"The ongoing legacy of our former writers' success attests
to the long-term impact of this valuable program."
~ Erika Pfeiffer, Power of the Pen Coach, Shaker Heights Middle School

Your 7th and 8th grade students learn writing skills that last a lifetime in Power of the Pen, an Ohio-wide interscholastic writing program. Nearly 300 schools across Ohio currently participate in Power of the Pen district, regional, and state creative writing tournaments. These schools form Power of the Pen teams and creative writing clubs to practice for tournaments held in the winter and spring.

Registration is open beginning September 1, 2022, with an early bird deadline of October 15. Schools can appoint a faculty advisor, staff member, or qualified volunteer to support the school’s young writers on a Power of the Pen team during the 2022-2023 academic year.

Tournaments will be held in person in 2022-2023. Check out the region map and tournament schedule for convenient tournament locations for your school, and visit the Registration overview page for more information.

Photo credit (above): Shaker Life Magazine

New Region Has Tournaments in Licking, Tuscarawas, and Muskingum Counties

Students from schools in Southeast Ohio have a new, nearby option for participating in Power of the Pen in 2022-2023 with the opening of our newest region!

Led by Regional Director Paula McWilliams, the region serves 21 counties, with district tournaments at Licking Heights Middle School in Pataskala and Claymont Middle School in Uhrichsville and a regional at Ohio University Zanesville.

Visit the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio's site and sign up for their newsletter for funding opportunities for Appalachian schools interested in participating in Power of the Pen.

Thank you to the Foundation for Appalachian Ohio, Haman Family Foundation, and the Reeves Foundation for funding the new region.