contest is now open for submissions.”
Lake Forest Park Rotary Contest – deadline April 9, 2022
https://www.shorelineareanews.com/2022/03/lfp-rotary-contest-what-does-peace-mean.html
“What peace means to me” contest
essay, poetry, haiku, short story, lyrics, artwork (drawing, painting, photograph, sculpture, collage)
Publications
The Lumiere Review – Rolling Submissions
Poetry, Prose, Short story, Essay, fiction, nonfiction
https://lumierereview.com/submit
“The Lumiere Review is a literary magazine dedicated to shining the light on all voices through poetry, prose, and art. We are intrigued by the inextinguishable sparks of truth and connection, the effervescent meddling of narrative, and the luminous creations that expand on perceptions of genre, language, and form.”
The Wall Street Journal Op-Ed – Rolling Submissions
Opinion writing
https://www.wsj.com/articles/oped-guidelines-for-the-wall-street-journal-1384383173
“Your article should be a strong argument about an issue in the news. And it should not be a response to a Journal article; that is a letter to the editor. For an idea of what we are looking for, read the Journal’s editorial page on a regular basis. We prefer that the submission be between 400 and 1,000 jargon-free words, submitted as the body of an email rather than an attachment. We will contact authors on timely articles that are of interest to us as soon as possible. Otherwise, due to the large volume of submissions, for articles that we are not able to use, we will respond within 10 business days.”
The Adroit Journal – Rolling Submissions
Poetry, Prose, Short story, Essay, fiction, nonfiction
https://theadroitjournal.org/about/submissions/
“We’re ready for your best work. Pass it along via our online submission manager…. Since inception, the journal has been listed for extended periods among Duotrope.com’s 25 Fastest & Most Challenging Poetry and Fiction Markets, and has been the #1 Poetry Market with the Most Submission Responses Reported for the past two years…”’
The New Yorker Fiction Submissions – Rolling Submissions
Prose, Fiction, Short Story
https://www.newyorker.com/about/contact?verso=true
The New York Times Op-ed- Rolling Submissions
Opinion Writing
https://help.nytimes.com/hc/en-us/articles/115014809107-How-to-submit-an-Op-Ed-essay
Polyphony Lit
Poetry, Prose, Short story, Essay, fiction, nonfiction
https://www.polyphonylit.org/submission-guidelines
“High school students from anywhere in the world are eligible to submit in the categories of poetry and prose (fiction or creative nonfiction). Works must be written in English. Submit a maximum of three pieces across the three genres.”
Binsey Poplar Press
Poetry, Prose, Short story, Essay, fiction, nonfiction
https://www.binseypoplarpress.com/
“Binsey Poplar Press is a non-profit organization incorporated in the state of California. Started by a team of 8 students in the Silicon Valley area, we invite students ages 13-26 across the nation and beyond to share their work with us. Every two months we publish a new volume of student works on our website in the form of a magazine. Each issue has one featured artist, whose art will appear on the cover of the magazine, and one featured writer, who has a line from their work selected as the title of the issue.”
International Youth Neuroscience Association (IYNA) Journal Essay – Rolling Submissions
Science essay
https://youthneuro.org/journal/write/
”We encourage all IYNA members who have NOT graduated from a college, undergraduate institution, or an equivalent institution of higher education to write for the IYNA Journal! Not only does the IYNA provide free editing and web publication services, but you also have a chance to influence others, providing resources to help our readers learn more about neuroscience”
Unapologetic Zine
Poetry, Prose, Short story, Essay, fiction, nonfiction
https://www.unapologeticzine.com/
“Unapologetic Zine is an online and print magazine for all young fun creatives! Art and pieces of writing such as essays, short stories, poems, and more are always open to submit.”
Programs
Write the World Virtual Summer Writing Camps
“Spend your summer immersed in a virtual community of teen writers (ages 13-19) from over 100 countries as you experiment with the written word, try your hand at new styles of writing, and work with notable professionals to create pieces you’re proud of… all without leaving your home! Whether you choose to spend your free time filling journals with poetry and prose or are new to putting your thoughts on paper, we welcome you to join our week-long writing camps in June, July, and August, 2022.”
https://writetheworldworkshops.com/global-writing/virtual-writing-camp/
National YoungArts Foundation Competition
Poetry, Prose, Short Story, Essay, Fiction, Nonfction, Screenplay, Playwriting, Novel
“Writing encompasses creative nonfiction, novel, play or script, poetry, short story and spoken word. The strongest submissions demonstrate a sense of inventiveness, show attention to the complexities and technical aspects of language, and have a clear, original, and distinct point of view.”
