Details for the 2025-26 program are here!
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2025-26 State Young author program
**************************New this year!!**********************************
Homeschool students, unconnected to a local district, must submit to the State Homeschool Coordinator - Faye Erickson at ferickson@wyva.org
Required Deadline: Friday, January 9th, 2026
As usual- private schools or parochial schools entries should submit building winners to their local districts for district-level judging following the guidelines listed below.
Schools throughout Wyoming are encouraged to participate in the Young Authors Contest. This state-wide writing competition is offered for all grades, K-12 in public, private or homeschool. Entries include: fiction, non-fiction, poetry and graphic novels. The Young Authors Contest provides students the opportunity to write for enjoyment and to share their writing.
The writers are recognized in their building and school district. Then, the first place entries at local districts are sent to the State Young Authors Contest by March 6, 2026.
After judging, the winning entries and authors are recognized at a State Young Authors Celebration Saturday, May 2, 2026 in Casper at the St. Anthony's Tri-Parish School, 145 W 20th Street, with a virtual option available.
2025-2026 Young Authors Guidelines has details for the Program
2025-26 Virtual Young Author Kick Off Event Link for Wednesday October 8 at 4:30pm.
Ideas on structuring your district Young Authors Contest
Paperwork for the coordinators:
Individual Entry Form and Media release needed for State entries
Have questions on organizing a contest in your building or district?
There will be a monthly coordinator meeting the fourth Monday of the each month at 4:30pm. Join here.
DISTRICT COORDINATORS, PLEASE SIGN UP BELOW FOR COMMUNICATION about Young Author
How are the entries judged?
All entries will be ranked using the rubrics below. All judges are required to receive training prior to the State event. Interested in being a judge in April 2026? Please contact Devin at Devin_Hodgins@natronaschools.org or Jill at jill_felbeck_jones@natronaschools.org
Non-fiction, Fiction, POETRY, and Graphic Novel rubrics
Contacts
Questions or concerns? Please contact Devin at Devin_Hodgins@natronaschools.org
or Jill at jill_felbeck_jones@natronaschools.org