100 Word Essay — Examples & Writing Tips
Composing a 100-word essay is not always as simple as it appears at first glance. The challenge lies in conveying the idea in just 100 words. Such a word limit requires you to be selective about the information you intend to cover in your writing.
A teacher may assign such a short essay to assess students’ understanding of the topic and the ability to express their thoughts clearly and concisely. A 100-word limit is common for discussion board posts and personal statements for a college application.
In this article, you’ll find a writing guide for a 100-word essay. You’ll also discover plenty of topics, prompts, and examples of 100-word papers. And if you want to see even more samples for inspiration, check out our free essay database .
- 👍 Best Essay Examples on 100 Words
⭐ 100 Words Examples
- 📖 Essay Topics in Literature
- 📝 Essay Examples on Social Issues
- 👤 Examples about Historical Figures
- 📕 Personal Narrative Topics
- ✍️ How to Write a 100-word Essay
- 👨💼 Examples on Business
🌐 History of the Internet in 100 Words
- 🎓 Essay Examples on Education
- ⚖️ Controversial Short Essay Topics
49 Best Essay Examples on 100 Words
Alibaba.com dominance in b2b market in china.
- Subjects: Business Case Study
Cooties Tag as a Children’s Fictional Disease
- Subjects: Cultural Studies Culture
Monopoly Pricing Strategies in Case of Competition
- Subjects: Business Strategic Marketing
Supervising and Human Resource Management
- Subjects: Business Employees Management
Wal-Mart Financial Analysis
- Subjects: Business Marketing
Theories and Hypotheses in Nursing Research
- Subjects: Health & Medicine Healthcare Research
Destination for a Business Trip: Dubai
“still life” painting by luc tuymans.
- Subjects: Art Paintings
“Family Home: Suburban Exterior” Painting by Arkley
The importance of physical exercises for adults.
- Subjects: Fitness Sports
Succession Planning: the Carlson Companies
- Subjects: Business Employee Relationships
James Baldwin: “White No Longer”
- Subjects: Literature World Literature
Landscape Consciousness in Art
- Subjects: Art Photography
“The Stillness” Painting by Ugo Rondinone
“camden park” painting by stephen bush, “apprehensions” by ted hughes: poem analysis.
- Subjects: Literature Poems
“Habitual” by Nate Marshall: Poem Analysis
Proverbs of hell, employment issues: economic progress.
- Subjects: Economic Development Economics
The Poem “Still, I Rise” by Maya Angelou
The poem “ballad of the landlord” by langston hughes, the poem “the negro speaks of rivers” by langston hughes, the poem “the weary blues” by langston hughes, is tipping a police officer a bribe.
- Subjects: Law Law Ethics
Professional Sociological Associations
- Subjects: Sociological Issues Sociology
Aspects of Nursing Concept Mapping
- Subjects: Health & Medicine Nursing
The Qualitative Research Design
- Subjects: Sciences Scientific Method
The SpICP-MS Approach: Paraphrasing
- Subjects: Math Sciences
“Life After Death” by Ted Hughes: Poem Analysis
“the hidden power of smiling” ted talk by gutman.
- Subjects: Rhetoric Sociology
Analysis of Disney+ Value Proposition
- Subjects: Business Company Analysis
The “Eldorado” Poem Analysis by Edgar Allan Poe
Precis on the “superhero smackdown” by douglas wolk.
- Subjects: Entertainment & Media Pop Culture
Overreaching Products, Suffering Sales
- Subjects: Branding Business
Philosophical Assumptions and Interpretive Frameworks
- Subjects: Life Philosophy Philosophy
“The Addict” by Anne Sexton: Poem Analysis
“the curve of the bridge” painting by grace cossington smith, abortion as a constitutional right of us women.
- Subjects: Health & Medicine Medical Ethics
Climate Change in Canada
- Subjects: Climate Change Environment
Unemployment and Underemployment
The consequences of school cheating.
- Subjects: Psychological Influences Psychology
The Study of the Anthropology of Food
- Subjects: Anthropology Sciences
The Issue of the “Cuisine” Concept
- Subjects: Diet & Nutrition World Cuisines & Food Culture
American Fast Food in Foreign Countries
- Subjects: Diet & Nutrition Fast Food
Food Insecurity: Key Principles
- Subjects: Diet & Nutrition Food Safety
Human Health: Impact of Climate Change
Researching of offshore businesses.
- Subjects: Business Management
McDonald’s Company: Bandwagon Technique
- Subjects: Advertising Entertainment & Media
Krishna Das (Jeffrey Kagel)
- Subjects: Art Singers
- “Life After Death” by Ted Hughes: Poem Analysis The poem “Life After Death” by Ted Hughes is a hymn of the sharpest grief and devastation that can only appear after losing the dearest and beloved person.
- McDonald’s Company: Bandwagon Technique For instance, McDonald’s company is one of the companies that have traditionally used the approach to attract more customers. This approach is quite effective in creating a positive appeal on various products because most people […]
- Precis on the “Superhero Smackdown” by Douglas Wolk Wolk compares Marvel and DC to settle the eternal dispute between the admirers of DC and Marvel once and for all.
- Analysis of Disney+ Value Proposition This format manages to grasp the very essence of the 21st-century spirit and combines high-tech solutions with the familiar methods of pastime.
- The “Eldorado” Poem Analysis by Edgar Allan Poe The structure of the poem is AABCCB. Edgar Allan Poe vastly uses metaphors and sight sensory in the poem.
- “The Hidden Power of Smiling” TED Talk by Gutman Another peculiarity of the speech is the fact that the speaker does not get distracted when switching through the slides. He does not look at the screen, and it adds credibility to the information.
- “The Addict” by Anne Sexton: Poem Analysis In the poem “The Addict,” Anne Sexton vividly describes the experiences and feelings of an addicted person who is not understood by other people and struggles with the addiction. Thus, the poem creates a vivid […]
- Overreaching Products, Suffering Sales The decision to rebrand the industry is always one of the hardest ones for the company, implying the scope of investment and the possibilities of recuperation in the near future.
- Philosophical Assumptions and Interpretive Frameworks The knowledge itself that those assumptions exist and vary allows people to perceive their own biases and question whether or not these biases influence their judgment.
- “The Curve of the Bridge” Painting by Grace Cossington Smith Title: The curve of the bridge Year: 1928-1929 Medium: Oil on cardboard Location: The Art Gallery of NSW, Australia Author: Grace Cossington Smith Grace Cossington Smith is known to be one of the first […]
📖 100 Words Essay in Literature
- Cinderella story in 100 words. In your 100-word essay, summarize the key plot points and conflicts of the story. Highlight the theme of family and love and analyze the influence of “Cinderella” on readers.
- King Lear summary in 100 words. Describe the tragic elements of Shakespeare’s play in your writing. Then, focus on the parent-child relationship conflict to identify the social and political commentary of the author.
- Hamlet summary in 100 words. Outline the Shakespeare’s Hamlet narrative and the major themes the author highlights in the play. You can also provide examples of symbolism and its role in understanding the story.
- Othello summary in 100 words. Give a concise summary of pivot events in Shakespeare’s play. In addition, you can analyze the main character’s emotions and the conflict between passion and love.
- Pride and Prejudice short summary in 100 words. Reflect on Jane Austen’s story, focusing on its perspectives on social life, particularly the institution of marriage .
The Necklace Summary in 100 Words
- The essence of true happiness in The Necklace.
- How does Guy de Maupassant highlight the importance of honesty in The Necklace?
- The theme of poisonous pleasure in The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant.
- The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant and examples of symbolism.
- The role of fate in The Necklace.
Essay on Golden Temple in 100 Words
- The constructional peculiarities of the Golden Temple.
- The Golden Temple: the history and architecture.
- The Golden Tempel as the central worship place for the Sikhs.
- What are the challenges of preserving the Golden Temple as a sacred place?
- The historical value of the Golden Temple.
Macbeth Summary in 100 Words
- The role of omens in Shakespeare’s play Macbeth.
- Macbeth: the concept of betrayal.
- Ambition as a core theme in Macbeth.
- Supernatural elements in the play Macbeth.
- The value of power based on Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
The Tempest Summary in 100 Words
- The symbol of isolation in The Tempest by William Shakespeare.
- The Tempest: analysis of the main characters.
- The Tempest as a story of the magical loss and restoration of man’s power.
- What is the purpose of the epilogue in The Tempest?
- The primary themes of The Tempest.
Character Sketch of Othello in 100 Words
- Othello as a tragic hero in Shakespeare’s play.
- The peculiarities of Othello’s language and rhetoric.
- The impact of Iago on Othello’s character development.
- The role of Othello’s soliloquies in his revealing.
- The romantic relationships in Othello’s life.
The Gift of the Magi Summary in 100 Words
- The main symbols of the story The Gift of the Magi.
- What is the positive impact of The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry?
- The Gift of the Magi: analysis of the story structure.
- The theme of love and sacrifice in O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi.
- The analysis of key characters in The Gift of the Magi.
📝 100 Word Essay on Social Issues
- Abortion as a Constitutional Right of US Women An abortion is the termination of pregnancy with the help of medicinal drugs or surgical interventions before the birth of the fetus.
- Unemployment and Underemployment This decision became a major step in relieving the social strain and allowing millions of people to survive the economic hardships caused by the imposed restrictions
- Climate Change in Canada The Harper government has done little to ensure implementation of the agreements to reduce emissions. Since governments around the globe have failed in their commitment to reduce emissions, going green remains the only option.
👤 100 Words Essay Examples about Historical Figures
- Krishna Das (Jeffrey Kagel) He is famous for compositions and performances in a music genre known as kirtan. Das is the most famous American singer of the kirtan genre of Hindu music.
Essay on Isaac Newton in 100 Words
- English physicist and mathematician.
- Known for his discoveries in optics and mathematics.
- Formulation of the three laws of motion.
- Notable works: Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica.
Biography of Robert Frost in 100 Words
- American poet, poet laureate (1958-1959).
- Known for his depictions of the rural life of New England.
- Peculiarities of writing style: realistic verse portraying ordinary people in everyday situations.
- Notable works: A Boy’s Will, After Apple-Picking.
Hitler Essay 100 Words
- Dictator of Germany.
- Führer und Reichskanzler.
- Responsible for WWII, the Holocaust, and the Nazi regime.
- Known for aggressive expansionist policies.
📕 Ideas for a 100 Word Personal Narrative
- Introduce yourself essay sample: 100 words. Briefly describe your background, interests, and aspirations, providing a glimpse into what defines you as a person.
- 100-word essay on why I deserve a scholarship. Share your achievements, experiences, and goals and explain how they demonstrate your suitability for a scholarship.
- Why this college: essay 100 words. Describe what specific aspects of the college resonate with you. These can be academic programs, campus culture, or unique opportunities.
- 100-word essay on career goals examples. Outline your envisioned career path. Explain what profession you want to pursue, the skills you want to develop, and the impact you wish to make in your chosen field.
- My favorite food essay 100 words. Share a vivid and sensory-rich description of your favorite dish, explaining what makes it so special to you.
- My hobby essay 100 words. Describe the hobby that gives you joy and fulfillment. Provide details on why it captivates your interest and how it has enriched your life.
- My dream house paragraph 100 words. Paint a picture of your ideal living space, detailing its location, design, and the feelings it evokes when you imagine residing there.
- Practice makes perfect: essay 100 words. Reflect on your experience of honing a particular skill through dedicated practice. Your reflection should illustrate how you achieved growth and proficiency through persistence and determination.
✍️ How to Write a 100 Word Essay
One hundred words take approximately 6-10 sentences. Despite this limited word count, it is necessary to stick to the structure and include the most critical elements of the essay, such as the introduction, thesis statement, main body with core arguments, and conclusion. Also, planning your paragraphs in advance will help you make your essay well-composed and avoid exceeding the word limit.
Need help structuring your essay? Check out our free outline generator !
100-Words Essay Thesis Statement
Writing a full-fledged introductory paragraph is challenging in such a short essay. For this reason, you have full authority to use your thesis statement as an intro for your writing. It must take around 1-2 sentences and provide the reader with information about the topic of your essay and the arguments you will present in the body.
If you need help developing a strong thesis, try our thesis statement maker ! You can also use our hook generator to capture your readers’ interest with the first sentence and the research introduction generator to get an example of a compelling introduction.
Body Paragraph in 100 Essay Words
The main body of your 100-word essay should take one separate paragraph of 4-5 sentences long. Regardless of your essay topic, your body paragraph must present only one core point, supported by 2-3 sentences. To make the most of your 100-word limit, it is also a good idea to utilize longer, descriptive words rather than filler terms.
100-Word Essay Conclusion
The conclusion of your 100-word essay should take approximately 1-2 sentences, with a smooth transition from your main body. In the last part of your writing, you should return to the thesis stated at the beginning of your essay and emphasize how you supported it with your argument.
You can use our closing sentence generator to end your essay on a high note.
How Many References Should I Use in an Essay of 100 Words?
There are no specific requirements for the number of sources in a 100-word essay, but on average, 1 reference is enough. However, if you borrow ideas or unique terms from more than one author, you must cite all of them in your paper.
Feel free to use our citation generator for help with formatting your references.
100 Words Paragraph — Writing Tips
We’ve prepared some tips that can be helpful when writing an essay in 100 words:
- Choose the topic you are interested in to write a high-quality paper.
- Before composing the text, ensure you have enough information to write it.
- Remove all distractions and temptations and concentrate on the writing process.
- Stick to the requirements and guidelines from your teacher.
- To shorten your essay, remove unimportant or repetitive phrases.
- Double-check the paper multiple times before submitting it to ensure clarity and avoid any potential mistakes.
👨💼 100 Words Paragraph on Business
- Human Resource Development: Positive and Negative Aspects The negative experience associated with my job as an accountant was related to the fact that the HRD head of the company did not regularly interact with employees.
- Employee Performance Software and Its Benefits The implementation of Employee Performance Software may seem to increase the quality of work that employees execute. Through the inclusion of EPS in worker-evaluation rubrics, companies may obtain a more productive organizational structure that is […]
Looking for a 100-word essay example? Check out this essay on the history of the Internet in 100 words.
Essay example:
The Internet began in the 1960s as a means for government researchers to share data. The first computers were enormous and immovable, needing personal presence or postal services to share data.
The ARPANET was the forerunner of the modern Internet. It was first restricted to a few universities and research institutions, which complicated the process of its use. On January 1, 1983, inventors introduced the TCP/IP protocol, allowing disparate computer networks to connect worldwide. This marked the formal birth of the Internet, forever transforming how people access and exchange information.
Nowadays, the Internet has become an essential aspect of modern life, linking people, businesses, and devices around the world.
Here are two more 100-word essay examples about the Internet. Check them out:
🎓 100 Words Essay Example on Education
- Essay about face-to-face classes 100 words. Explore the benefits and drawbacks of face-to-face courses, considering factors like peer collaboration, student-teacher interaction, and educational outcomes.
- Importance of homework essay 100 words. Study the role of homework in reinforcing classroom concepts and fostering a sense of responsibility in students.
- Make a 50-100 words essay about the importance of research. Examine how research in education helps develop effective teaching methods, improve the curriculum, and enhance the learning experience.
- Schools in the UAE for Children of Expatriates Western expatriates could choose International schools and later transition to community schools after children are accustomed to the culture and language.
- The Consequences of School Cheating Cheating also leads to corrupted morals since students begin to cheat more frequently and try to rationalize their dishonesty. Academic dishonesty also affects personal relationships since friends and family can begin to question one’s honesty […]
- Philosophy Teaching and Learning Motivation The best method to teach and be close to students is being receptive to their criticisms. The teacher’s goal should be to always have students understand the lesson but not its end.
⚖️ Controversial Short Essays 100 Words
Check out the list of controversial topics for a short essay (100 words) with possible arguments for and against:
Essay on Food Waste 100 Words
- For: We should care about food waste because it contributes significantly to climate change, accounting for around 10% of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions.
- Against: The war on food waste is challenging because it takes much time, resources, and company money. As a result, buyers frequently pay extra for recycled items.
Can Money Buy Happiness: Essay 100 Words
- For: Money gives access to necessities, such as healthcare and education. It can buy safety and security for you and those you care about.
- Against: Happiness often depends on things money cannot buy, such as love, hope, support, friendship, etc.
Organ Donation Essay 100 Words
- For: Organ donation is vital since it saves lives and gives transplant recipients hope. It can aid a family in coping with their loss if they know their loved one is saving other people’s lives.
- Against: Organ donation can lead to the exploitation of donors, illegal organ trafficking, and kidnapping or murder.
Dream and Reality Paragraph 100 Words
- For: Dreams motivate people to work harder toward their goals. Also, dreaming helps improve memory and emotional healing.
- Against: Excessive dreaming can lead to dissatisfaction with reality and impractical expectations.
Role of Volunteering in Society 100 Words
- For: Volunteering aids in community building and addressing social problems. Volunteers can also develop valuable skills, achieve personal fulfillment, and gain health benefits.
- Against: Volunteering can be exploited since some organizations may rely too heavily on volunteers.
📌 100 Word Essay: Answers to the Most Pressing Questions
📌 100 word essay is how many pages.
How long is a 100-word essay? It will typically be one page double-spaced or a half page single-spaced. The exact number of pages a 100 words essay takes will depend on the citation style you use, the number of your footnotes (if you have any), and the length of your bibliography section.
📌 How Many Paragraphs Are in a 100 Word Essay?
How many paragraphs is a 100-word essay? Since a typical paragraph in academic writing contains 50-100 words, an essay of 100 words will consist of 1 to 3 paragraphs.
📌 How Many Sentences Is 100 Words?
How many sentences is a 100-word essay? A typical sentence in academic writing consists of 15-20 words. So, 100 words is not less than 5-8 sentences.
📌 How to Outline a 100-Word Essay?
When you write a 100-word essay, proper planning is the key to success. Such a short piece will consist of three to five concise paragraphs. A 100-word paper outline can contain a short introduction with background information, 1-3 body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
📌 How Long Does It Take to Write 100 Words?
How long does it take to write a 100-word essay? It will take you 2-4 minutes to type 100 words on your keyboard (the total time will depend on your typing speed). Writing an academic paper will take more time because you’ll have to research, make an outline, write, format, and edit your text. It would be best if you planned to spend not less than 20 minutes for a 100-word paper.
📌 What Does a 100 Word Essay Look Like?
Regardless of the exact word count, a well-written essay meets several characteristics. It should cover the assigned topic, answer the research question, and follow the standard structure. A 100-word essay outline usually consists of an introduction, body paragraphs, and a conclusion.
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Tiny Memoir Contest for Students: Write a 100-Word Personal Narrative
We invite teenagers to tell a true story about a meaningful life experience in just 100 words. Contest dates: Nov. 6 to Dec. 4, 2024.
By The Learning Network
Illustrations from Modern Love’s Tiny Love Stories , the inspiration for this contest.
Note: Our judges will only read submissions received via the form below. They will not be reading comments on this post.
Can you tell a meaningful and interesting true story from your life in just 100 words? That’s the challenge we pose to teenagers with our 100-Word Personal Narrative Contest, a storytelling form popularized by Modern Love’s Tiny Love Stories series .
After running this contest for two years, receiving a total of more than 25,000 entries, and honoring dozens of excellent miniature teen-written memoirs, we have discovered the answer is a resounding yes .
So, we challenge you to try it yourself.
We’re not asking you to write to a particular theme or to use a specific structure or style, but we are looking for short, powerful stories about a particular moment or event in your life. We want to hear your story, told in your unique voice, and we hope you’ll experiment with style and form to tell a tale that matters to you, in a way you enjoy telling it.
And, yes, it’s possible to do all that in only 100 words. For proof, just look at last year’s 15 winning entries . We also have a step-by-step guide full of advice that is grounded in 25 excellent 100-word mentor texts, as well as a rehearsal space , published for our first year’s contest, that has over 1,000 student-written mini memoirs. Because that space was so successful, we’re keeping it open for this year’s contest. We hope students will use it to get inspiration, experiment and encourage each other.
Take a look at the full guidelines and related resources below. Please post any questions you have in the comments and we’ll answer you there, or write to us at [email protected]. And, consider hanging this PDF one-page announcement on your class bulletin board.
Here’s what you need to know:
Resources for teachers and students, frequently asked questions, submission form.
Please read these rules carefully before submitting an entry. You can find more details in the Frequently Asked Questions section below.
Your tiny memoir should be a short, powerful, true story about a meaningful experience from your own life.
It must be 100 words or fewer, not including the title.
You must be a student ages 13 to 19 in middle school or high school to participate, and all students must have parent or guardian permission to enter. Please see the F.A.Q. section for additional eligibility details.
The work should be fundamentally your own — it should not be plagiarized, written by someone else or generated by artificial intelligence.
Your piece should also be original for this contest, meaning, it should not have been published anywhere else at the time of submission, such as in a school newspaper.
Keep your audience in mind. You’re writing for a family newspaper, so, for example, no curse words, please.
Only one entry per student is allowed. And while many of our contests allow students to work in teams, for this one you must work alone.
As part of your submission, you must also submit an “artist’s statement” that describes your process. These statements, which will not be used to choose finalists, help us to design and refine our contests. See the F.A.Q. below to learn more.
All entries must be submitted by Dec. 4, 2024, at 11:59 p.m. Pacific using the submission form at the bottom of this post.
How do you write a tiny memoir? Check out these helpful resources:
The winners of our 2022 and 2023 100-word narrative contest: Read these 28 teen-written memoirs on difficult friendships, first loves, embarrassing moments, and much more.
A step-by-step guide for writing a 100-word narrative : This guide walks you through six steps, from reading examples of tiny memoirs, to brainstorming your own meaningful life moments, to writing and editing your final piece.
Writing prompts: Our step-by-step guide has a related PDF full of prompts to help students brainstorm “meaningful moments” from their lives. If those aren’t enough, you can find many more questions to inspire you in our updated list of over 600 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing , our list of 125 Picture Prompts for Creative and Narrative Writing , and in our Writing Prompts column .
Two “rehearsal spaces” for teenagers to experiment: Two years ago, we published a student forum asking, “ What Story From Your Life Can You Tell in 100 Words? ” In it, we lead students through a few questions, and provide a few examples, to show them how. Last year we asked a new question: “ What Small Moments From Your Life Do You Think About Often? ” Both forums serve as a place for students to brainstorm topics and try out techniques, as well as find inspiration and encouragement for their writing.
Two lesson plans inspired by Times columns that tell tiny stories: Our main inspiration for this contest is Tiny Love Stories , a series from the Modern Love column that invites readers to submit 100-word stories about relationships. Here is a lesson plan that can help you teach and learn with this column. You can also find short memoirs in the Metropolitan Diary column , where readers submit tales about New York City. Here is a lesson plan and a writing prompt you can use to teach and learn with that feature.
A lesson plan on fixing wordy writing — in your personal narratives, or anywhere else.
A personal narrative writing unit : This unit includes mentor texts, writing prompts, lesson plans, videos and on-demand webinars that teach the skills essential for any kind of narrative writing. (Yes, they were developed for our original 600-word narrative contest, but the tips for making your writing shine apply to this format too.)
Our contest rubric : These are the criteria we will use to judge this contest. Keep them handy to make sure your piece meets all of the qualifications before entering.
Still have questions? Post your query in the comments or write to us at [email protected].
QUESTIONS ABOUT WRITING
What is a personal narrative?
A personal narrative is an essay about an experience from your life. It is a type of nonfiction writing, which means that whatever you choose to write about should be true. And keep in mind the “personal” in personal narrative; you should tell your own story, not someone else’s.
Personal narratives can take many different forms, but for this contest, we’re asking you to tell a story . That means you should focus on a particular moment. There should be a clear narrative arc — a beginning, a middle and an end — that is driven by a conflict of some kind, which eventually gets resolved or spurs an attempt at an ongoing life change.
Keep in mind, however, that any story from your life can work. It doesn’t have to be the most dramatic thing that has ever happened to you; it can, instead, be about baking brownies with your brother, or a conversation you had on Tuesday’s bus ride to school. What matters is that readers understand why this moment was meaningful to you and perhaps take away some greater meaning or message they can relate to.
Yes, all this can all be done even in 100 words, and our step-by-step guide , and our past winners , can show you how.
How can I make my 100-word narrative stand out?
While we are asking you to write your personal narrative in the form of a story, we’re not asking you to use a particular structure, style or tone. We hope this is where you’ll have fun.
We want to hear your story, told in your unique voice — with the words and phrases you use in your everyday life and your specific sense of humor and emotion. You might experiment with technique, such as dropping your reader into a scene, using details to show instead of tell, integrating dialogue purposefully, or trying out creative storytelling forms (read the winning story “ Baby Tim ” to see what we mean).
And remember, with only 100 words to tell your story, every word matters. The editors of Tiny Love Stories suggest approaching your piece as you would a poem, playing with sound, punctuation, sentence length and repetition to make each syllable count.
You can find examples of all of these writing moves and more in our past winning essays , as well as in our step-by-step guide for writing a 100-word narrative and our personal narrative writing unit .
I don’t know what to write about. Where should I start?
Everyone has a story to tell. Don’t believe us? Take a look at the winning mini memoirs from 2022 and 2023 to see the range of topics — big and small, serious and lighthearted, emotional and laugh-out-loud funny — that students wrote about.
Then you might respond to some writing prompts that get you thinking about meaningful moments from your own life. Start with our student forum “ What Story From Your Life Can You Tell in 100 Words? ” and this PDF of prompts taken from our step-by-step guide. For more inspiration, scroll through our list of 525 Prompts for Narrative and Personal Writing that includes questions about childhood memories, friendship, travel, social media, food, sports, school and more.
After you’ve responded to a few questions or categories that interest you, you might choose one that you enjoyed writing about to turn into your final memoir.
Where can I find examples of personal narratives in The Times?
The Times is full of personal narratives — on life , love , family , rites of passage , our animal friends , living with disabilities and navigating anxiety .
For examples of mini memoirs like the ones we’re asking you to write for this contest, look at Tiny Love Stories , a series from the Modern Love column that invites readers to submit 100-word stories about relationships, or Metropolitan Diary , a long-running column of short reader tales from New York City.
Plus, there are the winners of our 2022 and 2023 100-word narrative contest and our traditional Student Personal Narrative Contest from 2021 , 2020 and 2019 .
QUESTIONS ABOUT JUDGING
How will my 100-word narrative be judged?
Your work will be read by New York Times journalists as well as by Learning Network staff members and educators from around the United States. We will use this rubric to judge entries.
What’s the prize?
Having your work published on The Learning Network and being eligible to be chosen to have your work published in the print editions of The New York Times.
When will the winners be announced?
We plan to announce winners by early February 2025.
My essay wasn’t selected as a winner. Can you tell me why?
We typically receive thousands of entries for our contests, so unfortunately, our team does not have the capacity to provide individual feedback on each student’s essay.
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE RULES
Why are you asking for an Artist’s Statement about our process this year? What will you do with it?
All of us who work on The Learning Network are former teachers. One of the many things we miss, now that we work in a newsroom rather than a classroom, is being able to see how students are reacting to our “assignments” in real time — and to offer help, or tweaks, to make those assignments better. We’re asking you to reflect on what you did and why, and what was hard or easy about it, in large part so that we can improve our contests and the curriculum we create to support them.
Another reason? We have heard from many teachers that writing these statements is immensely helpful to students. Stepping back from a piece and trying to put into words what you wanted to express, and why and how you made artistic choices to do that, can help you see your piece anew and figure out how to make it stronger. For our staff, they offer important context that help us understand individual students and submissions, and learn more about the conditions under which kids around the world create.
We won’t be using your statements to choose our finalists, or publishing them alongside the winning work. Instead, they will strictly be for our staff to read. If we later decide to post something about student process using these statements, we will ask for your permission before quoting you. In other words, this is fairly informal; just be yourself and be honest in telling us as much as you can about how you worked and why.
Who is eligible to participate in this contest?
This contest is open to students ages 13 to 19 who are in middle school or high school around the world. College students cannot submit an entry. However, high school students (including high school postgraduate students) who are taking one or more college classes can participate. Students attending their first year of a two-year CEGEP in Quebec Province can also participate. In addition, students age 19 or under who have completed high school but are taking a gap year or are otherwise not enrolled in college can participate.
The children and stepchildren of New York Times employees are not eligible to enter this contest. Nor are students who live in the same household as those employees.
My piece was published in my school newspaper. Can I submit it to this contest?
No. We ask that your 100-word narrative be original for this contest. Please don’t submit anything you have already had published at the time of submission, whether in a school newspaper, for another contest or anywhere else.
Whom can I contact if I have questions about this contest or am having issues submitting my entry?
Leave a comment on this post or write to us at [email protected].
QUESTIONS ABOUT TEACHING WITH THIS CONTEST
I’m a teacher. What resources do you have to help me teach with this contest?
Start with our step-by-step guide for entering this contest and take a look at the winning entries from 2022 and 2023 .
We also have a full unit plan for personal narrative writing . It includes writing prompts, mentor texts, lesson plans and on-demand webinars that teach the narrative writing skills essential for this contest.
Do my students need a New York Times subscription to access these resources?
Students can get free access to Times pieces through The Learning Network . All the activities for students on our site, including mentor texts and writing prompts, plus the Times articles they link to, are free. Students can search for articles using the search tool on our home page.
However, if you are interested in learning more about school subscriptions, visit this page .
Please read the following carefully before you submit:
Students who are 13 and older in the United States or the United Kingdom, or 16 and older elsewhere in the world, can submit their own entries. Those who are 13 to 15 and live outside the United States or the United Kingdom must have an adult submit the entry on their behalf.
All students who are under 18 must provide a parent or guardian’s permission to enter.
You will not receive email confirmation of your submission. After you submit, you will see the message “Thank you for your submission.” That means we received your entry. If you need proof of entry for your teacher, please take a screenshot of that message.