Young Authors' Writing Project
Young Authors' Writing Project
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The NCRA Young Authors Writing Project is a statewide opportunity that invites K–12 students across North Carolina to create original writing and artwork around an annual theme. It is designed to help students develop their voice, express their ideas creatively, and connect literacy with meaningful real-world topics. The project also supports teachers with ready-to-use resources, including mentor texts, writing prompts, rubrics, and classroom guides.
Information
2025-2026 Young Authors Writing Project
EDUCATE. ADVOCATE. EMPOWER.
Bring the NCRA Young Authors & Illustrators Contest to Your Classroom!
Every child has a story to tell—and when we give them the tools to share it, we help them find their voice. The NCRA Young Authors & Illustrators Contest invites K–12 students across North Carolina to create original works of writing and art that explore this year’s theme: EDUCATE. ADVOCATE. EMPOWER.
Why Participate?
This contest is more than a competition—it’s a platform for students to:
Discover the power of storytelling as a tool for self-expression and change.
Connect reading, writing, and art to real-world themes of justice, leadership, and learning.
See their voices celebrated by their schools, local councils, and the statewide NCRA community.
Supports for Teachers
We know classroom time is precious, so we’ve designed ready-to-use resources to help you integrate the contest into your instruction:
Mentor Texts – Curated lists of books, poems, and songs by grade band to inspire creative thinking and connect to the theme.
Writing Prompts and Formats – Flexible, engaging prompts designed to work across genres (poetry, narratives, comics, essays, hybrid works).
Rubrics and Teacher Guides – Clear criteria for evaluating creativity, voice, and theme connection.
Student-Friendly Blurbs – Age-appropriate language to introduce the contest in your classroom.
Cross-Curricular Links – Opportunities to tie writing and art to social studies, SEL, and civic engagement.
YOUNG AUTHOR RESOURCES SLIDE DECK
YOUNG AUTHORS INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES
QUESTIONS?
QUESTIONS?
Please contact your local council Young Authors Chair for questions or concerns. Please visit the NCRA website www.ncreading.org for a list of local councils and contact information.
Contact Information for State YA Committee heidi_perez@dpsnc.net
2025- 2026 Young Authors
The Young Authors’ Writing Project is a statewide North Carolina Reading Association initiative for K–12 students that invites them to create original writing and artwork connected to an annual theme. For 2025–2026, the theme is
“Educate. Advocate. Empower.”
The Young Author Project is a literacy and creativity program that gives students an opportunity to develop and share their voices through writing and illustration.
2024-2025 Young Authors
2023-2024 Young Authors
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