CELEBRATION OF YOUNG WRITERS

GRADES K-12

ASAP!’s 20th Annual Celebration of Young Writers empowers students to share their love of writing with the world. Public, private, and homeschooled students from across Connecticut are invited to submit for a chance to be recognized for their outstanding work and read their pieces in front of a live audience. The Celebration of Young Writers stage is a place where student voices are amplified, and their passion for writing can be shared with the world.

Written pieces will be selected through a blind judging process by a panel of literary professionals. Selected students will present their pieces at the ASAP! Celebrates Possibilities event on May 31, 2025, in Washington, CT. Selected works will also be published on the ASAP! website.

Celebration of Young Writers was inspired by ASAP!’s objective to foster children’s creativity and imagination in the literary arts. It was established with the help of Ellen and Frank McCourt, Ann and Denis Leary, and Susanna Salk.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

It is free to submit to Celebration of Young Writers.
All public, private, and homeschooled students in grades K-12 are eligible to submit.
Only one entry per student is permitted.
Entries must be written by a single student.
Accepted formats: poetry, short story, short play, act from a play, song.
Entries must be 400 words or less.
The use of AI to generate or edit work is not permitted.
Teachers or parents may submit on behalf of a student.
Selected students must be available to attend the dress rehearsal and event on Saturday, May 31, 2025 in Washington, CT.
In order to be accepted, entries must adhere to all submission and document guidelines (listed in submission form).