About the Contest:
We’re looking for creative, engaging short stories that speak to teen readers.
Experts from ReadWorks and StoryShares will award two winners — one from grades 9–10 and one from grades 11–12 — each winner will earn a cash prize and see their work published, reaching thousands of classrooms. Select stories will also be adapted into Storyshares’ LIFT program, helping students worldwide build their reading skills through words.
This is a great opportunity to become a published author, share your voice on two leading literacy platforms, and inspire readers everywhere.
Experts from ReadWorks and StoryShares will award two winners — one from grades 9–10 and one from grades 11–12 — each winner will earn a cash prize and see their work published, reaching thousands of classrooms. Select stories will also be adapted into Storyshares’ LIFT program, helping students worldwide build their reading skills through words.
This is a great opportunity to become a published author, share your voice on two leading literacy platforms, and inspire readers everywhere.
- Free to enter
- One entry per person
- Open to all U.S. high school students
To Enter the Contest:
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🍁 Follow these steps to enter:
Share your class's experience by tagging @ReadWorks and @Storyshares on social media! |
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Contest Timeline:
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September 22, 2025
Contest open for entries |
November 21, 2025
Contest closed for judging |
January 5, 2026
Winners are announced |
Step 1: READ FOR INSPIRATION
Have your students click to read the following two fiction stories. You can print or digitally assign them in class!
Have your students click to read the following two fiction stories. You can print or digitally assign them in class!
The Sun in Your Spoon
From ReadWorks |
Golden
From StoryShares |
Step 2: CHOOSE ONE OF THE WRITING PROMPTS
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Prompt For The Sun in Your Spoon
What if a single object suddenly consumes your attention -- and changes everything? Write about someone who gets caught up in a mysterious or irresistible item, and explore how that distraction pulls them into trouble, discovery, or a new way of seeing the world. |
Prompt For Golden
Opposites attract... or clash? Create a story about two teens who couldn't be more different but must team up for a project, job, or family task. Dive into their clashes, frustrations, and how their differences just might be the key to success. |
Step 3: WRITE
ReadWorks and Storyshares have assembled a panel of judges to pick the winning submissions.
Read our writing guidelines to learn more.
ReadWorks and Storyshares have assembled a panel of judges to pick the winning submissions.
- We will only be accepting one submission per person.
- Submissions need to be between 1,000 - 2,000 words.
- Submissions may be written in any genre, as long as they follow one of the two prompts given for the contest.
Read our writing guidelines to learn more.
Step 3: SUBMIT
🍁 Submit entries here.
No entries will be accepted for judging after midnight Eastern Time on November 21st, 2025.
Winners will be announced on January 5th, 2026.
The winning stories will be published with attribution on ReadWorks.org through the 2026-2027 school year. The winner will also be featured on the ReadWorks blog. Select stories will also be adapted into fluency passages for Storyshares' LIFT program, giving students around the world the chance to grow their reading skills through your words.
- The contest is only open to high school students between the ages of 14 - 18.
- All submissions must contain the author's name, email address, author's grade level, author bio, and title of submission.
🍁 Submit entries here.
No entries will be accepted for judging after midnight Eastern Time on November 21st, 2025.
Winners will be announced on January 5th, 2026.
The winning stories will be published with attribution on ReadWorks.org through the 2026-2027 school year. The winner will also be featured on the ReadWorks blog. Select stories will also be adapted into fluency passages for Storyshares' LIFT program, giving students around the world the chance to grow their reading skills through your words.
Contest FAQs
Can students outside of grades 9-12 participate?
While this contest is only open to students in 9th through 12th grade, we encourage educators to stay up-to-date with ReadWorks and Storyshares emails to see future contests for different grade levels!
Can students outside of the United States participate?
At this time, our contests are only open to students in the United States.
Once a Storyshares account is created, how do students upload their entry
who do i contact if i have questions?
If you encounter any problems or have any questions, please reach out to [email protected]. Happy writing!
Who should enter this contest?
High school students in 9th - 12th grade should enter this contest. The contest is open to high school students nationwide.
Who am I writing for?
You are writing for a high school audience, just like yourself! Write an engaging story that students like you want to read!
How many stories can I submit?
For this contest, we are accepting one submission per person.
How do I identify which division and prompt I'm submitting for?
Please include your grade level and prompt in your manuscript along with your name, the title of the story, email address, and an author biography.
Can I use my own illustrations and photography?
You may include images in your submission as long as you are the owner or have curated them from open-source, free-for-commercial-use platforms (ex. Pixabay.com). We reserve the right to remove/replace images should your submission be selected for publication for quality purposes.
Will my story be published, even if I don't win?
There is a chance that non-winning submissions could still be published on Storyhares, as long as our panel of judges decides that it is compelling for our audience and adheres to our guidelines. ReadWorks will only publish the two selected winning entries.
how will i be notified if i win?
You will receive an email.
What are the writing guidelines?
See our writing guidelines here.
Help us create even more fiction for your classroom!
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legal terms
Original Content: By participating in the Contest, each Participant guarantees that their submission is original, authored by them, and not encumbered by any copyright or 3rd party ownership.
Rights Granted by Contest Participants: By winning this Contest you understand and agree to submit your photo and that ReadWorks has the right, where permitted by law, to use the content and personal information for any promotional purposes without limitation and without any further compensation, notice, review, or consent.
Assignment of Rights: Student Entrant acknowledges that the Contest Entry and all other materials of every kind whatsoever created by contestant for the Contest (collectively, the “Work”) are a “work made for hire” (as that term is used in the United States Copyright Act) for ReadWorks, and assigns to ReadWorks limited rights, title and interest in and to such Work, including, without limitation, all rights of every kind and nature for all purposes, in any and all media.
Privacy Policy: Information submitted with an entry is subject to the Privacy Policy stated on the ReadWorks website. To read the Privacy Policy, click here.
Rights Granted by Contest Participants: By winning this Contest you understand and agree to submit your photo and that ReadWorks has the right, where permitted by law, to use the content and personal information for any promotional purposes without limitation and without any further compensation, notice, review, or consent.
Assignment of Rights: Student Entrant acknowledges that the Contest Entry and all other materials of every kind whatsoever created by contestant for the Contest (collectively, the “Work”) are a “work made for hire” (as that term is used in the United States Copyright Act) for ReadWorks, and assigns to ReadWorks limited rights, title and interest in and to such Work, including, without limitation, all rights of every kind and nature for all purposes, in any and all media.
Privacy Policy: Information submitted with an entry is subject to the Privacy Policy stated on the ReadWorks website. To read the Privacy Policy, click here.
contest rules
See full contest rules here.
