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Essay Contest

Launch engaging essay contests or writing competitions using this simple Gleam template.

Perfect for brands, nonprofits, schools, and content platforms looking to run scholarship essay contests, creative writing challenges, or short story submissions online.

Participants submit their essays directly via the embedded widget. You can review submissions, download files, and pick winners manually or randomly. Boost reach by adding actions like following you on social media or referring friends for bonus entries.

Tip
  • Share clear submission guidelines including essay length, theme, and accepted formats
  • Promote the contest on channels that reach students and young writers (email, school newsletters, literary blogs)
  • Offer cash prizes, recognition, or publication as winning incentives
  • Ask entrants to follow your brand or refer others to enter for bonus entries
  • Accept essays in PDF, DOCX, or plain text via the Gleam file upload action

Template Features

  • Accept essay submissions via file upload (PDF, Word, or text)
  • Add bonus entry actions such as follows, visits, and referrals
  • Optional entry fields like name, grade, or school for student competitions
  • Display a thank you message after submission
  • Fully responsive and embeddable on any site or hosted on Gleam

This template is ideal for high school students, bloggers, educators, and literary magazines that want to manage essay submissions with ease.

Benefits of Hosting an Essay Competition

Whether you are running a scholarship essay contest or a creative writing competition, Gleam makes the process seamless:

  • Collect entries in a secure, GDPR-compliant environment
  • Build your email list or social media following with extra entry actions
  • Promote creativity and critical thinking among your target audience
  • Encourage viral reach by awarding bonus entries for referrals
  • Offer cash prizes, recognition, or publication in a literary magazine

This is a great opportunity to engage young people, grow your brand, and support talented writers.

Who Should Use This Template

  • Educational platforms running school or college essay competitions
  • Scholarship programs looking to gather personal essay submissions
  • Nonprofits and brands running themed contests around social issues or awareness
  • Content marketers seeking authentic stories from customers or niche communities
  • Literary organisations looking to collect submissions for short story or poetry contests
  • Institutions promoting students to write competitions to scholarships.

If your audience includes students, writers, or readers, this is an excellent way to generate interest while collecting high-quality content. Using this Template will make easier for contestants writing contest essays and submit them.

Submission Guidelines (Example)

You can adjust these inside your campaign description:

  • Theme: "The Power of Creativity" or “How I Define Success”
  • Word Count: 500–1000 words
  • Format: PDF, DOCX, or TXT
  • Eligibility: Open to students aged 14–21
  • Deadline: August 30, 2025
  • Prizes: $250 gift card + featured publication + honorable mentions

Integration Support

This contest template supports:

You can also export your entrants to CRM or email platforms using our integrations.

Official Gleam Documentation

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is An Essay Contest And How Does It Work?

An essay contest is a competition where participants write and submit essays on a specific topic to win prizes. Expand this FAQ for tips on judging, formats, and submission tools.

What Are The Best Topics For Essay Contests?

Great essay topics are relevant, thought-provoking, and tied to your brand or campaign goals. Expand this FAQ to see example prompts.

How Long Should An Essay Entry Be?

A typical contest essay is between 300–1000 words. Expand this FAQ to understand how to set guidelines and what to consider for different audiences.

Are Essay Contests Effective For Lead Generation?

Yes, essay contests can generate high-quality leads by collecting user data during submissions. Expand this FAQ for best practices.

Can I Run An Essay Contest For Students Only?

Yes, you can restrict your essay contest to students by using eligibility fields and verification rules. Expand this FAQ to learn how.


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How to Set Up Your Essay Contest

  1. Set the Entry Action to File Upload
    Allow users to upload their written entry as a document or text file.
    Set up Upload Action

  2. Include Custom Fields for Context
    Add optional fields such as name, grade, school name, or country.
    Use Custom Fields

  3. Display Submission Rules Clearly
    Use the description field or Gleam content block to share length, format, and topic requirements.

  4. Add Bonus Entry Actions
    Encourage entrants to join your email list, follow your social media, or share with friends.
    Enable Viral Sharing

  5. Install and Promote Your Contest
    Share the campaign on your website or use Gleam’s hosted landing page. Promote via email, blog posts, or school outreach.
    Embed or Install

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Essay Contest

Launch engaging essay contests or writing competitions using this simple Gleam template.

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