You know what? I didn’t expect to care this much about a contest. But I did. I entered the Atlas Shrugged Essay Contest last year. I read the big book, wrote my essay, hit submit, and waited. It was a ride.
Why I Tried It
I heard there were real cash prizes. Big ones. More than that, I wanted a reason to finish the book. It sat on my shelf for months. Thick as a brick. A friend said, “If you want a serious writing challenge, this is it.” So I signed up.
Also, my English teacher offered extra credit. That didn’t hurt.
What It Actually Is
It’s a writing contest run by the Ayn Rand folks. You read Atlas Shrugged and answer one of their prompts. It’s for older students—high school seniors and up. Rules and dates change, so check them before you start. To see the current prompts, word counts, and prize tiers, visit the Ayn Rand Institute’s student essay contests page. When I entered, my essay had to be in a certain word range, and I had to pick one prompt. Simple on paper. Not so simple in practice.
I turned in a 1,320-word essay. I chose a prompt about the meaning of money in the book. The portal asked for my info, my school, and my file. I got a quick email that said “Thanks, we got it.” That was a relief.
How I Prepped (Spoiler: Sticky Tabs)
I read the book over six weeks. Small bites. I used neon tabs for key parts:
- Green for money and trade
- Blue for power and fear
- Pink for work and pride
I made a tiny spreadsheet—just chapter, page, and a short note. Example: “p. 387—Francisco’s speech, money as a tool, not evil.” Sounds nerdy, but it saved me later. I also wrote a simple thesis in my notes first: “In Atlas, money shows moral choices, not greed.” Clean and clear.
I kept a “cut pile” of lines I liked but didn’t need. It hurt to trim them. But it made my essay stronger. For extra perspective, I dipped into some archived analyses on Full Context, which let me see how seasoned Objectivist commentators unpack Rand’s tougher themes.
What I Wrote About (Real Details)
I picked the money speech by Francisco d’Anconia. It’s famous. I pulled three small quotes and tied them to real choices in the book:
- How Hank Rearden pays fairly and takes the heat
- How James Taggart hides and blames others
- How Dagny treats deals like a promise, not a trick
I had one paragraph where I slipped into plot summary. Rookie move. I cut it down and added this line: “A deal means work for value, not guilt for power.” That tied it back to my point.
I used simple structure:
- Intro with my thesis
- Three body parts (one for each character)
- A short wrap-up with one line about why it still matters
I read it aloud. Twice. I cut 312 words. That was painful, but the essay finally breathed.
Submitting: The Messy Part
The site ran fine for me. Upload and done. But I waited a long time for results. Weeks. Then more weeks. I didn’t place. I got a polite email. No feedback, which is normal for these contests. Still, I wished for one line of notes, even a small one.
I won’t lie—I was bummed for a day. Then I read my essay again with fresh eyes and felt proud. It was clean work.
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The Good Stuff
- It pushed me to read a long book with care.
- The prompts were clear. Not fluffy.
- I learned to pick a lane and argue it.
- My writing got sharper—fewer filler words, tighter quotes.
- The stakes felt real. That helped me focus.
The Hard Stuff
- The book is long. Heavy, too. You need time.
- The ideas are bold and loud. Some parts felt preachy. I had to keep my cool.
- The judges expect clear logic. Not vibes. Not plot recap.
- No feedback. You may never know how close you were.
- The wait for results felt endless.
What Helped Me Win (Well, Not Win, But You Get It)
- I stopped summarizing the story. I argued a point.
- I used few quotes, but I explained them.
- I put page notes in my draft, then cleaned them up.
- I read it out loud. Awkward, but it works.
- I asked the writing center to check clarity, not style.
My Simple Tips If You’re Going for It
- Pick one theme and stay there.
- Track quotes as you read. Two lines per scene max.
- Draft fast, cut slow.
- Use topic sentences that hook, not hum.
- End with one clean line that feels earned.
If you’re busy, start your reading early. I did a chapter over lunch and another at night. On Saturdays, I did two and made pancakes. Bribery helps.
Who Should Skip It
If you hate long reads, skip it. If you don’t want to think about big ideas—work, pride, guilt, power—skip it. If you want quick wins, skip it.
Who Should Try It
If you like strong claims and clean logic, try it. If you want a serious writing sample for your portfolio, try it. If you like arguing (nicely) about money, values, and responsibility, this is your scene.
If you're wondering how Objectivist principles play out beyond the page—say, in dating—take a look at this firsthand account of Objectivist dating.
A Small Digression (But It Matters)
I brought the book to a coffee shop during a heat wave. The barista laughed at the size. I told her I was writing for a contest. She said, “Then write like you mean it.” Funny thing—best note I got all summer.
Final Take
Would I do it again? Yep. I learned more from not placing than from some A-papers. It made me a stricter editor and a braver writer. I’ll give the contest 4 out of 5 stars. Big ask. Big payoff. Long wait.
If you enter, read with a pencil, not with fear. Say one thing well. And keep a cut pile. Your future self will thank you.