This is a national competition across six writing genres—creative nonfiction, novel excerpt + synopsis, play or script, poetry, short story, or spoken word—judged by panels of professional artists in a blind process. Finalists earn monetary prizes from $250 to $10,000, are invited to a week‑long, all‑expenses‑paid National YoungArts Week in Miami, and winners with distinction may be nominated for U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts