afterlight / afterglow
Pen&Quill's 3rd Annual Summer Competition
We are so excited to announce for the third year Pen&Quill's Annual Summer Competition! We're calling all writers aged 12-21 to submit their best work for a chance to win monetary prizes and more! Submissions are now open. This competition closes on August 21, 2025.
Theme
There’s a moment after the sun has dipped beneath the horizon, but before the sky goes dark. Gold softens the edges of the world. Everything seems to glow. This period is referred to as "afterlight" or "afterglow."
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This year, our theme is one of transition, memory, and becoming: the cusp of adolescence, the end of childhood, the beginning of something new. We’re looking for writing that captures the glow before darkness. The beauty of what flickers—briefly, beautifully—before it’s gone.​
Prizes
1st Place: $200
2nd Place: $100
3rd Place: $50
Middle School Standout: $20
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Winners will also receive
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Two books each, provided by Princeton University Press
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1-year print and archive subscription to Ploughshares, provided by Ploughshares at Emerson College
sponsors & partners of our 2nd annual summer competition
submission
guidlines
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We accept simultaneous submissions, but please notify it as such and let us know as soon as it is accepted elsewhere (congratulations in advance)!
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The word limit for each individual piece regardless of genre is 1,500 words.
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You may submit up to three pieces of work in total, however, please attach them separately! Please attach your submissions as a PDF.
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Please place your full name and state/country at the top of each document.
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If you are under 13 years old, your parent or guardian must complete this signed Parental Consent form and email it to PenandQuills@gmail.com. Only after we receive and verify this consent can we review your submission.
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If anything is unclear, unstated, or causes concern, please feel free to contact us. We don't want confusion to prevent us from seeing your work! Our email can be found at the bottom of this page.
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While trigger/content warnings are not needed, anything racist, transphobic, homophobic, misogynistic, plagiarized, or prejudiced in any form will be immediately disqualified.
