Children and Young people’s Writing Competition

Thanks to everyone who entered. We hope you all continue to write!

We had a high standard of entries. There was an exciting approach to our theme, ‘Adventure’. As ever, it was hard to choose, but here are our winners and commended writers.

6-10 age range

1^st prize: Olivia Milward: “The Sword of Destiny”

A fiery princess teams up with a fox on a quest for the Sword of Destiny. This is funny, dramatic, action-packed writing.

Download The Sword of Destiny (PDF)

2^nd prize: Jack Lowe: “Jumping Jack and the Magic Bouncing Shoes”

A chance discovery gives Jack’s shoes magic powers. Sharp and fast dialogue propels this story along at a pace.

Download Jumping Jack and the Magic Bouncing Shoes (PDF)

Commended writers (in alphabetical order of first name):

• Arthur Kingsbury
• Daria Kuznetsova
• Paula Fearnley

11-15 age range

1^st prize: Siddhi Garg: “Pocketwatches & Sconces”

A villain, a sealed room and a race against time to escape. This story is skilfully told as a breathless, high-wire monologue.

Download Pocketwatches & Sconces (PDF)

2^nd prize: Laila Raniwala: “Unit 9”

On board an airship, hunting for the Sky Whale was once a way of trying to return to Earth. Moving, meditative writing taps into myth and is strong on atmosphere.

Download Unit 9 (PDF)

Commended writers (in alphabetical order of first name):

• Gloria Akinwalere
• Goldie Adewumi
• Ki Wah Lam
• Lena Sztolc
• Maria Radu
• Nishika Bhadury

Three Counties Prize

1^st prize: Rosie Reeves: “Charlie and the Hunbugs”

Charlie doesn’t know why he’s an orphan until he discovers hunbugs. These small people “control the cosmos of time” from inside a grandfather clock. This is bold, imaginative writing on a big theme.

Download Charlie and the Hunbugs (PDF)

2^nd prize: Teasel Howett: “Dusty, Lara and I”

Iona is told that her imaginary animal friends, Dusty and Lara, are silly. But they are especially useful on a family holiday when Uncle Mickey is sick with a strange illness.

Download Dusty, Lara and I (PDF)

Commended writers (in alphabetical order of first name)

• Dora Lloyd
• Emily Grant
• Faye Lloyd