Young Authors Competition 2025

All it takes is one great idea...

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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 (ages 5-7) – up to 400 words

Years 3-4 (ages 7–9) – up to 500 words

Years 5–6 (ages 9–11) – up to 500 words

Years 7–8 (ages 11–13) – up to 750 words

Years 9–11 (ages 13–16) – up to 1000 words

Years 12–13 (ages 16–18) – up to 1000 words

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.

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.