The Alabama Writers’ Forum recognizes young writers, their teachers, and schools each year for their work in creative writing at the High School Literary Arts Awards (HSLAA). The year-long program focuses on nurturing talent in high schools across Alabama. Competition categories are: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry, Senior Portfolio and Literary Magazine. The judging panel is comprised of leading writers and educators from across the state.

The competition is funded in part by the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Individual donors provide $500 each for the senior portfolio scholarships.

Categories: Creative Nonfiction, Fiction, Poetry, Senior Portfolios, and Literary Magazines

CALENDAR OF IMPORTANT AWARD DATES:
Submission Period: December 1, 2024 – February 14, 2025.
Postmark Deadline for Literary Magazines: February 7, 2025.
Winners’ List Posted/Winning Teachers Notified by E-mail: April 1, 2025

ELIGIBILITY
The 2025 Alabama Writers’ Forum Literary Arts Awards are open to Alabama high school students in grades 9 – 12.

JUDGING
Leading authors and Alabama educators serve as competition judges and will be named with the awards announcement.

LITERARY AWARD PRIZES
Creative Nonfiction (between 1,000 words and 5,000 words):
1st Place ($150), 2nd Place ($75), 3rd Place ($50)
Judges’ Certificates of Merit

Fiction:
1st Place ($150), 2nd Place ($75), 3rd Place ($50)
Judges’ Certificates of Merit

Poetry:
1st Place ($150), 2nd Place ($75), 3rd Place ($50)
Judges’ Certificates of Merit

Senior Portfolios:
Up to 4 cash awards of $500

Literary Magazine:
Exceptional Literary Content ($150 donation to school’s literary magazine program)
Judges’ Special Recognition for Exceptional Literary Content ($50 donation to school’s literary magazine program)

Exceptional Graphic Design and Layout ($150 donation to school’s literary magazine program)
Judges’ Special Recognition for Exceptional Graphic Design and Layout ($50 donation to school’s literary magazine program)

Certificates of Merit for Literary Magazines

FORMAT FOR CREATIVE NONFICTION, FICTION, AND POETRY ENTRIES
Creative nonfiction, fiction, and poetry must be submitted online. Complete online submission form and attach files in a PDF format. Students’ names should appear only on the entry forms since all works are judged anonymously.

Creative Nonfiction: One creative nonfiction entry per student. Entries must be typed and double-spaced. List word count under title. Ex. “My Summer Vacation” 1100 words

Fiction: One fiction entry per student. Entries must be typed and double-spaced.

Poetry: Up to three poetry entries per student. Entries may be single-spaced or double-spaced.

FORMAT FOR SENIOR PORTFOLIOS
Portfolios should consist of 20-50 pages of work from at least two categories required. All entries should be typed and double-spaced, one side only. Poetry may be single-spaced. No illustrations. Entries must include a title page that lists all titles and their respective categories. Students’ names should appear only on the entry forms since all works are judged anonymously.

Categories for Senior Portfolio:
Chapter(s) from a novel accompanied by a one-page synopsis of the novel (25-page total limit)
Creative Nonfiction (one or more essays; 15-page total limit)
Drama (25-page total limit)
Poetry (three shorter poems or longer works totaling no more than 10 pages)
Scholarly essay or research paper with a creative focus (10-page total limit)
Short Fiction (one or more stories; 25-page total limit)

FORMAT FOR LITERARY MAGAZINES
Mail one copy of most recent issue of the magazine published between 2023-2025 with the required entry form. Magazines must consist solely of original student work. Click here to download the required 2025 HSLAA Magazine and Journal Submission Form.

Submit Literary Magazines by Mail:
Alabama Writers’ Forum
P.O. Box 4777
Montgomery, AL 36103-4777

USPS Delivery Confirmation is recommended.
Postmark Deadline: February 7, 2025

For questions about submissions, email writersforum@writersforum.org or call (334) 265-7728.

Past Winners