A ballad is a poem that tells a story, usually in four-line stanzas. Whether you’re a poet by nature or a writer of incredible storylines, we’re sure this contest will prove to be a challenge to all. 

Here are the deets: Each quatrain’s rhyme scheme is typically abcb, though exceptions can be made. Ballads historically were sung, so having that sing-songy nature is a big plus. If you want to get super technical, ballads traditionally are written with common meter — alternating lines of iambic tetrameter (eight syllables) and iambic trimeter (six syllables). 

Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “The Rime of the Ancient Mariner” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “Annabel Lee” are famous examples of ballads.

Winner and honorable mentions will be published in Teen Ink magazine. The overall winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card!

Deadline: December 1, 2023

Rules:

• You must be a teen (aged 13-19) with a Teen Ink account to enter

• No inappropriate content

• Submissions must relate to the topic (Ballads)
  
  

Guidelines and Details: 

• There is no limit to the number of solutions you can submit

How to Submit: 

• Submit entries through our website. All entries submitted to Teen Ink are automatically considered for the contest. See our submission guidelines for more information.

• Submit your work to the "Ballad" category of Teen Ink. You can find this selection after selecting the initial "Article/Poetry" submission type.

• Include "Ballad" in your submission's tags. You can do this by using the "additional tags" field in your submission form.

Prizes: 

• Winner and honorable mentions will have their ballads published in Teen Ink magazine

• The overall winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card