Mystery! York Literature Festival Creative Writing Competition
Calling all creative writers!
The 2020 York Literature Festival Creative Writing Competitions are now open for entries. This year’s theme is MYSTERY.
Schools and individual children are welcome to enter their original poems and/or short stories. The competitions are open to anyone aged 18 years and under as of 31 August 2020.
Age Categories
- 11 years and under
- 12-15 years
- 16-18 years
Poems should be less than 30 lines
Short stories should be shorter than 1,500 words
Closing date for entries: Sunday 29 March 12 noon
The competition is judged by a panel of adjudicators, whose decision is final. Prizes are awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed entries, unless the judges decide otherwise. Shortlisted authors and poets are invited to read their work at a special prize-giving ceremony at The Mount School York on Sunday 26 April.
Competition Rules
Download the 2020 Competition Rules here.
Your entry
Entries must be written in English. Incidental use of foreign languages is allowed but English must be the main language of the composition.
Not more than two entries are allowed per person, inclusive of all entry categories.
All work must be original and unaided, and must have never been published, self-published, published on any website or online forum, broadcast nor won any other competition before March 2020.
The theme for all entries is “MYSTERY”.
There are two categories for entries which are: Short Story; Poetry.
Eligibility
The competition is open to UK residents under the age of 18 years as of 31 August 2020.
There are three age categories for entries:
- 11 years and under at 31 August 2020
- 12-15 years of age at 31 August 2020
- 16-18 years of age at 31 August 2020.
Poems should not be longer than 30 lines and short stories should not be longer than 1,500 words. Entries which exceed the line or word limit will be disqualified.
How to enter
All entries must be legible and include the entrant’s full name, date of birth, email address, current school and a contact telephone number.
All entries must be received at The Mount School York before 12noon on Sunday 29 March 2020. Entries may be emailed to yorkliteraturefestival@mountschoolyork.co.uk or sent to:
MYSTERY
The Mount School York
Dalton Terrace
York YO24 4DD.
Closing date for entries: Sunday 29 March 2020 at 12noon
Prize terms
The competitions are judged by a panel of adjudicators, whose decision is final and no individual correspondence can be entered into.
Appointed readers may assist the adjudicators by selecting shortlists.
There will be prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd placed entries unless the adjudicators decide otherwise.
The organisers reserve the right to change the panel of adjudicators without notice and not to award prizes if, in the opinion of the adjudicators, such action is justified.
Winners will be announced and contacted between Monday 13 April and Saturday 18 April.
Shortlisted authors and poets are invited to read their work at a special prize-giving event at The Mount School York on Sunday 26 April.
Winners agree to have published with their winning entry their full name, age and the name of their current school or educational institution.
Entrants’ rights under General Data Protection Regulations are not affected.
Terms & Conditions
Entry implies acceptance of the above rules.
Failure to comply with the entry requirements will result in disqualification.
The competition is hosted by The Mount School York in celebration of the 2020 York Literature Festival.