human being
last year,
I did a school debate
of why
trans athletes should be able to play in sports
I lost
and I cried
because my teacher
let us pick topics
Young Writers Project
The Daily Read
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Longhand
I write longhand.
Journal, pencil, print.
Letters melding together in a harmony on the page.
Graphite scratching the paper, pencil sharpening every 5 minutes.
Lined paper, perfect for doodles and random thoughts.
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The Red Bike
The red bike,
It just sits,
No one ever touches it,
No one ever claimed the bike,
After years in the park,
It lost some of its shine after tons of storms,
The rust comes and covers the beautiful paint,
Gallery
Challenges
Visual Art
Deadline
Stairs
Imagine a stairway that is always climbing to infinity. Using your preferred medium, create a never-ending staircase.
Visual Art
Deadline
Snails
Snails are interesting creatures! Draw or paint an image of two or more snails having fun — maybe racing each other, attending a party in fancy hats, skiing down a mountain. The choice is yours.
Writing
Deadline
Notebook
Where do you do your best writing? Is it a notebook? A laptop? Your phone? Why does it appeal to you?
Visual Art
Deadline
Winter 2026 Art Contest
With your artist's eye, observe, interpret, and create. Choose a subject — an everyday object, a person, a landscape — and give yourself time and space to study it. Use the medium of your choice to convey the subject the way you uniquely see it.
Writing
America?
The fatal shootings of U.S. citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti by ICE agents on the streets of Minneapolis have induced fury, disbelief, sadness, and an overwhelming sense of betrayal. This isn't America. Is it? Share your thoughts.
Writing
Hope & Resilience
Poetry steps in where uncertainty and chaos take root. Poetry lifts us up and moves us forward with determination. Explore these poems of hope and resilience. If you are inspired, share your own.
News & Events
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2026 Vermont Youth Poet Laureate
Vermont writers: You could become the 2026 Vermont Youth Poet Laureate!
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Photo Workshops: A Series by Kevin Huang
Kevin Huang, a photographer and an alumni of YWP, shares what he has learned about photography through his countless hours of experimenting and exploring with his camera. See Kevin's series of online workshops and post your own photos.
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YWP Resources: New Publication & Contest Opportunities!
Are you looking to submit your work to contests for a chance to win prizes or to publications such as journals and anthologies? Check out our lists of writing and visual arts contests curated for YWP by Alumni Advisor Sam Aikman.
