World Youth and Teenage Writing Contest
The online competition of the World Youth and Teenage Writing Contest consists of three main sections: basic writing skills, including language proficiency, grammar accuracy, basic writing structures (e.g., narrative frameworks, argumentative layouts), and knowledge of literary genres; literary culture and creative principles, covering the historical origins of writing forms (e.g., poetry, short stories), cultural symbolism in folk literature, and the impact of social trends on writing evolution; and practical writing application, including text interpretation, improvisational writing, and the use of writing to express ideas in real-life contexts. The competition includes various writing categories, and the difficulty level is tailored to age and experience, with the children's group focusing on foundational techniques and the youth group emphasizing creative expression, thematic interpretation, and problem-solving through words.
Registration Fee: Free
Competition Categories:
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Kindergarten Group
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Lower Primary Group
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Higher Primary Group
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Junior Secondary Group
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Senior Secondary Group
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Publice Group
Important dates:
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Application Deadline: September 15, 2025
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Result Announcement Date: September 26, 2025
Award Categories
Individual Awards:
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Special Gold Award (Top 12% of participants in the group)
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Gold Award (Top 12%-25% of participants in the group)
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Silver Award (Top 26%-45% of participants in the group)
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Bronze Award (Top 46%-60% of participants in the group)
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Excellence Award (Top 61%-100% of participants in the group)
Group Awards:
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Outstanding Group Award
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Outstanding Mentor Award
Award winners can request customized awards featuring the participant's name in Chinese or English.
Award Options:
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Electronic Certificate: HKD 200
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Electronic Certificate + Physical Certificate: HKD 290
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Electronic Certificate + Physical Certificate + Medal: HKD 325
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Electronic Certificate + Physical Certificate + Medal + Trophy: HKD 365
The deadline for award applications is two weeks after the announcement of the results.
All awards will be mailed within eight weeks after the application deadline.
Awards and certificates will be sent via SF Express, cash on delivery.
Once the awards are signed for, no replacements will be issued in case of damage or loss.
The organizers are not responsible for failed deliveries due to incorrect information or communication difficulties.
Competition Guidelines:
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Competition Categories
Participants can self-select their competition tier based on age and skill level (e.g., Children’s Group: 6–12 years; Youth Group: 13–18 years).
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Registration & Timing
Registration Deadline: Complete registration and submit your written work before [specific deadline, e.g., "11:59 PM UTC on October 31, 2025"].
Confirmation: A registration confirmation email will be sent to your provided address.
Submission Window: Access the competition portal anytime before the deadline to upload your written entry.
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Submission Format & Requirements
Platform: Upload written works via the official competition portal (link provided post-registration).
Written Work Requirements:
Submit an original written piece (no plagiarized content or excessive editing with AI tools beyond basic grammar checks).
Format: Minimum 12-point font; ensure clear structure, logical flow, and proper punctuation, with content that fully conveys the author’s ideas and creativity.
Style: Writing-appropriate tone that suits the genre (e.g., vivid imagery for poetry, formal reasoning for argumentative essays, narrative details for short stories).
Document: Use a standard word-processing format (e.g., DOCX, PDF) with clear formatting, including title, author’s pseudonym (if required), and consistent spacing to enhance readability.
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Jury Evaluation & Integrity Rules
Judging Panel: Composed of international authors, literary editors, and writing educators.
Evaluation Criteria:
Technical Proficiency (50%): Accuracy of language use, grammar, vocabulary range, structural coherence, and the execution of literary techniques (e.g., metaphors in poetry, plot development in fiction).
Artistic Expression (30%): Interpretation of the theme, emotional resonance, creativity in narrative or argument, and the ability to tell a story or convey ideas through words.
Writing Impact (20%): Clarity of message, engagement with the reader, originality of perspective, and the overall impression of the work.
Integrity Policy:
No copying of published written works, no use of AI-generated content as the primary material.
Submissions found plagiarized or fraudulent will be disqualified.
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Competition Rules
Submission Limit: One entry per participant.
Repertoire:
Children’s Group: Written pieces (300–800 words) in genres such as children's stories, simple poems, or descriptive essays.
Youth Group: Complex written works (800–2000 words), including short stories, critical essays, poetry collections, or creative nonfiction.
Tools: Only use of standard writing aids (if any) that are appropriate for the genre (e.g., dictionaries, thesauruses). No external elements added to the work that distort the actual writing (e.g., excessive graphic design overriding textual content).
Entry Requirements for the World Youth and Teenage Writing Contest (Online Submission & Jury Evaluation)
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Writing Basics
Focus on technical fundamentals and structural integrity:
Technical Skills: Language accuracy, grammar proficiency, vocabulary precision, narrative flow, and genre-specific techniques (e.g., poetic meter, essay thesis development, fiction dialogue).
Repertoire Knowledge: Familiarity with literary genres (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, drama) and iconic authors/works (e.g., Maya Angelou, J.K. Rowling, Gabriel García Márquez).
Literary Literacy: Understanding of literary devices (e.g., metaphor, foreshadowing), narrative forms (e.g., first-person, omniscient perspective), and stylistic elements (e.g., tone, pacing, voice).
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Artistic Expression & Cultural Context
Explores thematic interpretation and historical depth:
Genre Analysis: Origins and stylistic traits of literary forms (e.g., sonnet’s classical structure, magical realism’s Latin American roots, hip-hop poetry’s oral traditions).
Work Interpretation: Emotional storytelling through language (e.g., conveying resilience in personal essays, tension in mystery stories) and connection to cultural/historical narratives (e.g., heritage tales, social commentary).
Modern Adaptations: Fusion of traditional and contemporary elements (e.g., classical poetry with digital themes, folk tales reimagined in sci-fi settings).
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Practical Writing Application
Emphasizes original creation and adaptive skills:
Document Submission:
Original written works (no plagiarized content or AI-generated text), formatted to ensure readability and clarity of expression.
Style: Genre-appropriate tone and structure (e.g., formal language for essays, vivid imagery for poetry, conversational prose for young adult fiction); submitted as DOCX or PDF with 12-point font and standard spacing.
Repertoire Selection:
Children’s Group (8–12 yrs): Short pieces (300–800 words) in genres like children’s stories, simple poems, or descriptive essays (e.g., nature writing, personal narratives).
Adolescent Group (13–18 yrs): Complex works (800–2000 words) including short stories, critical essays, poetry collections, or creative nonfiction (e.g., memoir excerpts, cultural analysis).
Improvisation Tasks: Adolescent Group must complete a 300–500 word improvisational writing task on a given theme (e.g., “courage,” “technology”) or literary style (e.g., haiku, stream of consciousness).
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Judging Criteria & Format
Evaluation Areas:
Technical Proficiency (50%): Precision of language, structural coherence, and mastery of genre-specific techniques.
Artistic Expression (30%): Emotional resonance, originality of ideas, and thematic depth.
Writing Impact (20%): Clarity of message, reader engagement (e.g., narrative hook, persuasive logic), and overall memorability.
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Difficulty & Age Groups
Children’s Group: Focus on foundational skills (e.g., coherent storytelling, basic grammar) and imaginative expression.
Adolescent Group: Advanced requirements including thematic complexity (e.g., exploring social issues through narrative), cross-genre experimentation, and analytical depth in nonfiction.
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Submission & Results
Deadline: Upload documents via the portal by [e.g., "May 31, 2026"].
Results: Announced via email/social media within 2 weeks, with rankings based on jury scores. Prizes include certificates, publishing opportunities, scholarships to writing workshops, and featured spots in youth literary anthologies.
Exhibition: Top works will be published on the contest’s official platform, highlighting diverse cultural and artistic expressions in writing.
This structure balances technical excellence with creative storytelling, celebrating the global diversity of youth writing while fostering skill development and cross-cultural dialogue.