Budding writers don’t have much of an outlet in high school. Especially if they are fiction writers. There may be an opportunity to write a short story in an English class, but the only other writing opportunities seem to be the student newspaper, the yearbook, and perhaps a creative writing class. Student fiction writers have to find other outlets for their talents. They may write “on the side,” but if there is no motivation to be published, it can be tough. One big motivator can be fiction writing contests. There are quite of a number of them actually. Here are just 10 that have good prizes and the opportunity to be published.

1. Ray Bradbury Creative Writing Contest: This is a national contest for American high school students. While Bradbury is obviously a science fiction writer, the genre of writing for the contest changes every year. Students can access the contest information through the Waukegan Public Library in Illinois (Bradbury is from Chicago).

2. Misfits Writing Contest: This is the perfect contest for students interested in writing science fiction, fantasy, or the supernatural. It is sponsored by the Minnesota society for Interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy. Students will find several options for contests, all with cash prizes.

3. The Writing Conference, Inc – While there are no cash awards, winners of this contest receive a plaque and publication in the Conference’s journal, The Writers’ Slate. They are also invited to a reception. Topics change every year, and students can submit a poem, a short story, or an essay.

4. The Claremont Review: This is a great little contest for teen writers of poetry and fiction. The winners will receive up to a $500 cash prize and are published in their online publication abebooks.com. The entry fee is $18 but that also buys a subscription to the journal.

5. Commonwealth Essay Competition: this competition comes out of the UK but it is open to students all over the world, for writers up to the age of 18. It is sponsored by the Royal Commonwealth Society, and it is one of the oldest competitions in the world (over 100 years).

6. Kid’s-in-Print Book Contest: For students who have the urge to write novels or novelettes, this is probably the contest for them. Submissions are accepted for any genre – mystery, humor, science fiction, other fiction, biographies, and non-fiction. Selected students win a publishing contract.

7. Bennington Young Writers Awards: Bennington College offers this contest as a way of recognizing and awarding young authors in all writing categories. Specifically for fiction, students in the 10^th-12 grades can submit a short story or a one-act play for the fiction contest. Contestants must be sponsored by a high school teacher. First and second prizes are $500 and $350 respectively.

8. Skipping Stones Youth Honor Awards: Skipping Stones Magazine is interested in promoting students writing that relates to the environment, global awareness, and multicultural understanding. Students may enter poetry, non-fiction or fiction works. The word limit for short stories is 1000 words. There is an annual deadline of May. While there are no cash awards, selected students are published in the magazine, to which they receive a free subscription and a selection of multicultural books. This would be a great contest for students who like to weave fiction about actual current events and issues.

9. Teen Ink: Teen Ink is a magazine just for teen writers. Contestants may submit fiction for publication and review. Word requirements are 500 – 2,000, and categories of fiction include mystery, horror, science fiction, fantasy, romance, and adventure. Students whose writing is selected for publication receive a free copy of the issue in which their entry is published.

10. Scholastic Art and Writing Awards: This organization has been recognizing teen writers since 1923. Entrants are in good company – former winners include Joyce Carol Oates, John Updike, and Truman Capote. There are 28 different categories, and winners have their works published. The judging panel is made up of notable fiction writers and past winners, and judging is based on originality, vision and voice, and technical skill. Because of this, it might be a good idea to get some professional editing and proofreading from a service such as BestEssay.Education, just to ensure perfect grammar and mechanics. There are also monetary awards for winners.

While winning money is always a good thing, student writers of fiction are more motivated by seeing themselves published. This is what earns some recognition and can be a great source of pride. There are lots of great opportunities for that recognition by entering these contests. If you are a prolific fiction writer, enter several of them. Being recognized and published is also a great addition to college admissions and scholarship applications.