2026 Writing Contest Entry

Writing Contest Rules & Guidelines:

All writing must be original, unpublished and written by the submitting student. Writing
deemed to be plagiarized or created by AI programs such as chatGPT will be disqualified.
All writing submitted becomes the property of The Bryan Museum to use in marketing
and/or advertisements for the contest or for other purposes.
If a student’s writing is in consideration for a monetary award, he or she will be notified by
the submitted contact email.
If the student changes email, it is his/her responsibility to notify education@thebryanmuseum.org
All writing must be submitted through the Submittable platform by the student, teacher,
or parent except for students in grades 2-5 who may submit through Submittable,
through the mail, or in person. (The Bryan Museum is not responsible for submissions that never arrive or that arrive late.)
Teachers may submit multiple students’ writing by mail or in person for grades 2-5 only. Submission must include a student information form downloadable here. Teachers must obtain parent permission to submit student writing.
Please proofread your work before submitting. Remove all editing marks by teachers.
All writing should be double-spaced in an 11-point readable font. Elementary school letters may be handwritten.
Stories that contain offensive material or language will be disqualified.
Stories must be written primarily in English.
All submissions must be received by April 30, 2026.
The Bryan Museum does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national or ethnic
origin, gender, or religion in its programs and contests
For questions after submission, please email education@thebryanmuseum.org

Read prompts below before starting your writing submission.

Writing Prompts

Grades 2-5: Letter-Writing (typed or handwritten)

Length: 1 page (Max 500 words)
Prizes: Top 3 Writers– $50 gift cards and the opportunity to be published in the “I Am Texas” Historian’s Journal which will become a permanent part of The Bryan Museum’s Library Collection

Write a letter to someone, past or present, who has contributed to Texas history or culture, or is your personal hero. The letter can be business or personal and can be about any topic; however, it should show that you understand the importance of this individual’s contribution to Texas or your Texas story.

Examples:

Thank someone for their contribution to Texas history
Request information about a specific part of a famous Texan’s life
Reveal a connection between your life and the life of the person you are writing to

Grades 6-8: Fiction or Non-Fiction (typed)

Length: 250 – 1000 words
Prizes: Top 3 Writers – $100 gift cards and the opportunity to be published in the “I Am Texas” Historian’s Journal which will become a permanent part of The Bryan Museum’s Library Collection

Use an artwork or artifact from The Bryan Museum collection as inspiration for fiction or non-fiction writing, such as literary, informational, argumentative, correspondence or personal essay. For some examples, check out the 2026 featured artifacts. Note: Using a featured artifact does not increase your chances of winning.

Grades 9-12: Fiction or Non-Fiction (typed)

Length: 500- 1500words
Prizes:
1^st – $1000
2^nd – $500
3^rd – $250
4th – $125

Winners will also have the opportunity to be published in the “I Am Texas” Historian’s Journal which will become a permanent part of The Bryan Museum’s Library Collection.