Home › News
News & Updates
Deadlines, results and guidance for The New York Times Learning Network writing contests.
-
Common Reasons NYT Contest Entries Get Overlooked (and How to Fix Them) (2026)
The craft mistakes that sink otherwise-good NYT Learning Network entries — weak openings, off-prompt drift, over the word count, generic voice — and the fix for each (2026).
-
How to Revise a NYT Contest Entry: From Draft to Submission (2026)
A craft-focused revision workflow for any NYT Learning Network contest: cut to the word limit, sharpen the lead, strengthen evidence, and proof before the U.S. Pacific Time deadline.
-
The 2026-27 New York Times Writing Contest Calendar: All Seven Contests and Their Windows
The NYT Learning Network has announced seven free opportunities for 2026-27: the 100-word Tiny Memoir (16 Sept–28 Oct 2026), a new Visual Art Contest, a new STEM interview video contest, Open Letters, Audio Stories and Summer Reading in three one-week windows. This independent calendar gives every window, the Beijing-time conversion for 11:59 p.m. U.S. Pacific…
-
What Judges Look For in a Winning NYT Contest Entry: Rubrics Explained (2026)
How does the New York Times Learning Network actually judge its student writing contests? This independent guide explains the judging process — from a huge entry pool to a shortlist to winners — and the rubric dimensions that recur across contests, so international students can write to the standard editors actually use.
-
What Are the New York Times Learning Network Writing Contests? A 2025-26 Guide (and How to Choose Yours)
The New York Times Learning Network runs a year-round series of free writing contests for students aged 13 to 19 anywhere in the world, from the flagship Student Editorial Contest to Personal Narrative, STEM Writing, Review and Summer Reading. This independent guide explains what each contest is, who can enter, and how to choose the…