Writing Competition 2026

Writing at local coffee shops is one of my favorite pastimes.

The first-ever Lumen Films Writing Competition is here! People of all ages are invited to express themselves through writing and share their creative voices. Your voice matters. Writers will compete within their grade level / age group. With a value of over $500 in available prizes and cash, you won’t want to miss out! 

Entries must be created solely by the Entrant. Parents or guardians of students under the age of 18 must submit entries on behalf of their student(s), and the entries should be solely the original ideas and written work of the student entering. Any entry that has been copied from an existing written work (including a published story, article, script, or advertisement)that was created by someone other than the student is a violation of the Competition rules and will not be accepted.

For the purposes of these Official Rules, receipt of an entry occurs when Sponsor’s server (or website) records the entry information (resulting from the Entrant clicking on the “Submit” button). Once the entry is submitted, the submission is final and may not be modified or edited. Any automated computer receipt (such as one confirming delivery of entry) does not constitute proof of actual receipt by Sponsor for purposes of these Official Rules. Entrants are subject to all notices posted on the website, including, but not limited to Sponsor’s privacy policy. By submitting a written entry, Entrant understands and grants permission for the written work to be posted on the website for viewing by visitors to the website. Furthermore, Entrant grants permission for any Competition Entity to encourage and allow any form of sharing or reposting the entry on all forms of social media, whether now in existence or heretofore created. Sponsor and Competition Entities are not responsible for any unauthorized third-party use of any entry.

Except where prohibited by law, entry submission grants the Sponsor the right in perpetuity to reproduce, publish, use, edit, adjust, modify, abridge, condense, sublicense, and excerpt the written entry and/or comments in any way, in any and all media, without limitation and without compensation to Entrant. Submission of a written entry to the Competition further constitutes Entrant’s consent to irrevocably assign and transfer to Sponsor any and all rights, title, and interest in and to the written work, including, without limitation, all copyrights. The Sponsor may publish and/or promote the written entry or a portion of it. If a written entry, or a portion of it, is selected for publication and/or promotional purposes, it does not imply that it is a winning entry in this Competition, nor does it create a confidential relationship between You and the Sponsor or any of its respective affiliates or subsidiaries.

Written entries must be the original work of the Entrant; may not have been previously

published, including but not limited to social media, blogs, online forums, self-publishing 

forums, etc.; may not have won previous awards; and must not infringe upon the copyrights, 

trademarks, rights of privacy, publicity or other intellectual property, or other rights of any

person or entity. By submitting a written entry, the Entrant (or, if an eligible minor, their

parent or legal guardian) warrants and represents that they and/or any persons appearing or

who are identifiable in the entry (whether through likeness, physical description, full name, 

etc.) consent to the submission and use of the entry in this Competition, and to its posting on

the website in connection with the Competition. Sponsor reserves the right to request proof of these permissions in a form acceptable to Sponsor from any Entrant at any time. Entrant agrees to fully indemnify and defend Sponsor and the Competition Entities from any and all

third-party infringement Claims that may arise out of its breach of these representations and 

warranties.

Submit Your Story Here!