Two of My Students Won $600 in This Competition Last Year. Here's How to Enter Yours.
Last year two of my students entered IEW's Annual Writing Competition. Both placed. Both won cash.
Jaidyn, a student who once believed he didn't like writing, placed 3rd in Level B and won $100. Cale, whose competition essay I still use as a teaching example, placed 2nd in Level C and won $200. Jaidyn and Cale's parents received IEW gift certificates in the amount of their prizes. Neither of them started out as confident writers. They just had a foundation that was ready when the opportunity arrived.
The 11th IEW Annual Writing Competition is open right now. It is free to enter, open to all skill levels, and your student does not need any prior IEW experience to participate. If they have something to say and the skills to say it — this is their moment.
Here is everything you need to know.
The Prizes
Prizes go to the top three in each age category — and here's what makes this competition especially generous: parents and teachers win too.
Awards — Per Category
🥇First Prize— $400 for the student + $400 IEW gift certificate for the parent or teacher
🥈Second Prize— $200 for the student + $200 IEW gift certificate for the parent or teacher
🥉Third Prize— $100 for the student + $100 IEW gift certificate for the parent or teacher
Note: International winners receive IEW gift certificates in place of cash prizes.
The Categories
Enter based on your student's age as of March 1, 2026.
Age Levels
Level A Ages 8–10
Level B Ages 11–13
Level C Ages 14–18
The Prompts
All three levels share the same theme: the impact of story.
Stories — even fictional ones — can shape our beliefs, challenge our thinking, and change how we see the world. Each prompt asks students to write about a book, short story, or movie that has made a real difference in their life.
Level A
2 paragraphs
Write about a book, short story, or movie whose characters, events, or theme have significantly impacted you. Explain how.
Level B
4–5 paragraphs
Write about a book, short story, or movie whose characters, events, or theme have significantly impacted your thoughts and/or actions. Explain the impact and its significance.
Level C
5–7 paragraphs
Write about a book, short story, or movie whose characters, events, or theme have significantly impacted your thoughts, actions, or how you view the world. Explain the specific elements that contributed to this impact, the impact itself, and its significance in your life.
Submission Checklist
Before your student submits, make sure the entry meets these requirements:
Required Formatting
✓Times New Roman, 12pt font, double-spaced
✓No student name on the paper
✓Title centered
✓Saved and submitted as a PDF
The Deadline
Final Submission Deadline
April 30, 2026
That gives your student time to write, revise, and submit their best work. Don't wait until the last week. Submit as soon as possible.
One Thing Before You Go
This prompt is asking students to write about a story that changed them. That requires two things: something real to say and the writing skills to say it in a way that makes a judge stop and pay attention.
If your student has the first but is still building the second, that's exactly what my foundations program is for. Join me Tuesday at 7pm — it's free — to see how the foundation is built.
— Alicia Brown
Write with Mrs. Brown | Raising Writers
Click here to learn more about the IEW Annual Writing Competition.
