3RD ANNUAL PERSONAL NARRATIVE WRITING CONTEST| THE NEW YORK TIMES

September 25, 2021

We invite middle and high school students ages 11-19 to tell a short story about a meaningful life experience in 600 words or fewer.

? Contest Dates: Oct. 13 to Nov. 17, 2021.

For this contest, we invite you to write a personal narrative of your own about a meaningful life experience.

We’re not asking you to write to a particular theme or to use a specific structure or style, but we are looking for short, powerful stories about a particular moment or event in your life. We want to hear your story, told in your unique voice, and we hope you’ll experiment with style and form to tell a tale that matters to you, in a way you enjoy telling it.

Learn more.