Young Authors Contest (YAC)

Young Authors Contest

Event Date - May 20, 2024

District Writing due - Last Friday in February

Due to CWTAG - March 3, 2024


​The Young Authors Contest is an opportunity for students in grades 3-6 to enter a contest with multiple winners.  Entries are accepted in the following categories: poetry, personal narrative, argumentative essay, and creative writing based on a photo.   Students may enter each category once.  


Although each participating district uses its own method to select the students that they send to the conference, many use the 6+1 writing rubric which places importance on ideas, voice, fluency, organization, word choice and conventions.


If a student's writing is chosen, they attend a day-long conference at UW Platteville-Sauk County (Baraboo Campus). Speakers and seminars are designed especially for the young authors to enhance their understanding and skills. At the conference, students receive an anthology containing all of the manuscripts which were selected as winners.


Requirements to enter each category

Argumentative and Creative Writing Prompts

All entries should look like this Sample Entry

Writing Tools & Anthologies

CWTAG Young Authors Contest Grade 5/6 basic intro

Example introduction presentation for 3/4 grade is viewable to the left and by clicking here

Example introduction presentation for 5/6 grade can be found here

Be sure to make your own copy and edit the contact information in the last few slides