Writing & Art Contest

Each winter IATE accepts submissions for the Poetry and Prose contest. Guidelines are listed below, and entries are due by January 31st. We look forward to fantastic contests showcasing Illinois’ best student writers!

Guidelines for Submissions

  • All submissions should be made online using the submission links below.
    (Please note:  you must be an IATE member, and logged in, to make submissions.)
  • Teachers may submit up to 5 prose pieces, 10 poetry pieces, and 10 visual pieces, total.
  • Prose has a 1000 word limit.
  • Prose submissions should be in MLA format and identify all sources per current MLA guidelines.
  • Poetry has a 44 line limit.
  • Provide color photo of physical artwork such as paintings, ceramics, or textiles in a high-quality .jpg or .png format.
  • Photography submissions may be color or black-and-white. If photos are digitally altered, explain the alterations. IATE reserves the right to crop photos and visual representations of artwork.
  • Cover Letters (entered online during the submission process) should include the following:
    • Full name of student
    • Title of student’s work
    • Genre of prose submission (personal essay, fiction, literary analysis)
    • Student grade level at the time of writing
    • Full name of school
    • School’s complete mailing address
    • Full name of teacher and their IATE district
    • Email address of teacher

Entries to the Writing & Art Contest must be submitted by an IATE member.  (Note: IATE membership for first-year teachers is free.) If you’d like to submit student work and are not yet a member, please visit our membership page.

Please become a member of IATE (or log in to your account if you are already a member) to become eligible to submit your students' prose and poetry contest entries.

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