BBC Young Writers’ Award
Whenever I visit schools, I'm always telling you that your voice matters and your experience matters and that you don't need permission to shout from the rooftops. With that in mind, I'm so SO excited to be judging the BBC Young Writer's Award. Guys, this is going to be EPIC!
Joining me on the judging panel will be Nikesh Shukla, editor of youth magazine Rife and the amazing anthology The Good Immigrant, and the awesome Alice Levine, BBC Radio 1 DJ, as chair extraordinaire.
Open to all young people aged 14 to 18, who live in the UK, entrants are asked to create stories of up to 1000 words on any topic with the judges eager to see stories that show real imagination and creativity; high quality writing that can capture and hold the reader. The shortlist of the top five stories will be announced Saturday 30 September 2017 (subject to change) with the finalists invited to attend the exclusive BBC National Short Story Award 2017 ceremony in London on Tuesday 3 October 2017, where the winner will be announced.
The talented winning writer of the BBC Young Writers’ Award 2017 will have their story broadcast on BBC Radio 1 and receive a personalised mentoring session with an author to help develop their writing skills. All five shortlisted writers will be given a guided visit to BBC Broadcasting House and have the chance to meet high-profile authors, publishers, agents and broadcasters. The shortlist will also have their stories published on the BBC Radio 1 website and receive a copy of the BBC National Short Story Award 2017 anthology.
The deadline for receipt of entries is 5pm (BST) Friday 21 April 2017. The Terms & Conditions and Entry Form, along with a host of resources to help writers get started with their stories, are available at www.bbc.co.uk/ywa
Good luck everyone and get writing! Holly x