59th Annual Friends Creative Writing Contest

• Poetry - writing in verse, 100 lines or fewer. Examples - blank verse, song lyrics, free verse, epic, ode.
• Fiction - short story or one act play, 2,500 words or fewer. Examples - mystery, science fiction, historical, fantasy, thriller, romance.
• Nonfiction - short story or essay, 2,500 words or fewer. Examples - memoir, biography, historical, instructional, commentary.
• Collaboration - 2-4 students working together in the poetry, fiction, or nonfiction categories.

The contest is judged by Arapahoe Community College faculty. Judging is based on originality, quality of expression, and skill in handling specific forms of writing. Detailed, grade specific judging rubrics can be found in the rubrics documents below. Judges will receive all entries anonymously. Bemis Public Library staff is not involved with the judging process. All decisions are final.

• Only students in 1st-12th grades who live in the Littleton Public Schools District or attend a Littleton school may enter the contest.
• Entries must be received by the deadline - 10pm on Monday, April 6, 2026.
• Incomplete entry forms will be disqualified.
• Submissions received without an entry form will be disqualified.
• Plagiarized entries will be disqualified.
• Students may submit one entry in each category. Each entry must have a separate entry form.
• The author’s name should only appear on the entry form - not on the writing submission.
• Label each page of the writing submission with the title of the work and page numbers.
• Writing submissions must be typed or printed legibly. First grade authors may dictate their entries for another person to type.
• Original submissions will not be returned.

Judges will select a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winner in each category and contest level. Winners will be notified by email in May. Winning submissions will be compiled into a book which will be available for purchase and can be referenced at Bemis Public Library.

Entries may be submitted in one of the following ways:

• Online Form - fill out the Creative Writing Contest Google Form here - https://forms.gle/2j1ozDv7nDtk2kVm9
• Email - completed entry forms and writing submissions can be emailed to friendscreativewritingcontest@gmail.com. If you are submitting more than one entry, please send a separate form and email for each entry.
• Drop Off - completed entry forms and writing submissions may be dropped off at the front desk of the Bemis Public Library, 6014 S Datura St., Littleton, CO 80120

Entry forms for those choosing to submit via email or drop off are available in the Contest Documents section below.

The 2026 Friends Creative Writing Contest adheres to the principles of Colorado’s Safe2Tell which allows the reporting of issues regarding safety of students, parents, or community members. We understand that students may express anger, sadness, or other strong emotions in their writings. While we encouraged uninhibited writing, we also take our responsibilities under Safe2Tell seriously.