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Competitions for Young Writers

Illustration of a young reader

This page was last updated in August 2023

Author ot Tomorrow. Part of the Wilbur Smith Adventure Writing Prize, this is an annual competition for young people aged 11-21 who have completed a short piece of adventure writing in English.

 

BBC Young Writers' Award. Open to writers between the ages of 14-18 for a story up to 1,000 words.

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Betjeman Poetry Prize. Themed contest for young people, aged 10 -13, living in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland. Cash prizes and more.

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Booktrust. Prizes and awards that cover a wide range of genres and themes for both children and adults.

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Christopher Tower Poetry Competition. An annual themed contest open to young writers (16-19) in full or part-time education at a school, college or other educational institution (but not higher education) in the UK.

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Evesham Festival of Words Short Story Contest. International shorty story contest with adult and junior categories.

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The Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award. Poetry competition for young writers aged 11-17. Prizes include mentoring, a writing course, Poetry Society membership and books.

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The Eric Gregory Awards. Awards to poets under the age of 30.

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Hippocrates Prize for Poetry and Medicine. Annual contest for poetry on a medical theme. There are three categories: Open (international), NHS (open to NHS staff, students and others), and Young (14-18). Over £10,000 in prizes.

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The Sunday Times Charlotte Aitken Young Writer of the Year Award. £10,000 awarded for a full-length published or self-published (in book or ebook formats) work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry, by a British or Irish author aged 18-35 years.

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The Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. Cash prizes for historical fiction novels with an addition competition for young writers between 11 and 19.

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