Writing
Writing is one of 10 artistic disciplines in YoungArts’ national competition. This discipline encompasses fiction, nonfiction, play or script, poetry and spoken word.
To be eligible, you must be able to answer ”Yes“ to these statements:
- I am either a citizen of the United States, a permanent resident/green card recipient, or I can demonstrate that I am legally able to receive taxable income in the United States.
- I am in grades 10–12 or 15–18 years of age on December 1 of the year I am applying.
- If I’m selected as an award winner with distinction, this would be my first time attending National YoungArts Week.
The strongest submissions demonstrate a sense of inventiveness, show attention to the complexities and technical aspects of language, and have a clear, original, and distinct point of view.
The 2026 YoungArts application opens in July 2025.
Application tips | Sarah Braunstein, Guest Artist
Application tips | Sarah Braunstein, Guest Artist
Application tips | John Murillo, Guest Artist
Application tips | John Murillo, Guest Artist
What it's like to be a YoungArts Winner | Nicole Cooley (1984 Writing), National Selection Panelist
What it's like to be a YoungArts Winner | Nicole Cooley (1984 Writing), National Selection Panelist
Ulysses Hill | Creative Nonfiction
Ulysses Hill | Creative Nonfiction
Shaliz Bazldjoo | Novel
Shaliz Bazldjoo | Novel
Mac Stern | Play/Script
Mac Stern | Play/Script
Daniel Liu | Poetry
Daniel Liu | Poetry
Amy Wang | Short Story
Amy Wang | Short Story
Zoe Dorado | Spoken Word
Zoe Dorado | Spoken Word
View select works from winners here.
See our FAQ for answers to common questions about the competition and application.
For the first time, I felt confident and so centered in my art—for the first time, I had the opportunity to talk to talented and powerful artists my age and learn from them.”
— Sarah Mohammed (2021 Writing)