Scholastic Writing Award Preparation Workshop

VSA Scholastic Writing Award Preparation Workshop has a new format this year! Our new format maximizes student engagement, offers more 1-on-1 teacher feedback to every student, and elevates the quality of each student’s writing.

This year, students attend eight group lectures, each offering a deep dive into core writing skills and techniques. By studying mentor texts of past Scholastic Writing Award winners and attending concrete, skills-based lectures, students develop a clear voice and ear for language.

Over the course of the program, students produce four essays for submission to Scholastic and receive rounds of written feedback. Students also receive 8 hours of 1-on-1 sessions with a writing teacher for brainstorming and revision. Students will build a robust body of polished essays and stories with which to submit to the 2025–26 Scholastic Art & Writing Awards.

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What is the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards?

Founded in 1923, the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards is a nationally held annual competition that upholds a longstanding tradition of creative excellence in teens
Students can submit an unlimited number of works across 11 Writing categories and 15 Art categories
Originality, skill, and voice are emphasized in the judging criteria
Submissions are due in early December. Students must be 13 years old by the submission deadline. Visit artandwriting.org to find your local Scholastic Awards region.

Scholastic Writing Award Categories

Critical Essay
Dramatic Script
Flash Fiction
Humor
Journalism

Novel Writing
Personal Essay & Memoir
Poetry
Science Fiction & Fantasy
Short Story
Writing Portfolio

Why submit to the Scholastic Awards?

Significant accolades for college resumes and applications
Awards include scholarships for college tuition and summer enrichment programs
Furthers training and practice in writing genres
Reinforce the ability to set goals with tangible rewards
Increases intrinsic motivation through confidence

Scholastic Lecture Topics: Writing Skills for Every Genre

Lectures	Lecture Topic	Lecture Date
Lecture 1	Story Structure and Narrative Arc	Sunday, April 27, 7–9pm ET
Lecture 2	Unforgettable Openings to Hook Your Reader	Sunday, May 18, 7–9pm ET
Lecture 3	Language, Style, and Voice	Sunday, June 8, 7–9pm ET
Lecture 4	Incorporating Research and Real-World Connections	Sunday, July 13, 7–9pm ET
Lecture 5	Writing for Emotional Impact	Sunday, July 27, 7–9pm ET
Lecture 6	Character Dimension and Perspective	Sunday, August 17, 7–9pm ET
Lecture 7	Pacing and Momentum to Engage the Reader until the Last Word	Sunday, August 24, 7–9pm ET
Lecture 8	World Building for Fiction and Poetry	Sunday, September 14, 7–9pm ET

Craft Polished Essays, Stories, and Poems with VSA Writing Teacher Feedback

Each student will write 4 written pieces for the Scholastic Writing Workshop. After registration, students will sign up for 4 writing deadlines between June and September. Each submission will receive 2 rounds of written feedback.

Each student has 8 hours of 1-on-1 teacher conference. In 1-on-1 conferences, VSA teachers help students brainstorm, plan, revise, and edit each written piece to be sharp and polished as possible.

This high level of personalized feedback provides students with a rock-solid foundation in critical reading skills, writing techniques, and the mechanics of language.

Brainstorming is a key part of the VSA Scholastic Writing process. For each submission, students provide a list of brainstormed topics for VSA teacher review and feedback. By offering robust discussion and feedback early in the writing process, VSA teachers help students plan compelling, well-thought-out stories, essays, and poems that hook readers and make them keep reading.

VSA teachers then follow up with detailed written feedback on each draft. From helping reshape the narrative outline and arc of each piece to providing advice on word choice, syntax, and grammar, our teachers help students become stronger editors, writers, and critics of their own work.