John Estey Student Writing Contest

American Writers Museum's 7th annual John Estey Student Writing Competition invites students to consider the prompt “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal” from the Declaration of Independence, with cash prizes for winners at the elementary, middle school and high school grade levels. Students can use the entire quote or portions of it to write a fiction or nonfiction story, poem, song, scene, short monologue or other form of writing. Submissions must be 1,000 words or less regardless of format.

Participation forms are open for teachers to register their students now through May 29, 2026, with final submissions due by June 3. Students at schools within the U.S. and internationally are eligible to enter with the support of a teacher. Homeschooled students in the U.S. are also eligible.