Key Takeaways

• The Bennington College Young Writers Awards are free to enter and open to students in grades 9 through 12 worldwide, and students who have already graduated from high school are not eligible.
• Bennington College accepts Young Writers Awards entries from September 1 at 9:00 AM ET through November 1 at 11:59 PM ET, and each student enters one category: poetry, fiction, or nonfiction.
• Fiction and nonfiction entries are limited to 1,500 words, poetry entries are limited to 1 to 3 poems with a combined 1,500 words, and Bennington College counts titles, headers, footers, and citations toward the limit.
• Every Young Writers Awards entry must be reviewed and approved by a high school sponsor teacher (or by a mentor for homeschooled students), and Bennington College disqualifies entries that use AI tools in any way.
• Bennington College awards $2,000 for first place, $1,000 for second place, and $500 for third place in each category, plus $250 for Distinguished submissions selected by category and grade level.
• Students in grades 9 through 11 submit through the Bennington College online portal, while grade 12 students first submit the Common Application or Coalition Application, which has no application fee, is nonbinding, and requires no supplemental essay.

Categories and Eligibility

The Bennington College Young Writers Awards are the founding award of the Bennington College Young Creators Awards. The awards have three categories: poetry, fiction, and nonfiction. Each student enters one category, and each category lets students practice a different genre and develop a personal voice.

The Bennington College Young Writers Awards are open to students in grades 9 through 12 worldwide, and entry is free. Students who have already graduated from high school are not eligible. Bennington College accepts entries in English only.

• Poetry entries consist of 1 to 3 poems with a combined limit of 1,500 words.
• Fiction entries consist of one short story or a standalone excerpt from a longer work, up to 1,500 words.
• Nonfiction entries consist of one personal or creative nonfiction essay, or a standalone excerpt from a longer work, up to 1,500 words.

Bennington College enforces the word limit strictly and counts all submitted text, including titles, headers, footers, and citations. Entries must be typed, so handwritten or scanned work is not accepted. Every entry must be reviewed and approved by a high school sponsor teacher, who also serves as the Bennington College contact for the entry. Homeschooled students ask a mentor to sponsor their work.

Bennington College reviews every entry for authenticity and originality. No artificial intelligence (AI) tools may be used to brainstorm, create, draft, revise, or collaborate on a Young Writers Awards entry, and Bennington College disqualifies entries that use AI.

Students in grades 9 through 11 submit through the Bennington College online portal. Students in grade 12 first submit the Common Application or Coalition Application and indicate their interest in the Young Creators Awards, with no application fee, no binding commitment, and no supplemental essay.

Winning and distinguished entries may be featured on the Bennington College website, social media channels, and publications, and the entries remain the property of the student. Full rules and current dates are on the official Bennington Young Writers Awards page.

What Each Award Level Gives You

Bennington College awards cash prizes in each of the three categories, and students who enroll at Bennington College can add scholarships to those prizes. Distinguished designation goes to particularly strong original work that was not selected for the top three prizes.

Bennington College states that a first place winner who enrolls receives a full-tuition scholarship for four years, which the college puts at more than $240,000 in total. A finalist who enrolls receives $25,000 per year for four years, a total of $100,000.

These scholarships apply only to students who enroll at Bennington College, so entering the Young Writers Awards does not commit a student to attending. Grade 12 students enter through a nonbinding Common Application or Coalition Application with no application fee.

Line Up Your Sponsoring Teacher Before Submissions Open

Bennington College requires every Young Writers Awards entry to be reviewed and approved by a high school sponsor teacher. Bennington College uses the sponsor teacher as its contact if the judges have questions about an entry. Homeschooled students ask a mentor to sponsor their work.

Bennington College opens submissions on September 1 at 9:00 AM ET and closes them on November 1 at 11:59 PM ET. As a suggested starting plan, not an official recommendation, a student can ask a teacher before September 1 so the sponsor is confirmed when the entry portal opens.

Bennington College judges entries in two rounds. A panel of Bennington faculty and students reviews entries in November and December, an external panel judges the second round in January, and Bennington College announces the award winners in the spring.

Increasing Your Chances of Success

For those who wish to enter the Bennington Young Writers Awards competition, here’s how to stand out.

1. Choosing the Right Category

One key element when competing in the Bennington Young Writers Award competition is choosing the right category. What comes to your mind when you think of your writing style and preferred literary works? If your strength lies in the use of vivid imagery and the depiction of emotions, then poetry may be the area for you. 

However, if you’re interested in compelling subplots and inventing characters, then you may enjoy Fiction. If you know how to make the presentation of facts interesting, then Nonfiction may be the best choice. To gauge the best fit, think about previous feedback on your work and select the category with the most positive review.

2. Crafting a Winning Entry

A strong Bennington College Young Writers Awards entry is original, interesting, and well organized. Fiction and poetry entries work best when a clear story or central image is supported by specific, vivid details. Nonfiction entries work best when a personal or creative essay stays focused on one idea or experience and states any facts accurately.

Fiction and nonfiction entries should open with a hook that makes the reader want to keep reading. Writers can build characters through the principle of “show, do not tell,” using actions and details instead of explanations. Because Bennington College counts titles, headers, footers, and citations toward the 1,500-word limit, every word in the entry needs to earn its place.

3. Editing and Proofreading

Make sure to review your work and proofread it several times to minimize mistakes. Though editing and proofreading seem quite simple, it is important to take note of the following.

1. Take a Break
Rest after finishing your first draft before beginning the second revision as it allows you to work with a different perspective.‍

2. Read Aloud
Reading the work out loud helps to identify awkward constructions that may not be noted when reading silently.

3. Check Your Tools Against the Rules
Bennington College does not allow AI tools to be used to brainstorm, create, draft, revise, or collaborate on a Young Writers Awards entry, and entries that use AI are disqualified. Before using any grammar or writing software, a student should check that it does not rewrite or suggest wording for the entry. Careful rereading and feedback from a teacher or another person are the safest ways to catch errors in context.‍

4. Get Feedback
Hand your written work to friends, teachers, or someone senior. They may notice errors and provide you with feedback and interesting ideas. ‍

5. Edit Multiple Times
Make sure that you edit in several rounds. Each round should focus on different issues, such as the outline of the document, its content, and grammar.

4. Staying Motivated

Writing is a demanding activity. Therefore, it is important to take regular breaks from the page and the screen. It may help to do something that does not involve any writing, such as listening to music or going for a walk. 

When writing proves difficult, consider breaking down the writing process into smaller chunks and creating an outline of what you want to cover. If you are writing nonfiction, it may be useful to do more research and look for new ideas to include in your piece. 

Writing Contests to Enter Alongside Bennington

The Bennington College Young Writers Awards close on November 1, and two other major high school writing contests run in the same season or the following spring. Students can plan one calendar around all three.

The Scholastic Art & Writing Awards judge work at the regional level first and then nationally. Regional results are posted on January 27, 2027, and national results are announced on March 31, 2027.

Indigo Research covers the Scholastic Awards in its guide to Scholastic Gold Key and a wider list of contests in its guide to writing contests for high school students.

Final Remarks 

The Bennington Young Writers Awards can be a powerful springboard for aspiring writers who are in high school. A teacher or mentor can read drafts and give feedback along the way. Bennington College requires every Young Writers Awards entry to be reviewed and approved by a high school sponsor teacher or mentor, and the writing itself must be the student’s own original work, with no AI tools used.

Indigo Research can provide you with mentors from top universities who can help you with research and guide you in your essays, whether you are applying for a writing contest or publishing in high school journals. Join our online high school student mentorship program and start early planning for the next essay you will write and submit to writing competitions.