28 October 2024

Our young Creative Writing Competition returns!

A copy of the Redwings edition of Black Beauty sits next to a poster about Adoption Star horse Maya.

Following the success of last year’s Creative Writing Competition, organised by the University of East Anglia in partnership with Redwings, we’ve decided to team up once again and launch a new competition!

We're challenging young people, aged six to 18, to write a story or a poem about an animal (real or mythical) that has an extraordinary ability for your chance to win some fantastic prizes. Winners will be placed first to third in each age range category. They will be shortlisted by a team from UEA and Redwings, with the winners chosen by wonderful children's author Joyce Dunbar!

How to enter

All you need to do is email your typed-up piece of writing to stories@redwings.co.uk. Make sure you include your name and age so you’re entered into the right category, as well as your contact details so we can let you know if you've won!

You can also get in touch via this email address if you have any questions.

The closing date in Monday 27th January (now extended)

Get inspired!

This competition is once again inspired by Anna Sewell’s beloved book Black Beauty, as well as the amazing selection of children’s books being revived by Professor Thomas Ruys Smith and Dr Hilary Emmett (from the UEA) as part of the UEA Publishing Project.

The story of Black Beauty is told through the eyes of a horse, named Beauty - much like a talking horse! Can you imagine a talking horse in real life? Wow! That got us thinking what if other animals could talk? What if they didn’t talk but had another extraordinary ability like flying or being a super swimmer or super fast?! What if it wasn’t a horse at all, but a dog or spider or a mythical creature? That’s where you come in…

Write a story or poem about an animal, real or mythological, who has an extraordinary ability. What adventures have they had? How have they come to be telling you about them?

For your piece of writing, you need to decide if the animal is telling the story, like Beauty, or if you’re describing the animal and its ability.

What does your animal look like? What is their extraordinary ability? How does it work? Is it already part of them like wings or laser eyes?! Or comes to life with a magic word?

Is your story simply describing your animal and its ability or are they having an adventure? Saving the world? Surviving? Fighting? In hiding?

It’s entirely up to you!

A black horse stands in her grassy paddock.

We call Adoption Star Maya our very own Black Beauty!

Top writing tips

•    Take your time.
•    Stuck on what to write? Spend five minutes thinking about all five senses. What can your animal see? What can they hear? Smell? Taste? And what can they feel?
•    What does your animal look like? You could create some drawings to help visualise your animal.
•    What about their abilities? What can they do? What makes them so special/cool/scary?
•    Think about animals in the real world. How have they adapted to live and survive? Could their real-life adaptations and evolution inspire your story? Or could you create a super ability to make them even better? Stronger? Faster? The possibilities are endless!

The nitty gritty

Here's further details about the age categories and the prizes up for grabs!

Ages six to 12
Word limit: 500 words
Prizes in this category:

First Prize
•    Book bundle (including Black Beauty and a selection from the UEA Publishing Project)
•    Sponsorship of Adoption Star Maya for a year
•    An amazing Le Mieux horse toy
•    A selection of Redwings goodies

Second prize
•    Book bundle (including Black Beauty and a selection from the UEA Publishing Project)
•    An amazing Le Mieux horse toy
•    A selection of Redwings goodies

Third prize
• An amazing Le Mieux horse toy

Ages 13 to18
Word limit: 750 words
Prizes in the category:

First Prize
•    Book bundle (including Black Beauty and a selection from the UEA Publishing Project)
•    Sponsorship of Adoption Star Maya Adoption for a year
•    Merchandise from the UEA
•    A selection of Redwings goodies

Second prize
•    Book bundle (including Black Beauty and a selection from the UEA Publishing Project)
•    Merchandise from the UEA
•    A selection of Redwings goodies

Third prize
• A selection of Redwings goodies

Good luck! We can’t wait to read your entries!