What This Is

At Crown & Ashe, we believe powerful stories shouldn’t have to wait. The Young Author’s Grant celebrates high-school writers (ages 14–18) with meaningful support: a $500 Visa gift card, publication on our site with distribution, and recognition. Three finalists also receive a 90-minute small-group mentorship workshop with Crown & Ashe authors.

Prizes

Winner

• $500 Visa Gift Card

• Publication on Crown & Ashe’s website (editorial polish + professional presentation)

• Recognition across our channels

Finalists (3)

• 90-minute Mentorship Workshop (small group, craft feedback + Q&A)

• Recognition on our site

Eligibility (2025 Pilot)

• Ages 14–18 on the submission deadline date

• Submissions accepted in English or Spanish

• Currently enrolled in high school (or homeschool equivalent)

• Original, unpublished work (see rights below)

• One submission per person

• Location: For the 2025 pilot, entries are U.S. only (International writers: we plan to open future rounds—join our list in the footer)

Accepted Genres & Length

• Fiction or Creative Nonfiction: up to 2,500 words

• Poetry: up to 3 poems (max 120 lines total)

• Personal Essay: up to 1,500 words

• Entries may be written in English or Spanish

Manuscripts must be in .pdf or .docx. Use a readable font, 11–12pt, double-spaced (poetry can vary), include page numbers.

Content Guidelines

We want the Young Author’s Grant to be open, creative, and safe for all readers. Please keep submissions within the following boundaries:

• Age-Appropriate → Submissions should be suitable for a PG-13 audience.

• Violence → Conflict is fine, but avoid graphic gore or excessive glorification of violence.

• Romance → Love stories are welcome, but no sexually explicit content.

• Language → Please avoid profanity. Invented, in-universe curses are fine if they fit your world.

• Hate Speech / Discrimination → Absolutely no racist, sexist, homophobic, or otherwise discriminatory content.

• Self-Harm / Suicide → These topics may appear if handled thoughtfully, but not in a way that glorifies, encourages, or provides explicit methods.

• Substance Use → References to alcohol, drugs, or smoking should be minimal and not glorified.

• Original Work → All submissions must be your own original writing. Plagiarism will be disqualified

Timeline

• Submissions Open: September 1, 2025, 9:00 AM ET

• Deadline: October 15, 2025, 11:59 PM ET

• Finalists Announced: November 7, 2025

• Mentorship Workshop: Will be scheduled collaboratively with finalists (Zoom)

• Winner Announced & Published: December 1, 2025]

How Judging Works

Entries are reviewed blind by Crown & Ashe editors for:

• Voice & Originality (distinct point of view, honest emotion)

• Craft (language, structure, clarity)

• Impact (lingering resonance, memorability)

• Spanish-language works will be judged on the same criteria (voice, craft, impact)

• Winning works in Spanish will be published in the original language on Crown & Ashe’s site, with an optional English translation provided alongside.

We read widely and welcome all backgrounds. We do not judge based on topic “marketability”—only quality and voice.

Rights & Payment (Plain-English)

• You keep your copyright.

• If selected, you grant Crown & Ashe a non-exclusive right to publish your piece on our website, feature short excerpts on socials, and include it in our newsletter.

• You may republish your work elsewhere after the announcement—please credit first publication to Crown & Ashe.

• The $500 prize is paid via Visa gift card. Identification may be required to verify eligibility.

Anti-Plagiarism & AI Policy

By submitting, you confirm the work is your original writing. Quoted material must be cited. AI can be used only as a light brainstorming/support tool; the final text must be meaningfully your own. Plagiarized or AI-generated entries will be disqualified.

Accessibility & Inclusion

If you need accommodations to submit (formatting, file type, etc.), contact us via the form below—we’re happy to help.