Write Stuff returns, with young writers urged to get involved

Thursday 09 January 2025

The theme for this year's 'Write Stuff' competition is 'The Journey', with entries invited from across the Bailiwick including schools, homeschoolers, and even those from neighbouring islands.

It’s the 11th installment of the annual competition, which is looking to build on the success of previous years, with more than 1,000 entries last year. Categories include Primary, Intermediate, Senior, and a special class for students with Additional Learning Needs.

As always, those behind the festival have put together a renowned panel of Judges, including author and character designer Dapo Adeola, Louie Stowell, who writes the Loki books, Pari Thomson, the author of the New York Times bestselling Greenwild series, and Dr Huw Lewis Jones, polar-exploring author and naturalist, who grew up in Guernsey. 

Pictured: This years judges, from left to right, Dapo Adeola, Louie Stowell, Pari Thomson, and Dr Huw Lewis Jones. 

There’s a cash prize of £50 on offer along with a pair of Aurigny flights, Island Families membership, and a trophy for the winner in each of the five categories. Second and third place entrants also receive a prize of £25 cash.

The overall winners get an extra prize, with a signed book and an original illustration designed by Lynda Adlington, who has been commissioned to produce bespoke illustrations of the winning stories.

The winning stories and illustrations will also be displayed at the Guille-Allès Library and local schools.  

There are also up to five 'highly commended' prizes available in each category. Each of these winners will receive a £10 book token, a certificate, and their story published online.

The competition closes on 7 March, with WriteStuff winners announced in May. Prizes will then be given out during the Guernsey Literary Festival, at the Competition Awards Ceremony on Saturday 3 May.

Alexandra McInnes, the Managing Director of Julius Baer Guernsey, the sponsor of WriteStuff, said it's a great event to be involved with.

“We were delighted with the number and quality of last year’s entries and we’re looking forward to a similar response this year," she said.

"All of us go on journeys, whether to wonderful places in the world or important journeys in our lives and the great thing about The Write Stuff competition is that it gives young writers the opportunity to recreate their journeys for us. We can’t wait to read the entries and be involved with what is always a fantastic competition.”

For more information, or to submit an entry, you can head to the WriteStuff website HERE.