The contest for 2026 is officially closed. We will post the winning stories at the end of April. Check back here!
Celebrating Jack London’s 150th Birthday!
Born 150 years ago, Jack London lived just 40 short years—but in that brief time, he produced more than 50 novels and short stories that captivated readers around the world. His works have since been translated into over 70 languages, and he is widely celebrated as a master of the short story. This contest honors that powerful literary legacy by inviting talented young writers to create original short fiction of their own.
This year, we’re doing something a little different.
In celebration of Jack London’s 150th birthday, contestants are invited to re-imagine the ending of one of his most famous novels, The Call of the Wild (1903). Writers will step into the final pages of the story and imagine what happens next—carrying Jack’s world forward through their own creative vision.
Click here for the official contest flyer, including rules, guidelines, and the full writing prompt.
All stories are judged blindly by volunteers who do not work for Jack London Park Partners nor California State Parks.
You can view the winning stories from 2025 here:
1st place: Patches – Written by Hudson Wagner, 7th grade at Wagner Middle Homeschool, Langhorne, PA
2nd place: Tahoe to Yosemite– Aiyana Myers, 8th grade at Bidwell Jr. High School, Chico, CA
3rd place: Surviving the Wilderness – Written by Daniel Winward, 8th grade at St. Margaret’s School, Narberth, PA