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Young Authors Competition 2025

All it takes is one great idea...

  • I'm 5. Can I still enter?
    Yes please! Five-year-olds have the best imaginations! We split the competition into five groups: Years 1–2 Years 3–6 Years 7–8 Years 9–11 Years 12–13 That means there are five prizes available: one in each age group.
  • Can I send in more than one story?
    Unfortunately not but you could always save your other stories for competitions we run in the future.
  • Can I enter the competition through school?
    Yes, if your teacher is entering your story into the competition you don't need to do anything else at the moment. You only need to enter your story separately if your teacher isn't doing it.
  • My story is only 200 words. Is that ok?
    Absolutely. Your story can be as short as you like, as long as it is a complete story with a beginning, a middle and an end. The only rule is that is can't be MORE than the word limit in your age category: Years 1–2: up to 400 words Years 3–6: up to 500 words Years 7–8: up to 750 words Years 9–11: up to 1000 words Years 12–13: up to 1000 words
  • Is there a theme for the story?
    Yes – this year's theme is MAGIC IN MAIDSTONE. Whether it’s a tale of hidden portals in Maidstone Museum or the quiet magic of a sunset walk along the River Medway, we’re looking for short stories that bring the magic of Maidstone to life – real or imagined!
  • What happens after I send you my story?
    When we have been sent all of the stories, we will read each of them and choose a shortlist for each category. (That means the top five stories in each age group will be chosen.) We will then give the shortlisted stories to our judges who will decide who the winners are in each category. If your story is shortlisted, we will contact you and your parents/carers to let you know. You will be invited to a special event at the Maidstone LitFest in October to celebrate your hard work. If your story is chosen as the winner in your age group, you will be invited to a special event at the Maidstone LitFest to receive your prize.
  • What prizes could I win?
    Ah, the important bit. The winner in each age group will win: a £25 Waterstones voucher a certificate a bag of festival goodies a VIP family ticket to our children's and young people's event at the festival a chance to have their story read out loud by a children's author We will also publish your story on the festival website for everyone to see!
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Write your story

  • We want you to write a story full of adventure, mystery, comedy or history – you can really write whatever you like.

  • The theme for 2025 is 'Magic in Maidstone'. Whether it’s a tale of hidden portals in Maidstone Museum or the quiet magic of a sunset walk along the River Medway, we’re looking for short stories that bring the magic of Maidstone to life — real or imagined!

  • Make sure your ideas are all from your own imagination. (No help from parents, carers, friends or robots. Dogs are okay - they have great ideas.)

  • You must write a complete story with a beginning, a middle and an end.

  • Your story should not be longer than the word limit for your age category but it can be shorter.

  • Word limits for each age category:​​

Years 1–2 (up to 400 words)

Years 3–6 (up to 500 words)

Years 7–8 (up to 750 words)

Years 9–11 (up to 1000 words)

Years 12–13 (up to 1000 words)

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Get it ready to send

  • Make sure your story has a title. Write the title at the top of the first page and how many words your story has, like this: "The Adventures of Bear, the Hairiest Dog in Maidstone" (442 words)

  • Write your first name on each page – but only your first name.

  • If you write your story by hand, you will need to scan it in to a computer. If you don't have access to a scanner you could ask your local library to help or you can email us at info@maidstonelitfest.org.

  • If you write your story on a computer, save it as PDF file.

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Send us your story

  • If you are in Years 1–11, ask a parent, guardian or carer to upload your story to the Maidstone LitFest website by clicking on the 'submit entry' button below and filling out the form on the next page.

  • If you are in Years 12–13, you can submit your own entry.

  • Make sure you tell us which year group you are in so that we can enter your story into the right competition.

  • Your story needs to be sent to us by midnight on Friday 25 July 2025 or we won't be able to enter it into the competition.

Happy writing!

  • I'm 5. Can I still enter?
    Yes please! Five-year-olds have the best imaginations! We split the competition into five groups: Years 1–2 Years 3–6 Years 7–8 Years 9–11 Years 12–13 That means there are five prizes available: one in each age group.
  • Can I send in more than one story?
    Unfortunately not but you could always save your other stories for competitions we run in the future.
  • Can I enter the competition through school?
    Yes, if your teacher is entering your story into the competition you don't need to do anything else at the moment. You only need to enter your story separately if your teacher isn't doing it.
  • My story is only 200 words. Is that ok?
    Absolutely. Your story can be as short as you like, as long as it is a complete story with a beginning, a middle and an end. The only rule is that is can't be MORE than the word limit in your age category: Years 1–2: up to 400 words Years 3–6: up to 500 words Years 7–8: up to 750 words Years 9–11: up to 1000 words Years 12–13: up to 1000 words
  • Is there a theme for the story?
    Yes – this year's theme is MAGIC IN MAIDSTONE. Whether it’s a tale of hidden portals in Maidstone Museum or the quiet magic of a sunset walk along the River Medway, we’re looking for short stories that bring the magic of Maidstone to life – real or imagined!
  • What happens after I send you my story?
    When we have been sent all of the stories, we will read each of them and choose a shortlist for each category. (That means the top five stories in each age group will be chosen.) We will then give the shortlisted stories to our judges who will decide who the winners are in each category. If your story is shortlisted, we will contact you and your parents/carers to let you know. You will be invited to a special event at the Maidstone LitFest in October to celebrate your hard work. If your story is chosen as the winner in your age group, you will be invited to a special event at the Maidstone LitFest to receive your prize.
  • What prizes could I win?
    Ah, the important bit. The winner in each age group will win: a £25 Waterstones voucher a certificate a bag of festival goodies a VIP family ticket to our children's and young people's event at the festival a chance to have their story read out loud by a children's author We will also publish your story on the festival website for everyone to see!
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