Creative Contests: The Ultimate Quick Rundown

Whether you are a sketch artist, a knitter, a writer, a poet, a comedian, or simply a hoarder, there's a Neopian contest for you. There has been many ways to express yourself in the community, and show off your skills alongside your fellow Neopians. Creative contests have had some changes over the years, and some beloved ones have moved on, but this is still the ultimate quick rundown on all of the current ones to make them seem less overwhelming.
 

• Art Gallery
• Beauty Contest
• Caption Contest
• Customisation Spotlight
• Gallery Spotlight
• The Neopian Times
• Poetry Competition
• Storytelling Competition
• Prizes

Art Gallery

The Art Gallery is posted every Tuesday and Friday. A schedule for the month is posted near the end of each month by tnt_contest_judge (also known as CJ) on the Art Neoboard. The posted schedule is closely based around the Neopian Calendar ensuring every holiday gets an art day. There are occassional unthemed days called "Random Day" or "New to Art Gallery," which are still Neopets-related. There's also a monthly "Handmade Gallery Day" where Neopians can submit anything handmade (not digital) like crochet, origami, clay, or even food. Winning the "Handmade Gallery Day" submission can also reward the Random Contest Winner avatar.
 

Rules, Tips & Tricks

• All pieces must be fully made by you - this includes nothing by another user, your mom, or any AI.
• You cannot enter anything already used in another Creative Contest.
• Submit for the gallery you want to be in any time after the previous gallery goes live, including up to the morning of the contest.
• Although what category you select does not matter, CJ has said they can sort by category if they need to.
• You can only submit up to three pieces per day, but only one piece can win.
• Keep your image file name all in lower case. According to CJ, there's some known spaghetti code issues that could cause the image to not appear if capitalization is used.
• CJ has also said they cannot see titles of the pieces so they can be as funny or as random as you want. However, please be respectful of this and remember to keep everything Neopets appropriate.
• The previous Contest Judge mentioned they only see the thumbnail when selecting winners. Be mindful of how you crop and frame your pieces.
• The maximum file size is 78 KB, 600x600 pixels.
• You can only enter on your main account.

Avatars & Trophy

There are two avatars and one tropy you can unlock when winning the Art Gallery. Additionally, winners can also earn 30,000 NP.
   

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Beauty Contest

The Beauty Contest is an art contest that is specific to your Neopet. Your drawing of your pet is voted on by the community. Each pet species gets their own vote. The Beauty Contest is rolled over every Friday, shortly after 12pm NST. A large part of the contest is advertising your submission to the community to gain votes. You cannot advertise someone else's entry. Unlike other contests, you can enter on side accounts since no item or NP prizes are given out. However, if you do submit on a side account, you must campaign on that side account only. 

Rules, Tips & Tricks

• You can create a board on the Art Neoboard and participate in discussion with ease.
• You can include a direct link on your font signature (ie:  http://neopets.com/beauty/details.phtml?pet=PETNAME ) for easier voting access. This also allows you to have on-topic conversations on other neoboards while still (indirectly) advertising as you cannot ask others to vote if not on the Art Neoboard. Note: It must be real conversations and not simple phrases like "good luck trading!" if on the NC Trading Neoboard; you must actually contribute to the discussion. Not contributing correctly can get your reported for spamming or otherwise flagged by a moderator, so be very mindful on how and where you advertise.
• You can ask people to vote for you directly privately such as neomail.
• If you are simply going for the avatar, pick a less popular species with less competition such as the Tuskanniny or Ogrin rather than an Aisha or Cybunny.
• Although you can use Neopets' images or copy and paste edits such as hats onto your pet, they tend not to perform very well.
• If you traditionally draw art (ie: pen and paper), make sure that the picture is extremely clear when you scan it in.
• All pieces must be fully made by you - this includes nothing by another user, your mom, or any AI.
• Maximum file size is 75 KB.
• If your pet wins either speces, or overall gold, they are "gold banned" and cannot be entered again for a month. Other pets are allowed to be entered unless or until they are also gold banned.

Avatars & Trophies

There is one avatar and three trophies you can unlock when winning the Beauty Contest. Any trophies earned will be listed on your pet's lookup. Unlike trophies on your user lookup they don't multiply, so your pet can win multiple trophies in each place. All trophies stay with your pet on their pet lookup even if you pound or transfer them.
 

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Caption Contest

The Caption Contest runs monthly. There isn't a set time of when the contest begins or ends, therefore having a prediction of when the best time to submit is difficult to share. However, generally speaking, resets will be towards the end of the month, giving most of the month to submit your caption. TNT does not give a schedule upfront and will be announced in the news with an end date when it has already started. We believe that it goes live before the news announces it, and ends around 10 AM NST. (Unless TNT forgets and it runs a few hours longer.)

Voting lasts for a few days, or less than a week. Dependent on major holidays, like Christmas, it has been known to have voting be 24 hours. You can only submit one entry during the submission window. TNT picks 30 captions for Neopians to vote on and the top 25 captions are considered the winners. You can vote every 4 hours, including for yourself. You cannot vote or enter the caption contest on your side accounts.

A large part of the contest is advertising to the community to gain votes. Unlike the Beauty Contest, you cannot make your own board on the Neoboard to ask for votes directly, nor can you advertise someone else's entry.

Rules, Tips & Tricks

• No boards on any Neoboard can be made to advertise your caption in the contest. You also cannot make boards to offer a service implicitly soliciting votes (ie: Super Shop Wizard (SSW) quest searches or pet/item lending).
• You can only include a direct link on your font signature (ie:  http://www.neopets.com/games/caption_browse.phtml ) for easier voting access. It cannot be a link specifically to your caption. This also allows you to have on-topic conversations on other neoboards while still (indirectly) advertising as you cannot ask others to vote on any Neoboard. Note: It must be real conversations and not simple phrases like "good luck trading!" if on the NC Trading Neoboard; you must actually contribute to the discussion. Not contributing correctly can get your reported for spamming or otherwise flagged by a moderator, so be very mindful on how and where you advertise. If there are repeated offenses, your caption will be pulled from the contest.
• Additionally, you cannot ask people directly on-site or off-site to vote for you under any circumstances.
• You must keep your captions PG-rated.
• We recommend using pop culture, puns, or funny dad jokes as they are always popular in votes.

Avatars, Trophies & Milestones

Every time the Caption Contest is reset, it's round is counted. There are two avatars to obtain, one for winning the Caption Contest in 12th place or higher place, and the other is for winning 25th place or higher the Caption Contest in its every 10th round (ie: it's 20th, 30th, 40th round, and so on).  You can also win three trophies and Neopoints depending on your place. Additionally, there is a milestone prize if you win every 100th round (ie: 100th, 200th, 300th round, and so on). Winning the 100th round wins you the Ghostkerchief Pen, which takes the place of the regular item prize.
73 Every time the Caption Contest is reset, it's round is counted. There are two avatars to obtain, one for winning the Caption Contest in 12th place or higher place, and the other is for winning 25th place or higher the Caption Contest in its every 10th round (ie: it's 20th, 30th, 40th round, and so on). 
  Places 1 - 5  win a gold trophy and 10,000 NP
Places 6 - 12 win a silver trophy and 5,000 NP
Places 13 - 25 win a bronze trophy and 5,000 NP    

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Customisation Spotlight

The Customisation Spotlight is a competition that runs weekly on Mondays. The competition separates between two parts: Neopoint and Neocash entries. Neopoint entries must fully be wearables obtained using Neopoints while Neocash entries can be both NC Mall bought wearables and Neopoint wearables. You are allowed to enter two pets in the Neopoint category and two pets in the Neocash category each week. You can enter on side accounts since no item or NP prizes are given out. 

Unlike other contests which are either solely chosen by TNT or voted upon the community, the Customisation Spotlight is a combination of both Neopians and TNT picking the winners. Because of this, it makes it a little challenging to figure out how to enter and win.
 

Rules, Tips & Tricks

• Be as original in your customisation and note that creativity and beauty tend to have more popularity in being chosen.
• Over time, you will begin to see a pattern of "hot items" of the moment. Using those items tend to do very well in winning the competition.
• We highly recommend utilizing every layer available including costumes during your entry (ie: if you don't like using clothing, you may be at a disadvantage). The more layers you use, the more original and creative it becomes.

Trophies

There are three trophies your pet can win for their pet lookup depending on what place they won. All trophies stay with your pet on their pet lookup even if you pound or transfer them.

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Gallery Spotlight

The Gallery Spotlight runs on Tuesdays and is a perfect competition for all the hoarders and collectors out there. You are able to win more than once by either completely changing the theme (including name, layout, etc.) or by entering from your side account and asking TNT to credit your main in the submission box. 
 

Rules, Tips & Tricks

• We recommend submitting the day before (Monday). 
• There is a known glitch where Neopians cannot resubmit if they have changed their theme (name, layout, etc.). If this is the case, we recommend submitting a ticket.
• There is another known glitch where winners pre-Neopocalypse can resubmit without needing to change anything about their gallery. Although a glitch, we do not recommend it as wise or fair.
• You can use basic CSS or premade layouts, but if someone with the same or similar theme has made their own original layout, TNT will pick them over you. You can have a Neofriend make a custom layout for you and credit them.
• For unknown reasons, TNT have stated that item categories cannot show up in the spotlight page. If you need them to show up, you must request in the submission box that they link directly to your gallery in the news instead of the generic spotlight page.
• To be seen, try to collect items unique enough that judges have not seen before. 
• Although unique is best, still choose whatever inspires you. Being inspired will give you a motivational boost. 

Avatar & Trophies

There is one avatar and one trophy that can be earned when participating in the Gallery Spotlight. Additionally, winners also earn 10,000 NP.
 

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The Neopian Times

The Neopian Times is a Neopian newspaper that runs every other week on Friday. It features articles, short stories, comics, series, and poetry. It also contains an editorial section where the community can inquire or make suggestions to TNT and hear from them directly; this is where a lot of rules and site knowledge comes from. For more information, check out our Editorial Database guide. Note: If your question gets answered in an editorial, it does not count as being published in the Neopian Times.

A schedule to know what topics are ahead is typically posted on the Neopian Writers Neoboard by tnt_adler. Schedules are shared months in advance to allow users to plan and write accordingly. Keep checking back regularly though! Sometimes a scheduled issue can have their themes changed. Unlike the Art Gallery, the Neopian Times schedule does not exactly follow the Neopian Calendar, although it can be used for inspiration to write just about anything as most of its issues are not a specific theme. There have been many themed issues over the years; some regularly show up like Christmas, some show up occassionally like Usukicon, and some have not been seen in years like Sloth Appreciation Day. Sometimes an issue may have even changed their theme after the original schedule is posted.

Each themed issue gets a bonus prize upon the issue being published in addition to the regular item prize that is related to the theme. Periodically, a "User Collab" issue would be announced which are voted on by the community. The Neopian Times Writers Forum hosts the voting. You can cast your vote and state when you plan to enter on the forum as well as on the Neopian Writers Neoboard post they put up. "User Collab" issues also get a themed bonus prize. 

As issues are published, milestones are reached. These "milestones" are celebrated every 25th issue. When writing for a "milestone," think anniversaries, weewoos, the history of Neopets, etc. You can check out previous issues to get a general vibe of what is typically published. "Milestone" issues award a special item prize and a special avatar.

To know if you're going to be published in the latest issue, acceptances go out the Monday or Tuesday before the issue is published. Sometimes, late round of acceptances occur on Wednesday and early acceptances happen the week before- especially when the editor will be going on vacation or time off.
 

Articles

Articles can be anything you want them to be. Most of the articles that get published into the NT contain helpful information when playing on the site. Articles can either be informative or entertaining, depending on the writing style of the user and must be at least 1,000 words, and at most 50,000 words. Examples of different articles include, but are not limited to, are:

• Game or Feature guides: share tips, tricks and detailed information about different games in the Games Room, or about other features the site offers such as Battledome, mobile games, plots, or more. Maybe you're a pro at Ultimate Bullseye and want to teach others on how to get the avatar or maybe you want to show off your extensive knowledge of all things Neopian ice cream.
• Persuasive Articles: this is a platform for users to be heard about any given issue found around the site. This can be plotholes, theories, complaints and more. In these types of articles, the user grabs onto an idea and persuades others to understand their side. You could go full creative and make something up from the perspective of Nick Neopia. Articles can be as unhinged or as normal as you really want.
• Listing Articles: similar to persuasive articles, but think Buzzfeed style listicles; this article is solely itemizing ideas together. Listing articles can include ranking various ideas together whether they are the best or worst. 
• Interviews: get some Neopian characters (Faeries, Dr. Sloth, Altador Cup players, etc.) together for an exclusive interview about events or conspiracies around Neopia.

 

Comics

Comics are original works set in the Neopian universe. You can use any land, character, plot, random event, or even original character in your comic. They can be funny, serious or even dramatic. Comics can be a series, although there's no way to bulk submit them, so you would need to submit them week after week. There is no guarantee they will be picked each week as needed. It is up to you how much of the story you want or ned to tell in how much space and time as that's the flexibility of comics. The maximum file size is 200 KB, 470x470 pixels.
 

Short Stories

Short stories are a one-time self-contained story between 1,200 and 4,000 words. Just like articles, short stories can be about anything. You can use original characters and made up events, or complete set your short story in the Neopets Universe. To write a short story, you do not need to be the next generational novelist, but rather have a semi-original idea with some basic spelling, punctuation, and grammar.

We recommend that when getting started on a short story to first think about what you want your story to be about. This isn't just the plot and setting, but what is your story trying to say (ie: metaphors, deeper meanings, etc.). You want to create a hook in the beginning so your reader will actually want to read the rest of the story. You also want to end it in a way that is satisfying for the reader. That does not always mean wrapping everything up nicely; sometimes that means giving the reader something reflect on, or leaving it up to interpretation. Anyone can be a writer. The trick is to sit down and start writing. Don't feel self-conscious. We all started somewhere.
 

Series

Series are similar to short stories, but longer. You can have anywhere between 2 and 12 parts to your series. The ideal range of parts is between 6 to 8. Each part should be 1,500 to 50,000 words long. The hardest thing about writing a series is knowing where to divide it. Sometimes there's a clear division, and sometimes there needs to be room for a cliffhanger to keep readers hooked. Other ways to divide series is by switching perspectives between characters, or having a heavy moment with a character that we need to go more in-depth with. We recommend thinking about your favorite books, and how they break up chapters to see the best way to divide your series.
 

Rules, Tips & Tricks

• Only series are held over week to week. Everything else will get purged with a rejection neomail (referred to the community as a "TMGE" or also known as "Too Many Good Entries.").
• TMGE's are given out shortly after the issue goes live and once they do go out, is when you know you are clear to submit for the following issue.
• As the editor reads through submissions, some become automatically rejected because they violate rules, can be triggering, or AI was detected in the writing.
• Do not be discouraged if you do not get a piece accepted. It could take months to get accepted even if you make no edits. It really could just be too many good entries.
• Series submissions can be held over for several months before finally being accepted. If you're patient, it's a good way to speed run the avatar.
• You can submit five pieces of any type of writing per issue. Keep in mind that only one will be published once.
• You can collaborate with up to two other users per piece on your main accounts only.
• Use the comment box to state who you collaborated with and on what. (ie: "x and y are both authors with z as the artist.")
• All pieces must be fully made by you - this includes nothing by another user, your mom, or any AI.
• Do not use smart quotes as it can break images.
• Bracket HTML tags may be used. There is no need for paragraph breaks.
• Spelling, punctuation, and grammar count.
• If you want a custom thumbnail drawn by you or another user, you can upload it to a petpage and include it in the comment box. This also applies for a specific thumbnail for a comic.
• Keep things in the Neopian universe.
• You must keep your stories PG-rated.
• We recommend reaching out to tnt_adler if you have any questions about rule violations, triggering content, what content set off as AI when it wasn't, or if something needed to be edited in your piece (ie: HTML tag messed up). Keep in mind that tnt_adler is responsive to neomails, but it may take a couple to a few days.

Avatars, Trophies & Milestones

There are two avatars and one trophy that can be earned when submitting an entry into the Neopian Times. For every entry published in the Neopian Times, you receive a trophy. Once you've published at least 10 pieces, visit your userlookup to earn an avatar. There is also a milestone prize and avatar if you win every 25th round (ie: 25th, 50th, 75th round, and so on). Winning the 25th round earns you an avatar and a Neopian Times Coin which you may earn in addition to the standard Neopian Times Star avatar and your item prize.

 

Poetry Competition

In March 2026, the Poetry Competition became one with the Neopian Times, although still acts as a stand-alone contest. While it still goes along with the Neopian Times timeline, there is a second script that runs, giving winners a second prize and the original poetry trophy. The schedule for the Poetry Competition follows suit with the Neopian Times schedule, and is posted on the Neopian Writers Neoboard by tnt_adler.
 

Rules, Tips & Tricks

• Similar to the Neopian Times, it is best to submit your poetry early.
• Be sure to follow the Neopian Times schedule posted at the Neopian Writers Neoboard.
• If there's no theme, draw inspiration from the Neopian Calendar.
• Submissions must be a minimum of 250 words. There is no maximum number of words.
• You can collaborate, but it needs to be long enough to make sense for a collaboration.
• Poems do not need to rhyme. If you do want your poem to rhyme, you can use word generated sites to help rhyme words.
• You can experiment with different types of poems, or you can just make a free verse. You can make haikus, for example, but keep in mind that you still need to hit the 250 minimum word count.
• We recommend making subtle references. Stray away from straight parodies.
• All other Neopian Times rules apply.

Trophies

While you can also earn the Neopian Times trophy, there is one trophy that can be earned specifically for the Poetry Competition. Additionally, winners also earn 15,000 NP. 

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Storytelling Competition

The Storytelling Competition runs for two weeks per month. It's primarily on weekdays and it runs in the latter half of the month in full (ie: it will run August 17th through August 28th, 2026, even though August 31st is a Monday). Below is an examlple of a schedule as stated by TNT Adler, but since the switching to once a month, it is unclear if there will be postings of a schedule moving forward.
 
The way the Storytelling Competition works is simple: each day a user will come up with the next part of the story during the two-week runs until we have, hopefully, a cohesive plot.

Rules, Tips & Tricks

• Submit your entry as early as possible. Check regularly to see when the most recent part of the story got published.
• If your goal is to submit a starter, it is best to submit your entry early. Be sure to keep watch on Friday.
• Sometimes a part may be skipped for some reason, and so the judge will often (but not always) do two parts the following day. Keep a sharp eye out if this is the case.
• You can collaborate, but it needs to be long enough to distribute what was collaborated. All writers must use their main accounts only.
• There's no word count minimum or maximum. Be sure to have your submission not too long, nor too short to keep you in the running.
• Bracket HTML tags may be used. There is no need for paragraph breaks.
• When writing the next part, be sure to progress the plot and connect your story with prior entries. Additionally, if you are not writing the conclusion part, be sure to leave space for someone else to build off of your story.
• All pieces must be fully made by you - this includes nothing by another user, your mom, or any AI.

Avatars, Trophies & Milestones

There are two avatars and one trophy to obtain. There is also a milestone prize and avatar if you win every 100th round (ie: 100th, 200th, 300th round, and so on). Winning the 100th round earns you a collectors card called The Storyteller. Additionally, winners also earn 30,000 NP.


   

Prizes

Below are a list of prizes that can be earned when participating. The Art Gallery, Caption Contest, Neopian Times, and Storytelling Competition all share the same prize pool, along with what is listed above under their sections.

If there's a prize not listed below, please contact Bloom to get it added to our list.