Students who follow the writing process need to publish their work. Entering writing contests will allow students to get published, and some will win money and prizes.

Students write in school to learn and to earn grades. Many students who write great pieces need the opportunity to publish their work and to receive critiques from other readers than their teachers. The best way to get published as a student is to enter writing contests.

Last Step of the Writing Process Is to Publish

Publishing work is a natural part of the writing process. The writing process includes brainstorming/pre-writing, organizing ideas, writing a rough draft, revising and editing, writing a final copy and then publishing. Most students get to the final copy stage and then hand their work to the teacher. If this is the publish part, it is quite a let down to many students.

In order to push students to publish their work, teachers can make "attempting to publish" a grade. Students can receive a grade or points if they show the teacher a stamped envelope addressed to a legitimate writing contest along with the writing piece. Students may not get published or win the contest, but at least they went through the process. In addition, students learn how to write a business letter.

Writing contests are sometimes open to any topic but will have guidelines on the length. Some writing contests are very specific on the topic and in what they will accept. Teachers need to help students to understand the rules, to help edit, and to help encourage entering. One way that teachers can do this is to have a bulletin board with various contests posted. The bulletin board will be a constant reminder of upcoming contests and deadlines.

Legitimate Contests Where Students Can Get Published

Most contests are reputable; however, teachers and students need to be careful when selecting places to send work. If the contest asks for a fee to accept work or if the contests ask for money to publish the work, the contest may be a scam. Many contests will publish winning entries in a book and will ask parents or family members to purchase the book. Contestants do not have to pay to have their work published in these book.

Check for deadlines and submission rules for all contests before submitting student work.

Creative Communications: accepts poetry and essays

1488 North 200 West

Logan, Utah 84341

Anthology of Poetry Inc.: accepts poetry

307 East Salisbury Street

P.O. Box 698

Alesboro, NC 27204-0698

We Are Writers Too Competition

Creative with Words Publication

P.O. Box 223226

Carmel, CA 93922

Cricket Magazine Contests

Check to see what type of writing contest they offer each issue

Creative Kids

P.O. Box 8813

Waco, TX 76714-8813

Young Voices

P.O. Box 2321

Olympia, WA 98507

Other Places to Send Student Work and Get It Published

Contact local newspapers

• Most newspapers will publish poems when they have space. Send poetry that fits the season or an upcoming holiday.

Contact local associations or organizations

Many of these organizations have poetry or essay contests:

• teacher unions
• veterans associations
• community associations
• religious organizations
• alumni organizations

In the end, students will enter contests. Many will enter and few will win. Students who love to write will have a venue to share their writing and maybe one will become a famous writer in the future.