Teens Write
Fiction
400 Words
Kids Only
- Description
- Cash Prizes
- Official Rules
COMING SOON! Join the waitlist. Limited Spots.
Calling all teen writers! Got words? Got feelings? Got an imagination that won’t quit? This contest is your chance to put it all on the page and show the world what the next generation of storytellers sounds like.
Guidelines:
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Must be fiction (not poetry, nonfiction, or essays)
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Any genre welcome: sci-fi, fantasy, mystery, romance, comedy, or something totally new
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400 words max (approx. 2 pages)
- Original, unpublished work only
- Great for a Junior in high school looking to improve their college resume.
Submit Story: By midnight CST Monday, April 27, 2026
Show the world what you’ve got.
Odds of Winning: 1 in 25
$4,400 in prize money.
Top ten win $400 each.
Ten Honorable mention winners win $40.
Winners & Honorable Mentions published Humans Write
Total Cash Prizes Awarded: $4,400
Top ten each win $400 and get published online.
Stories ranked 11 through 20 win $40.
Odds of Winning: 1 in 25
Official Rules can be found here
Competition Timeline
It's a thrilling experience competing against others! Here's what to expect when you join in the fun of a Humans Write challenge.
Write
As soon as you purchase your entry we will email you everything you need to to begin writing.
Submit
Four days prior to the submission deadline we will email a link to our submission form.
Results & Feedback
Approximately six weeks after the submission deadline winners are announced everyone will get feedback on their submission.
How To Enter
To enter simply press "add to cart" and check out. We send a PDF via email post-purchase with everything you need to get started.
Official Rules & Participation Agreement can be found here.
Clock's Ticking
Each competition is limited to ensure fair odds for those entering and quality feedback. As a result competitions fill quickly. If sold out, sign up to get notified of future competitions.
Increase Your Odds
Write much? Get 15% off when you buy 2 or more entries at a time, even in the same competition. Please note: One submission per entry. Max entries per person is 5 (meaning you can enter up to 5 times per a competition).
FAQ
Can I enter work I've published elsewhere?
No, sorry. We're glad you've been published, truly - that is awesome. Publishing rights can get complicated at times and we'd like to protect you and us from accidentally taking a messy misstep.
How do I get paid if I win?
All winners will be notified via email. Please add hello@humanswrite.com to your contacts so you don't miss any emails from us! You will receive details via email on how to claim your cash prize. When submitting your story via the submission form, be sure to put your legal name and address. If you win, we will need it! No worries, you can still put a pseudonym for publication.
How will my submission be judged?
All competition submissions are judged with the help of our rubric found here. We use a 500 point system for each category. Multiple judges review each submission. The average of the judges scores become the final grade. Every point counts.
What are my chances of winning?
On each competition page we list the the odds of winning. Please scroll up and click on "Cash Prizes" beneath "Add to Cart". Thanks!
Will my story be published?
Winners stories will be published. Even if you don't win, there are often opportunities for Humans Write to share your story in other ways. On the submission form, please check the box "consent to share" if you'd like to potentially be included in future opportunities.
What is the refund policy?
For each competition we allow refund requests via email up to 48 hours before the submission deadline.
Do I need to be 18 to enter?
Yes, you do. However, we recognize skill levels are different at different ages and have a series of teen and kid competitions that adults cannot participate in. To see our "Kids and Teens" competitions click here.
Can I use AI or ChatGPT?
Yes, BUT you must disclose that you used it when you submit. This is for legal purposes. We are working to delineate human written works from robot written pieces. AI is here to stay. We have lots to say about AI here.
Please note: on the submission form you must confirm if your entry is:
- 100% Human Written (You did all the writing and editing) #humanwritten
- Human Written, Robot Assisted (You did all the writing but put it through AI for editing help.) #robotassisted
- Robot Written, Human Assisted (You prompted AI to write a story that you worked on with the AI tool). #robotwritten
A penalty will be given to robot written submissions. Read our scoring rubric here
I have another question not answered here.
If you don't see the answer to your question, please visit our contact us page where we have a full list of FAQs. Please feel free to reach out and a real human will get back to you. Thanks!
Think. Write. Repeat.
- Ethically Minded: We’re committed to supporting truth in writing. In the age of AI, we understand writing tools are here to stay. All we ask is your honesty. Let's figure out what is #humanwritten or #humanprompted together.
- Small-Batch Competitions: Each competition is limited in entries ensuring you have good odds and that you'll get quick, thoughtful feedback to help you grow as a writer.
- Mission Driven: If you don't write, who will? We're on a mission to develop human thinkers. Writing is a muscle. Consider us the gym.
