The Malaysia Young Author Award (MYAA) is a prestigious English story writing workshop and competition that empowers young writers to find their voice and share their stories. Our mission? To nurture the next generation of thinkers and writers.
Over the course of a fun and inspiring four-day online live workshop, participants will learn to craft compelling original stories, build stronger vocabulary, and master the art of descriptive writing.
After the workshop, they’ll have three weeks to submit their final work for a chance to be published, represent Malaysia in the Asia Young Author Award (AYAA), and unlock exciting opportunities — from being a junior judge to writing for the Young Reader Club.
Register by August 23, 2026 to begin your writing journey!
The Malaysia Young Author Award 2026 is open to all Malaysian students aged 10 to 18 who are passionate about storytelling and writing in English.
Students should enroll according to their year of birth to ensure a fair and age-appropriate experience.
Junior Category
• For students aged 10 to 13 (born between 2013 to 2016)
Senior Category
• For students aged 14 to 18 (born between 2008 to 2012)
Program Fee: RM250 per student
• 4-Day Online Story Writing Workshop
• Story submission to the Malaysia Young Author Award (MYAA)
Seats are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis upon receipt of payment.
Payment Details
Please transfer the applicable fee to the account below:
• Bank Name: Alliance Bank
• Account Number: 120880013031591
• Account Name: Caya Education Sdn Bhd
• Please include the student’s full name in the payment reference.
Important Note
Fees are non-refundable once payment has been made. However, you may choose to transfer the seat to another eligible student if needed. Please inform us in advance if a substitution is required.
Please ensure all registration forms and payments are submitted by 11:59 PM, 23 August 2026 — or earlier, as seats are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Mode: Online via Zoom
Dates: 5, 6, 12 & 13 September 2026
Session Duration: 2 hours each
Time Slots:
• Ages 10–13: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
• Ages 14–18: 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Workshop Agenda:
• What is the Theme of My Story?
• Analyzing Winning Stories
• Planning My Story
Submission Deadline: 21 September 2026, 10:00 AM
Word Count:
• Junior: 1,000 – 1,200 words
• Senior: 1,200 – 1,500 words
Genres:
While there’s no specific theme you need to follow, please ensure your stories fit into one of the following genres.
• Aliens & Angels
• Animal Tales
• Asian Tales
• Ghosts & Ghouls
• Heart Warmers
• Magic & Fantasy
• Mystery & Adventure
Judges will evaluate based on:
• Creativity and imagination
• Originality
• Ability to draw reader’s attention
• Maintenance of interest
• Continuity and climax
• Stories must be original.
• No AI-generated or plagiarized content — tools will be used to check.
• Random interviews may be conducted to verify authorship.
• Submissions must be fully self-written.
Outstanding young writers will be selected from both Junior and Senior categories.
All Winners Receive:
• Cash Prize
• Coaching with Ms. Catherine Khoo
• Asia Young Author Award (AYAA) Nomination
• Certificate of Achievement
• Story published on our website
Prizes (per category):
🥇 First Prize: RM1,200 + 30-min personal coaching
🥈 Second Prize: RM800 + 30-min personal coaching
🥉 Third Prize: RM500 + 30-min personal coaching
🎖️ Consolation (10 winners): RM50 + 1-hour group coaching
All participants receive a Certificate of Participation.
The AYAA is an exclusive international platform for winners of individual Young Author Awards from across Asia. Selected winners from each participating country are invited to compete at the regional level, where their stories are reviewed and shortlisted for publication.
Shortlisted stories will be published in a printed anthology, giving students the opportunity to become published young authors.
As part of AYAA, participants (MYAA winners) will be guided through a coaching session with Ms. Catherine Khoo (Author, Publisher, and Founder of AYAA) to help them develop a compelling 3,000 to 5,000-word story. The submission deadline will be announced soon.
Beyond the competition, AYAA opens doors to long-term growth and impact. Selected students may also:
• Serve as junior judges for future MYAA or AYAA events
• Contribute regularly to the Young Reader Club, a regional youth publication
• Take part in social responsibility initiatives led by the Catherine Khoo Writing Foundation
Catherine Khoo
We are honoured to collaborate with Catherine Khoo, the founder of The Unique English Classroom and creator of the Young Author Award in Singapore. Serving as the head coach and chief judge for the Malaysia Young Author Award (MYAA) since 2020, Ms. Khoo brings a wealth of expertise to the programme.
She is an accomplished author, editor, lecturer, and filmmaker, with over 30 years of experience in the media and publishing industries. Her impressive portfolio includes roles as Editor-in-Chief of Japan Close-Up and Asia 21 magazines, and the publication of two bestselling books. She also founded Singapore’s first boutique publishing house for under-18 writers.
Her mentorship provides our young authors with rare insight into the world of professional storytelling and publishing.
Published Young Authors
Joining the judging panel are former award-winning young authors from the Asia Young Author Award. These individuals have not only excelled in previous competitions but have also been invited back as judges for MYAA, bringing a unique perspective to the evaluation process.
Their experience as participants and now as mentors ensures a thoughtful, relatable, and fair assessment of every submission — inspiring the next generation of young writers through peer-driven excellence.
By registering, you agree that we may use your personal data (name, phone number, email) to send updates, reminders, and information about future competitions. Additionally, we may capture photos/videos during the event for promotional, marketing, and social media purposes. If you do not wish for your photos/videos to be used, please inform us in writing before the competition.
For more information about the competition, please contact us via WhatsApp at 011-65505400 or 016-2243400.
