Writing Competition Invites Young Writers to Make 'Em Laugh

Aspiring writers under the age of 19 are invited to participate in this year's Henrietta Branford Writing Competition. The theme for 2025 draws inspiration from Nathanael Lessore's award-winning book, Steady For This, which clinched the Branford Boase Award in 2024.
Lessore's book, known for its bright, funny, and joyful narrative, is available for loan from the academy library. It has been praised for its ability to make readers laugh out loud, and this year's competition aims to capture that same spirit. The judges are looking for entries that will put smiles on their faces, and ideally, make them chuckle or laugh out loud.
Participants can submit a variety of creative pieces, including:
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Short stories or descriptions (up to 600 words)
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Poems or song lyrics (up to 40 lines)
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Rap lyrics, in honour of the book's star, Shaun, aka MC Growls
Entries will be judged based on the writer's ability to tell a story, capture the reader's attention, and showcase originality, imagination, and creativity. The judges are particularly keen on writing that amuses and engages them.
For those seeking inspiration, Nathanael Lessore has shared tips on the competition's website. Each entry must be an original piece of writing, adhering to the specified word and line limits.
The deadline for submissions is 9am on Friday, 30th May 2025. Students can enter directly but must include details of a parent or carer if under 16. Full entry instructions are available here.
Young writers, get ready to make 'em laugh and showcase your creativity in this exciting competition!