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!

The contest officially begins each year on January 1. All entries must be postmarked by March 24 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

These files require Acrobat Reader. (Free Download)

Teachers, if you are interested in receiving information about the Jax PBS KIDS Writers Contest, CLICK HERE. WJCT Public Media’s Education Coordinator, Andrew Williams, will contact you.

Contact Information:
Stephanie Murray, Director of Education
Phone:  904.358.6321
Email:  smurray@wjct.org

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

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.