JustWrite Competition
05/11/2026
The event will also feature keynote presentations by Mindy McGinnis, an Edgar Award-winning young adult author, and Siaara Freeman, poet laureate for Cleveland Heights and University Heights.
JustWrite State Tournament to bring more than 400 student writers to Bluffton University
More than 400 high school writers from across Ohio and Michigan will gather at Bluffton University on Monday, May 18, for the JustWrite State Tournament, a day-long creative writing competition and literacy event hosted in partnership with JustWrite, Inc.
Now in its seventh season, the tournament serves as the culminating event for regional competitions held throughout Ohio and Michigan. Students in grades 9-12 qualified for the state tournament through top performances at regional events.
Throughout the day, students will compete in three timed rounds of creative narrative writing based on assigned prompts and genres. While judges evaluate submissions, students will participate in workshops led by authors and teaching artists focused on creative writing, literacy and the arts.
The event will also feature keynote presentations by Mindy McGinnis, an Edgar Award-winning young adult author, and Siaara Freeman, poet laureate for Cleveland Heights and University Heights.
Tournament activities will include welcome remarks from representatives of Bluffton University and JustWrite, writing rounds, workshops, keynote presentations, an awards ceremony and post-event book signings.
Competition divisions include students in grades 9-10 and grades 11-12. Awards will recognize the top individual writers and teams in each division, along with an overall state champion.
“JustWrite exists for student writers,” said Michael Nelson, MRC, Executive Director of JustWrite. “We’re not asking teens to quietly submit a paper and hope someone reads it. We’re
inviting them into a full day where writing matters, where they write with purpose,
receive real feedback, learn from authors, and leave proud of what they created.”
Nelson shared that student writers frequently describe JustWrite as a defining experience. He shared the following quote from student writer, Rebecca
Gebhart:
“Thank you so much for the last four years of support” she writes. “Your passion is
an inspiration to me to keep writing and to attempt my dream of publication this fall.
I hope to see you one more time at States!”
JustWrite, Inc., is a nonprofit organization supporting teen literacy and creative writing through regional and state tournaments, workshops and literacy initiatives for high school students across Ohio and Michigan.
Driven by our peace-church tradition and a focus on developing students for life as well as vocation, Bluffton has spent 125 years learning, experiencing and bettering the world together.
Located on a 65-acre residential campus in northwest Ohio and lined with abundant natural beauty, Bluffton University offers more than 90 majors, minors and programs for undergraduate students. Bluffton also offers graduate programs in business administration (MBA), dietetics (MND), education (MAEd) and social work (MSW).
Founded in 1899 and affiliated with Mennonite Church USA, Bluffton graduates are prepared for life; 94 percent are employed, in graduate school or completing voluntary service within six months of graduation.