2026 Creative Writing Contest

ATTENTION ALL INDIANA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

PURDUE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ENGLISH

Now Submit Online!

GENRE CATEGORIES: 

Personal Experience Narrative/Creative Nonfiction

Poetry

Short Story

AWARDS IN EACH GENRE:

First Place -       $100

Second Place -  $75 

Third Place - $50

Best of High School Award (chosen from the winning submissions) - $200 awarded at the Literary Awards ceremony

The years Literary Awards ceremony will be held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026 and the guest speaker Arthur Sze. High school winners will have an opportunity to meet Mr. Sze and receive a signed copy of one of his books in a special gathering prior to the ceremony.

Submissions

Please fill out this survey form and attach your file/submission (pdf files only) in the space provided and submit. 

Your file must also include the following identifying information at the beginning of your document: Contestant’s name and email, High School name, and Teacher’s name and email.

Submissions are due on Monday, February 23, 2026.

Because we receive so many entries, only winners will be notified.

Those students receiving awards and their teachers will each be contacted by email by the end of March 2026. 

For more information contact Mary Ellen Lennon.