The contest opens for submissions on March 1!
It is time once again for the Palo Alto City Library’s annual writing contest, now named the Elizabeth Stewart Writing Contest!
Beginning, March 1, 2026, kids and teens in grades 3-12 are invited to respond to the following prompt:
"You are a lighthouse keeper who keeps receiving mysterious messages in bottles..."
How to Submit
- You do not need to be a Palo Alto resident or go to Palo Alto schools to enter the writing contest
- Submissions must be 500 words or less
- Entries may be in any style: prose, poetry, verse, rap, etc.
- Participants may work as a pair (co-authors) but there is only one prize (one gift card) per submission
- Please submit as a Word document or PDF attachment to PACLWritingContest@cityofpaloalto.org
- Be sure to include your name and grade on your submission
Important Dates
- March 1-April 12: Submission window opens
- April 13-May 8: Judges review submissions
- May 15: Winners selected and notified
- May 23: Finisher’s celebration, more details TBA
More Information
- Judges will evaluate submissions using a rubric that considers clarity, grammar, originality, and creativity
- A first-, second-, and third-place winner will be chosen in each of the following age categories:
- Elementary School: Grades 3–5
- Middle School: Grades 6–8
- High School: Grades 9–12
Who was Elizabeth Stewart?
Elizabeth Stewart was a talented and beloved Youth Services Librarian who worked at the Palo Alto City Library (PACL) from 2015 to 2022. She courageously battled cancer twice, before passing away surrounded by her family on February 3, 2022. During her career at PACL, Liz helped coordinate numerous popular youth events, including this writing contest. Visit this blog post to learn more about Liz’s life and career at PACL.
More Questions?
Please reach out to Heidi von Mayrhauser at heidi.vonmayr@paloalto.gov