About the competition
The Schools Library Service is proud to have been running the Tower Hamlets Creative Writing Competition since 2011. Since then we have been able to expand it to primary schools and it has become a much anticipated event in the school calendar, made possible by continuing subscriptions to the Schools Library Services lending packages.
It aims to promote wider reading and literacy, and to encourage young people to express themselves through the written word.
Supporting Workshops
More recently the competition has received support from the Arts Council, enabling us to run fully-funded writing workshops in schools – led by professional children’s authors and poets.
The competition theme
Each year we choose a different theme and provide prompts and starting points for the writers.
What are the competition categories?
- Short Stories (including comic books)
- Poetry (all forms)
The age categories are :
- Years 1 and 2
- Years 3 and 4
- Years 5 and 6
- Years 7 – 9
- Years 10 and 11
Who judges the competition?
Published childrens authors/ illustrators or poets are chosen as the competition judges. Previous judges have included Joseph Coelho, Adam Baron, Chloe Inkpen, Guy Bass, Rashmi Sirdeshpande, Manjeet Mann, William Hussey, Polly Ho-Yen, Savita Kalhan, Alan Gibbons, Pete Johnson, Kim Slater, Josh Lacey, Geraldine McCaughrean, Catherine Johnson, Sufiya Ahmed and Beverley Naidoo.
What are the prizes?
- Prizes are vouchers and book tokens of up to £50
- All winners, commended entries and runners-up will be published as a paperback and eBook. Winners will recieve 2 copies each. Schools will also receive copies
Why take part?
Our writing competiition – supported by author workshops – enables young people to explore and expand their creativity via story writing, poetry writing and illustration (including witing comic books).
Young people are encouraged to bring their own identities into their work, creating art that is uniquely theirs – and boosting literacy!
Competition timeline
- October : Registration and booking for workshops opens
- December : Competition theme announced
- January – March : Author/poet workshops in schools and Idea Stores
- April – May : Competition judging
- September : Book launch and prize-giving!
Register
Sign up via your school’s SLA Online portal (Tower Hamlets Schools). Contact the Schools Library Services for more information about this event.
- Tel : 020 7364 6428
- email : schoolslibraryservices@towerhamlets.gov.uk
