Monsters Creative Writing Competition Winners

competition winners read their creative pieces in celebration — Creative writing competition winners for the York Literature Festival read out their winning works

Fifteen young writers and poets have won awards in The Mount’s U18s creative writing competition for the York Literature Festival.

Tthe competition invited young people to submit their creations on the theme of Monsters, celebrating the 200^th anniversary of the publication of Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein.

Competition’s First Year

In January, organisers at The Mount School York contacted schools and libraries in YO postcodes to invite U18s to participate with entries closing on 1^st of March. This is the first year the competition has been run for the York Literature Festival.

A spokesperson for the organisers said, “It’s been an absolute pleasure to hold this competition for the young writers and poets of York. The works are refreshingly original as can be seen from the high standard of the winning entries. We are already planning next year’s competition, and hope that even more young people will take part. We would like to thank all of the entrants, adjudicators, shortlisting readers, the inspiring teachers who encouraged their pupils to take part and to the York Literature Festival for their endless support for the spirit of the competition.”

Cecelia from Ampleforth College reads her winning entry for the 12-15 years Short Story category

Award Ceremony

The winners collected their award certificates at The Mount at the end of term. In a cozy and friendly ceremony for winners and invited guests, the winners read out their works and enjoyed listening to the works of other winners.

List of Winners

Poetry U11: 1^st I’m Friends With The Monster Who Lives Under My Bed (Isabella Watson, The Mount Junior School); 2^nd Windywandywob (Leila Korolkiewicz, The Mount Junior School); 3^rd Erobus (Faith Horizon Bowerman, The Mount Junior School)

Poetry 12-15: 1^st Monsters In The Bathroom (Cecelia Hornyold-Strickland, Ampleforth College); 2^nd A Hidden Monster (Amelia Murry, Queen Mary’s); 3^rd The Smile Of A Monster (Poppy Nichol, Queen Mary’s) and Across the Landing (Morgan Aitchison, The Mount); Highly Commended: Hidden Conflict (Lizzy Duxbury, Queen Mary’s)

Different age groups — Age groups were U11 to 18 years

Poetry 16-18: 1^st Monstrosity (Lily Langford, Ampleforth College)

Short Story U11: 1^st The Candyfloss Monster (Beatrice Cooper, The Mount Junior School); 2^nd Viola Cryana (Harriet Hope, The Mount Junior School); 3^rd Flash The Fire Dragon (Corran McMahon-Harvey)

Short Story 12-15: 1^st Defeated (Hannah Reid, Queen Marys); 2^nd My Monster Story (Abi Hymas, The Mount School); 3^rd My Name Is Sophie (Elizabeth Norton, Queen Marys)

Short Story 16-18: 1^st The Monster & I (Hannah Walton-Hughes, The Mount School); 2^nd Still (Isla Brown, The Mount School)

Adjudicators: Flora Carr (writer and journalist); Rose Drew (poet, editor, physical anthropologist); Elly Fiorentini (radio presenter and journalist); Tom Harper (bestselling author); Chris Marsden (founder and presenter, YO1 Radio); Paul Mulryne (teacher, Terrington Hall Preparatory School); Kjartan Poskitt (author and TV presenter); Pat Radcliffe (librarian, The Mount School); Elizabeth Vile (teacher, Cundall Manor School).