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No submission fees.

Just your voice, amplified.

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*All competitions are for elementary and middle school students only - high school students are encouraged to get involved through our Team Member form. Competitions open on the 1st and close on the 28th of every month. You can submit to our competitions as long as it is the 28th or earlier in your region.

The Process

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Prompt

Read our monthly prompt, and craft your story (350 words max) in response. New prompts are released on the 1st of every month. 

For extra support, sign up for coaching calls with award-winning writer and FSF co-founder Nathaniel here.

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Minimalist black and white rectangle with a curved corner on a white background

Submit Early, Before The 15th

Submit By The 28th

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For FREE feedback that you can use to revise and resubmit your story before the competition closes on the 28th.

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The competition is open for entries until the 28th of the month, at 11:59pm PST.

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Win Prizes & Recognition 

Stories are then reviewed alongside our guest judge for 1st, 2nd, 3rd place, as well as runner-up.

Results are released on the 1st of the next month, at 8:00am PST in our Hall of Fame.

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More Information

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Prizes

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​1st Place - $25 Amazon Gift Card, and writing published in our Hall of Fame!

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2nd Place -  $15 Amazon Gift Card, and writing published in our Hall of Fame!

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3rd Place - $5 Amazon Gift Card, and writing published in our Hall of Fame!

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Runner Up  - Writing published in our Hall of Fame!

Prompt

The first day of the new year brings a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for your main character: a chance to completely redefine one aspect of their life. Maybe it's a mysterious job offer, a sudden ability to understand something they struggled to comprehend previously, or even simply a split-second decision they're forced to make in the heat of the moment. Write a story about this pivotal moment and the ripple effects of the choice your protagonist makes.

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Stuck? Consider these starters:

What kind of change presents itself to your character? Is the opportunity something they've always wanted, or something they didn't know they needed? What will they lose if they embrace this change? What will they gain? How do your other characters react to your protagonist's transformation? 

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All submissions before the 15th will receive FREE, personalized feedback that writers may use to revise and resubmit! And, sign up HERE for one-on-one online coaching calls with award-winning writer and Future Scholar Foundation co-founder, Nathaniel Tok!

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Questions? Refer to the FAQs below, or contact us: futurescholarfoundation@gmail.com

*All competitions are for elementary and middle school students only. 

**Maximum short story length: 350 words.

Previous Prompts

PrevPrompts
Screenshot of the September 2024 prompt from the Future Scholar Foundation's short story competition
Screenshot of the October 2024 prompt from the Future Scholar Foundation's short story competition
  • Where should I submit my story?
    Please submit your story here. We look forward to reading your piece soon - all submissions before the 15th will receive FREE feedback that writers can use to revise and resubmit. Good luck!
  • Where should I re-submit my story?
    You can resubmit your story through our submission form on our website; our system will automatically group your revised story next to your original one!
  • My short story is more than 350 words. Will I be disqualified?
    No - your story will not be disqualified as long as it is no more than slightly (around 5-15 words) over the 350 word limit. Because we receive hundreds of submissions each month, and operate with an extremely small team, we are unable to allocate the time to read extremely long stories - as much as we would love to!
  • Why should I participate?
    Participating in the our competitions provides the unique opportunity to gain early creative writing practice not avaliable in school. By practicing early, students are able to gain a deep appreciation of the english language and understand its inherent power to facilitate change in the world. Additionally, such practice facilitates great improvement in grammar, style, and structure, all of which will be essential in excelling on the SAT, high school AP classes, and college application essays.
  • How much does it cost to participate in the competition?
    We believe the opportunity to showcase one's talents should be avaliable to all social groups. We want everybody to be able to learn as much as possible from their participation in our competitions. Thus, our writing competitions are, and will always be, 100% free.
  • Is the competition in-person or virtual?
    All English competitions are completely virtual to ensure ease of access for everyone. Competitions open on the first of every month and close on the 28th of the month. You can submit as long as it is the 28th somewhere in the world. Results are announced sometime the third week of the month. Submissions go here!
  • Can I submit multiple stories?
    Yes! You are more than welcome to submit multiple stories each month. It's a great way to get extra practice and increase your chances of winning!
  • Can I submit my story if I don't live in the US/Canada area?
    Yes - you can! We welcome international submissions :)
  • Who should I contact with additional questions?
    Our email is futurescholarfoundation@gmail.com. It is checked frequently - expect a response time of less than 12 hours!
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