High School Writing Contest

Now in its twelfth year, the Top of Iowa High School Creative Writing Contest is designed to encourage high school creative writers from northern Iowa and the surrounding region. Recognition is given at two levels: to older students (11th and 12th Grade) and younger (9th and 10th Grade). Poems, stories, and personal essays will be considered for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place honors at both levels and substantial Waldorf University scholarships. The work by 11th and 12th-grade contestants will be judged by the editorial staff and faculty supervisor of the Waldorf Literary Review, who may choose top entries to publish in the 2025 edition of the print journal. Prose and poetry submissions from the 9th and 10th grade contestants will be judged by Waldorf’s Warriors Writing Club and their faculty sponsor, and will be considered for publication in the online version of the Waldorf Literary Review.

1st place winners in the 11th and 12th Grade categories will receive a renewable $17,000 scholarship to study creative writing at Waldorf University. All finalists will be considered for a renewable $15,000 scholarship to study creative writing at Waldorf University. 

The contest will culminate with a one-day Creative Writing Festival on the Waldorf University campus. This is scheduled for March 6th, 2025, where winners will be announced, including honorable mentions. This year, the writing festival will include opportunities for students to attend talks on varying aspects of creative writing, participate in an open mic, and attend a reading by Waldorf’s Distinguished Visiting Writer, Caylin Capra-Thomas (www.caylincaprathomas.com), reading from her debut poetry collection Iguana Iguana. Registration and a full schedule will be sent out in January. 

Submission Deadline for All Grades (9th-12th): January 24th, 2025.

Please click this link for the submission form.

If you have any questions about the contest, please email topofiawriting [at] gmail [dot] com