Children’s Writing Competitions
Local children can take part in an exciting writing competition for our Literature Festival by either writing a short story or by writing a poem.
Entrants are welcome from the four age categories:
- 4-7 (Key Stage 1)
- 8-11 (Key Stage 2)
- 12-14 (Key Stag 3)
- 15-16 (Key Stage 4).
Winners will be announced, and prizes will be awarded at a celebration event during the festival weekend. We will have a panel of renowned judges to select our winners from each category. Watch this space to find out who!
Entries are open to children from the local catchment area only (Whitby and the surrounding villages). We are working with partners The National Literacy Trust (North Yorkshire Coast) to arrange workshops within five primary Schools to enhance take up by offering advice and workshopping poetry and creative writing within school. We are aiming to reach children from all cultural and social backgrounds and want to empower young voices.
How to Enter
Entrants may either write a poem (not exceeding 40 lines) or write a short story (KS1 up to 300 words, KS2, 3, and 4 between 300 – 500 words).
Please base your work on the theme of ‘a person/people who inspire me’.
Please use the form below to submit your entries. Competition opens 9am Saturday 27th September and closes 9pm Friday 24th October, 2025.
The Awards Ceremony to be held on Saturday 8th November.