Keystone Tutors are excited to launch of our very first Creative Writing Competition and we warmly invite young writers aged 5-13 to get involved!
Whether your child is already a passionate storyteller or just beginning their writing journey, this is a wonderful opportunity to develop their imagination, sharpen their writing skills, and gain creative confidence.
Free Online Creative Writing Workshop
On Sunday 14th September, we hosted two creative writing workshops for children. These workshops were designed to equip children with the tools they needed to start writing their own story for our Creative Writing Competition. Through guided activities, the workshops covered how to:
- Develop memorable characters
- Describe settings effectively
- Structure a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end
- Build tension and excitement in their writing
Here are the recordings of the two Creative Writing workshops.
We hope these workshops inspire your child to get started on their entry for our Creative Writing Competition! Here’s a quick reminder of the key details:
Why Enter our Creative Writing Competition?
Our Creative Writing Competition is designed to:
- Inspire imagination and creativity
- Provide valuable practice for the creative writing part of the 7+, 8+ and 11+ school entrance exams
- Develop key skills in story planning, vocabulary and expression
- Offer great material for discussion at school interviews
This year's theme is "School", and children can write any story they like on this topic or choose from one of the suggested titles below:
- The Secret Door in the School Library
- The Most Unforgettable School Trip
- My Homework Came to Life
- A School Like No Other
Competition Rules
- Writing must be original and not have been submitted to any other writing competition.
- The story must be written in English prose in response to one of the set themes.
- Entrants may write on their own or with one other person, who must also be within the age limits required by the competition.
- Stories will be judged on creativity, enjoyment, structure, eloquence, and SPAG.
- The use of AI is forbidden at any stage of the process. All entries will be thoroughly screened for the influence of AI and any story found to have been completed with AI will be disqualified.
Competition Details
- Who can enter? Children aged 5–13 (Years 1–8)
- Word limit:
- Years 1–3: Up to 500 words
- Years 4–8: Up to 800 words
- Format: Entries can be typed or handwritten. Email a typed Word document or a photo of a handwritten story.
- Submit to: enquiries@keystonetutors.com
- Deadline: Friday, 31 October at 12:00 noon BST (Results will be published by Friday, 21 November)
Prizes
- Winners (1 per age group): £75 Blackwell’s book voucher to spend on books of your choice and a one-to-one Creative Writing Masterclass with a Keystone tutor.
- Runners-up (2 per age group): One-to-one Creative Writing Masterclass with a Keystone tutor.
- Every entry will receive a certificate of participation - a lovely addition to school interview discussions or achievement assemblies!