West Coast Writing Competition 2026-2027

Rules and Information

Categories and requirements:

Writing prompt: The Ripple Effect

Description: Write creatively in response to this year's prompt, The Ripple Effect. Your interpretation of the prompt is up to you. Please go to our pinned instagram post for more inspiration!

Note: This prompt was chosen by students across WA, CA, OR, MT, and ID.

Can be a news article, short story/memoir, poetry, or scriptwriting:

• ❖ Less than 500 words
• ❖ Less than three pages
• ❖ Please be creative!
• ❖ All submissions must be the original, individual work of one person. Collaboration of any kind is not permitted.
• ❖ If you're writing a news article:
• ➢ Interviewee names should be included
• ➢ Sources should be cited

Eligibility:

❖ The competition is open to all high school students in Washington, California, Oregon, Montana, and Idaho.

Deadlines:

• ❖ Submissions open on September 30th, 2026
• ❖ Submissions close on October 31st, 2026 at 11:59 PM (PT)
• ❖ Results will be announced on a later date

Prizes:

• ❖ We will have three winners and two honorable mentions
• ➢ 1st place: $1000
• ➢ 2nd place: $500
• ➢ 3rd place: $300
• ➢ Honorable mentions: $100

How to Submit:

• ❖ The submission fee is $5.
• ❖ First, complete your $5 payment through Zeffy.
• ❖ After completing payment, you will be directed to the submission form.
• ❖ Upload your writing piece through the submission form.
• ❖ Each person may submit up to two entries, provided a separate $5 submission fee is paid for each entry.

Judging:

• ❖ Entries will be judged by school district teachers.
• ❖ Finalists will be judged by college professors and/or professionals.
• ❖ Entries will be judged according to four pillars:
• ➢ Relation to prompt: Does your entry properly represent and capture this year's prompt?
• ➢ Writing structure and organization: Can we easily follow your writing? Is our main narrative clear?
• ➢ Voice: Is the writing style distinctly yours?
• ➢ Creativity: Is your entry interesting to read?

Contest rules:

• ❖ Writing must be original work. We will use plagiarism and AI checks.
• ❖ Entries must follow this year's prompt.
• ❖ Each person may submit up to two entries, provided a separate $5 submission fee is paid for each entry.
• ❖ All submissions must be the original, individual work of one person. Collaboration of any kind is not permitted.
• ❖ We will not accept entries after the deadline.
• ❖ Judging decisions are final. By submitting to this contest, you are agreeing to the contest rules.

Special thanks:

Thank you to the Bellevue School District team for making this happen!

And thank you to the Highly Capable office at the Washington State Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI)

Please contact writingcompetition.wahs@gmail.com if you have any questions, or DM us on Instagram.

Disclaimer: Please note that our judges are mandatory reporters and are legally required to report current abuse, neglect, or imminent harm