Submit Your Writing Sample

Your next chapter is waiting for you to write it. 

Show us a quick sample of your writing and we'll tell you if you have what it takes to write for today's market. 

Your sample will be reviewed in confidence by professional educators (real, live people!); results will not be instantaneous. Be on the lookout for an email with your results, within 3-5 business days!

To submit your writing sample, enter your information below. 

Submitting your writing sample is free of charge, there's no obligation to enroll.

If you qualify, we'll pair you with a one-on-one instructor—your mentor from your first assignment until you graduate.

You can save your work at any time by clicking the SAVE button. When you're finished, please click SUBMIT. 

Institute of Children's Literature specializes in teaching people like you how to write for today's children's and young adult publishing markets.

Stop Wondering, Start Writing.

Choose the submission option that works best for you:

1. Upload a sample of something you've already written or
2. Write something new in the box below.

Your writing sample should be between 400-600 words. For example, it can be an essay, a short story, the first chapter of a novel, a magazine article, a blog post, a setting description, or anything that showcases your writing skills!

Grammar and punctuation are important, of course, but our main interest is originality, style, and your aptitude for conveying ideas and expressing yourself.

Please note: The Institute's policy holds that "No sexually explicit, pornographic, or gratuitously violent entries will be accepted." This stands for our contest entries, writing samples, and course assignment submissions.