Succeed
    Competition

    Creative Writing

    by Future Problem Solving Program International

    Write an original short story exploring a real-world issue through a believable future, with research, creativity and individual authorship at its core.

    Last verified: 3 Aug 2026Reviewed by:BSBen Stacy
    Creative Writing

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    Creative Writing Competition at a glance: cost, dates and eligibility

    Current status

    Upcoming

    Eligibility

    Individual students with an adult coach

    Age range / Year group

    Ages 9-18; Grades 4-12

    Location / Region

    Online via Open Affiliate

    Cost

    US$45 standard; US$65 premium

    Prize highlight

    Possible world finals invitation

    Entry format

    Individual short story

    Next deadline

    10 December 2026 · Upcoming cycle

    Get next-cycle reminder

    Creative Writing Competition summary

    Research one annual real-world topic, then turn plausible future developments into an original short story.

    The challenge rewards more than imaginative prose: topic knowledge, logical future thinking, plot development, voice, character and technical accuracy all matter.

    It suits students who enjoy combining research with speculative fiction and are prepared to revise independently from structured feedback.

    What is Creative Writing?

    Creative Writing is Future Problem Solving Program International’s future-focused short story competition. Students select one annual problem topic, research the issue and imagine the logical consequences of actions or events in a future they could plausibly experience.

    Each entrant creates an individual narrative designed to entertain and inform. Trained evaluators assess the work against a published rubric, giving students scores and qualitative feedback across creative thinking, futuristic thinking, story development and writing craft.

    Why Succeed highlights Creative Writing Competition

    • It turns research into a creative output instead of treating subject knowledge and storytelling as separate skills.

    • The detailed seven-part rubric makes the assessment more transparent than many writing contests.

    • Students receive evaluator feedback that can guide later revisions and future writing.

    • Four annual topics give writers meaningful choice while preserving a focused common brief.

    • Strong regional work can progress to an international final.

    Who is Creative Writing Competition for?

    Best for

    Independent young writers who enjoy researching social, scientific or technological change and building believable future worlds.

    Not ideal if

    You want an unrestricted fiction prompt, collaborative authorship or extensive adult editing of the final story.

    Is Creative Writing Competition worth it?

    Yes, if you want a structured reason to research an unfamiliar issue and complete a polished piece of speculative fiction. The published rubric and evaluator feedback make participation useful even without progression to the international stage.

    The limitation is that the topic, future setting and individual-authorship rules constrain creative freedom. Regional variation also means families must confirm their affiliate’s precise calendar, fee and entry process before committing.

    How much preparation does Creative Writing Competition need?

    Effort level

    Moderate to high.

    Best started

    Begin research several months before the 4 March 2027 final entry deadline.

    Main challenge

    Integrating topic research naturally without weakening the story.

    Typical preparation

    • Choose a topic that genuinely interests you and collect reliable background research.

    • Map how present trends could develop over the next 20-30 years.

    • Outline the central conflict, consequences and character change before drafting.

    • Revise against all seven rubric areas and complete a final anonymity check.

    Useful if

    You want evidence of sustained independent writing and reflection.

    What do students do on Creative Writing Competition?

    You research one annual problem topic, project its consequences into the future and write an original narrative in which the future feels like the characters’ present reality.

    Step-by-step process

    1. 1

      Find the correct regional affiliate or join through the virtual Open Affiliate.

    2. 2

      Work with an adult coach who handles registration and communications.

    3. 3

      Select one of the four annual competition topics.

    4. 4

      Research current conditions, trends and relevant terminology.

    5. 5

      Plan a believable future setting, characters, conflict and consequences.

    6. 6

      Write and edit an individual story of no more than 1,500 words.

    7. 7

      Remove identifying information and submit the entry through the affiliate process.

    8. 8

      Use evaluator scores and comments to improve future writing.

    Creative Writing Competition dates and deadlines

    Registration opens

    Early August 2026

    Open Affiliate registration begins.

    Upcoming
    Save deadline

    Premium draft due

    10 December 2026

    Optional draft feedback milestone.

    Upcoming
    Save deadline

    Final entry due

    4 March 2027

    Open Affiliate Creative Writing entry.

    Upcoming
    Save deadline

    World finals

    9-13 June 2027

    International Conference at Indiana University Bloomington.

    Upcoming
    Save deadline

    Eligibility and requirements

    • Grades 4-12, approximately ages 9-18

    • Individual student authors only

    • Adult coach or liaison required

    • Regional or Open Affiliate participation required

    • Submission must be in English

    • Open Affiliate available when no local route exists

    How much does Creative Writing Competition cost?

    Standard student entry

    US$45 — Open Affiliate 2026-2027 fee.

    Potential funding / awards

    • Premium student entry: US$65 — Includes earlier draft feedback.
    • New coach: US$50 — Open Affiliate coach registration.
    • Returning coach: US$40 — Open Affiliate coach registration.

    What's included

    Competition materials and evaluation, Evaluator scores and written feedback, Coach training and yearlong support, Premium entry includes earlier draft feedback

    How to enter Creative Writing Competition

    1. 1

      Check whether your local Future Problem Solving affiliate offers Creative Writing.

    2. 2

      Use the Open Affiliate if your region is unserved or the programme is unavailable locally.

    3. 3

      Choose an adult parent, teacher or mentor as the coach and primary contact.

    4. 4

      Ask the adult to register as a coach, then follow the student-registration instructions.

    5. 5

      Select a competition topic and prepare the original story.

    6. 6

      Upload the completed entry through FPSOnline or the process specified by your affiliate.

    Competition prompts

    Choose one question from your selected subject area. Succeed shows a small preview here, but always check the current competition instructions before writing.

    Q1.In the digital dark age, how might we prioritize data to save and reduce the effects of information loss in the future?

    Submission requirements

    Open Affiliate requirements apply below; regional affiliates may adjust their competition rules.

    • One original story by a single student

    • Maximum 1,500 words excluding title

    • Set 20-30 years in the future

    • Recognisable link to one annual topic

    • Title at top of first page

    • Readable 12-point font

    • No student, school or affiliate identifiers

    • English-language submission

    • Appropriate for all audiences

    Prizes and recognition

    Regional recognition

    Entries are ranked through trained, rubric-based evaluation.

    World finals invitation

    Highest-ranking qualifying regional work may be invited to the International Conference.

    What this may help with

    Demonstrating sustained research, drafting and creative reflection.

    What it does not guarantee

    A world-finals invitation or a particular academic outcome.

    Judging criteria

    • 15% — Creative thinking
    • 15% — Futuristic thinking
    • 23% — Idea development
    • 23% — Style and voice
    • 8% — Character development
    • 8% — Mechanics
    • 8% — Topic integration

    At the International Conference, idea development also assesses connection to the supplied future scene.

    How to stand out

    1. Build future details from researched trends so the setting feels imaginative and credible.
    2. Make the chosen topic drive the conflict rather than appearing as background decoration.
    3. Show clear cause and effect between present developments and future consequences.
    4. Give characters distinctive motives, emotional depth and meaningful change.
    5. Use precise sensory detail and a confident voice without sacrificing readability.
    6. Revise against every rubric category instead of focusing only on plot and grammar.

    Creative Writing Competition FAQs

    Write a creative, futuristic narrative connected to one annual problem topic. It should imagine a logical outcome of future actions or events while entertaining and informing the reader.

    Yes. Students can participate through schools, clubs or independently. Entry is organised through a regional affiliate or, where appropriate, the virtual Open Affiliate.

    Yes. Every student needs an adult coach or liaison who acts as the primary contact for registration and competition communications.

    Others may offer general feedback and help correct spelling, grammar and punctuation, but the student must remain the sole writer and editor of the narrative.

    The organiser advises caution. Automated tools should only be used for proofreading or sparking ideas; the submitted story must be original and fully student-created.

    The rubric covers creative thinking, futuristic thinking, idea development, style and voice, character development, mechanics and topic integration. Students receive scores and qualitative feedback.

    No. Knowledge of the process is recommended because it can support future thinking and story organisation, but it is not a requirement.

    World-final writers receive a future scene and create a connected story under a time limit. The maximum is 1,000 words, and no coach revision or feedback is available during the event.

    Alternatives to Creative Writing Competition

    Compare these options if you prefer a different writing format, broader prompt or performance element.

    Alternatives to Creative Writing Competition

    Storytelling
    Past

    Create and perform an original futuristic narrative

    Creative Writing
    Check official page
    £33
    9-18

    Best for

    Students who prefer performance to written fiction.

    View details

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    Ben Stacy

    Content reviewed by

    Ben Stacy

    Co-founder, Succeed | Former secondary teacher and educational leader

    Ben works at the intersection of education, technology and school adoption, with expertise in how secondary schools evaluate data-driven tools and how education technology is used in practice.

    View author page

    Sources and verification

    Source types reviewed

    • How is Creative Writing evaluated? - Future Problem Solving Resource Library
    • 9 Creative Writing submissions tips dos and don'ts - Future Problem Solving Resource Library
    • Quick Start Guide: Creative Writing - Future Problem Solving Resource Library
    • Open Affiliate | Future Problem Solving
    • Custom Flyers (8.5 x 11 in)
    • Future Problem Solving | Find FPS Near Me
    • Creative Writing | Future Problem Solving

    Succeed uses official provider information where available, but keeps this public page focused on comparison and planning inside Succeed.

    What we verified (on 3 Aug 2026)

    • Official overview checked

    • Eligibility reviewed

    • Entry deadline checked

    • Open Affiliate fees checked

    • Submission rules checked

    • Rubric weightings verified

    • Progression route reviewed

    How Succeed uses this information

    We use source material to verify core facts, then show older cycle dates as reference when a current cycle is not available. Always check current submission instructions before entering.