Promising Young Writers
The Promising Young Writers program by the National Council of Teachers of English honors exceptional eighth-grade student writing through an annual themed contest and national recognition.
Funder: National Council of Teachers of English
Due Dates: February 15, 2027 (Annual contest closing)
Funding Amounts: No monetary award; national recognition and certificates for selected eighth-grade writers.
Summary: Recognizes and celebrates exceptional writing by eighth-grade students through an annual themed prompt and national awards.
Key Information: Submissions must be educator-nominated; self-nominations are not accepted.
Description
The Promising Young Writers program, offered by the National Council of Teachers of English (NCTE), is an annual contest designed to stimulate and honor the writing talents of eighth-grade students. Each year, students respond to a themed prompt—fiction or nonfiction—showcasing their creativity, voice, and writing skills. The program aims to highlight the importance of strong writing at this formative stage and provides national recognition for outstanding student work. Selected students receive certificates and, for top honorees, publication of their names and schools on the NCTE website.
