Young
Writers Competition
Big ideas start here. The Woodruff Times and The Upstate Times are looking for creative, original stories written by local children and teens throughout the Upstate of South Carolina.
Entries must be received by October 1.
Three Age Groups. Three $100 Grand Prizes.
One grand-prize winner will be selected in each age group. Winning stories will be published by The Woodruff Times and The Upstate Times.
Elementary Group
Middle School Group
High School Group
Story Guidelines
- Original work written by the student.
- Any topic is welcome — adventure, mystery, friendship, humor, fantasy, spooky Halloween stories, or something completely original.
- Content must be appropriate for a general-audience community publication.
- Entries may be typed or neatly handwritten and submitted as an attachment or clear photo/scan.
- Include the student’s name, grade, school, hometown, and parent/guardian contact information.
- AI-generated or plagiarized stories are not eligible.
How to Enter
Submitting is simple. A parent or guardian should send the entry, or be copied on the submission email.
Write Your Story
Create an original story that shows off your imagination and voice.
Include Your Information
Add the student’s name, grade, school, hometown, plus a parent/guardian name, email and phone number.
Email Your Entry
Send the story and parent/guardian consent to contest@thewoodrufftimes.com by October 1.
No purchase necessary. Eligibility is limited to students in grades 1–12 who meet the contest requirements. Entries must be received by the stated deadline. Entries that are plagiarized, AI-generated, incomplete, inappropriate for publication, or otherwise fail to meet contest rules may be disqualified. Winners are selected by the contest organizers. Prizes have no cash substitute beyond the stated award. By submitting an entry, the parent/legal guardian and student agree to the contest rules and grant the publication permissions stated on this page. The Woodruff Times and The Upstate Times reserve the right not to publish any submission. Void where prohibited by law.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the student keep copyright to the story?
Yes. The student retains copyright ownership. The permission granted to The Woodruff Times and The Upstate Times is non-exclusive, which allows the publications to publish and promote the work while the student still owns it.
Can you publish the story in a future book?
Yes, if the parent or legal guardian grants the permission described above. That language specifically includes future books and anthologies.
Will contact information be published?
No. Parent/guardian phone numbers and email addresses are intended for contest administration only. The student’s name, grade, school and hometown may be published with permission.
Can a handwritten story be entered?
Yes. Send a clear scan or photograph of neatly handwritten pages.
