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About The Contest

The Jax PBS Kids Writers Contest is open to any child in grades K-3 who wants to write and illustrate their own story. Submit your story to WJCT Public Media for judging and a chance to win cool prizes. Local winning stories will compete for the local online People’s Choice Award.

All writers and illustrators who enter and meet the requirements of the Jax PBS KIDS Writers Contest will have their work published online at wjct.org and receive a certificate. Grade level winners will also receive a Jax PBS KIDS bag of swag (may include, but not guaranteed, books, DVD, t-shirt); be invited to read their story live at Be My Neighbor Day; and have a video made of them reading their story. The People’s Choice winner, in addition to all of the above, will receive a $100 gift card.

To help children prepare for the contest, encourage them to read last year’s winners, think about their own favorite stories, and create new stories.

Download the Jax PBS Kids Writers Contest “Story Writing Fun Guide” and the “Teacher’s Guide & Classroom Worksheets” with brainstorming activities, help with writing and revising, and other ideas and tips!

2023 Stories

View all the wonderful 2023 WJCT PBS Kids Writers Contest story submissions! (Scroll down to see more stories from past years.)

Enter The Contest

The contest officially begins each year on January 1. All entries must be postmarked by March 15 to be eligible. Download the entry form and contest rules below then mail to:

WJCT Public Media
Attn: Writers Contest
100 Festival Park Avenue
Jacksonville, Florida 32202

2024 Contest Entry Form
2024 Contest Rules

These files require Acrobat Reader. (Free Download)

Information for Educators

Teachers, if you are interested in receiving information about the Jax PBS KIDS Writers Contest, CLICK HERE. WJCT Public Media’s Grants & Education Outreach Manager, Circe LeNoble, will contact you.

Contact Information:
Circe LeNoble, Grants & Education Outreach Manager
Phone: 904.358.6329
Email: clenoble@wjct.org

Florida PBS LearningMedia offers a collection of online teacher resources aligned to current Florida education benchmarks, for use in classrooms.

Watch the 2023 People's Choice Award Finalists Read Their Stories!

Writers Contest FAQ

What is the Jax PBS KIDS Writers Contest?
WJCT has been hosting the Jax PBS KIDS Writers Contest for 28 years (since 1994). The Jax PBS KIDS Writers Contest is designed to promote the advancement of children’s literacy skills through hands-on, active learning. The contest is open to children in kindergarten, first, second and third grades and encourages creative thinking and storytelling, while building literacy skills through the creation and illustration of original stories.

Who can enter?
Any child in grades K-3 who wants to write and illustrate their own story may enter the contest. Students may be from public or private schools or homeschooled but must have the approval of a parent.

May I see stories from other contest years to get ideas?
Yes! Check out all the stories from past years and think about your own favorite stories. Keep scrolling to find stories.

Who picks the winning stories?
Stories are judged locally by a diverse group of volunteers. Parents or any relative of an entered child may not serve as a judge. Judges determine the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners for each grade level.

How is People’s Choice winner chosen?
Winners from each grade level are published online. The public is given a week-long window online to read and vote for their favorite. At the end of the week, the story with the most votes is determined the People’s Choice winner.

How long does the contest run?
Each year’s contest begins January 1 and runs through mid-March (date varies each year).

How do I enter?
Download the Contest Entry Form and the Full Contest Rules. Parents must read rules and completely fill out Entry Form. Students write and illustrate their story, following the specific guidelines listed in the Contest Rules document. Parents mail in completed Entry Form and child’s story to WJCT Public Media at 100 Festival Park Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32202, Attn: Writers Contest. Stories must be mailed with a postmark no later than March 15.

Any story submitted that does not follow the specific guidelines outlined in the Contest Rules and Entry Form will be disqualified and will not be judged.

Can my child submit more than one story?
No. Please only submit one story per child.

When will the winners be announced?
Winners will be notified on or before May 15.

Who should I contact with questions?
Direct all inquiries to Circe LeNoble, WJCT Public Media’s Grants & Education Outreach Manager at clenoble@wjct.org or 904.358.6329.


Thank you to our contest sponsor:

 
 

Watch the 2021 People's Choice Award Finalists Read Their Stories!


2022 Stories

View all the wonderful 2022 WJCT PBS Kids Writers Contest story submissions!

2021 Stories

View all the wonderful 2021 WJCT PBS Kids Writers Contest story submissions!

2020 Stories

View all the wonderful 2020 WJCT PBS Kids Writers Contest story submissions!

2019 Stories

View all the wonderful 2019 WJCT PBS Kids Writers Contest story submissions!

2018 Stories

View all the wonderful 2018 WJCT PBS Kids Writers Contest story submissions!

2017 Stories

View all the wonderful 2017 WJCT PBS Kids Writers Contest story submissions!

2016 Stories

View all the wonderful 2016 WJCT PBS Kids Writers Contest story submissions!