Rules & Guidelines
Hundreds in cash prizes
Professional feedback on every entry.
Open to all students ages 9-18
The Season of Ink writing contest is open to all students ages 8-18
and will be divided into the following categories:
🧸 Elementary School (4th-6th grades, ages 8-10)
📚 Middle School (7th-8th grades, ages 11-13)
🏫 High School (9th-12th grades, ages 14-18)
If you are under the age of 18 and have yet to matriculate at a
post-secondary institution, you are welcome to enter the contest.
International students are welcome to compete!
The registration fee for each submission is $35 USD. Use EARLYBIRD5 Coupon for 50% off. Coupon expires on March 1st!
If the fee is a barrier for you, please email vennela@elevated.school with the subject “FEE WAIVER,” explaining your situation and providing a summary of your submission(s).
This fee is used to pay judges and fund our cash prizes for the top 3 entries in each category:
1st place - $150 USD
2nd place - $100 USD
3rd place - $50 USD
The deadline to submit your stories for Issue 6 is October 1, 2025, 11:59 PM EST
Each story should be submitted as a PDF and include one work up to 1,000 words.
Note that students can submit multiple stories and entries.
Submissions must be previously unpublished, in-print or online, and must not have been awarded other writing prizes or recognitions (including past Season of Ink recognitions).
You may, however, submit works that have appeared in school publications and personal websites!
FAQ
