If Only I’d Known!

2023 Young People’s Writing Competition

If Only I’d Known!

Image of girl watching the sun rise over a picket fence

2023 Young People’s Writing Competition

Send us your story, essay or poem on the subject of ‘If Only I’d Known!’

And win up to £30 to spend at the Yellow-Lighted Bookshops in Tetbury or Nailsworth

The Competition

Tetbury Goods Shed Arts Centre invites you to take part in its 2023 Young People’s Writing Competition.

It’s open to two age groups, 8-12 years and 13-16 years, and gives you the chance to win £30 to spend in the Yellow Lighted Bookshop in Tetbury and Nailsworth.

We’re asking young people in Tetbury and the surrounding area to send us their stories, poems or essays on the theme of “If Only I’d Known!”. The winning entries chosen by the judging panel will be published here and each winner will receive a voucher to spend in the area’s wonderful independent bookshop.

Entries will be judged by Christine Berry, who is a former teacher and has also been one of the selectors for the BBC Young Writers Award and author and journalist, Annie Hooper.

tgs write sunset girl 11x15 1

Age categories

There are two categories this year:

  • 8-12 years (£30 voucher prize)
  • 13-16 years (£30 voucher prize)

Your entry

The only restriction on entries is an upper limit of 750 words. Otherwise entrants are free to write about the topic in whatever format and length they prefer, whether that’s a poem, an essay or a piece of fiction.

The judges will be looking for originality and use of style and tone.

Format

Please submit your entry in Word (.doc or .docx), Open Office (.odf) or plain text (.txt) format and send it in as an email attachment to [email protected] or as an attachment to the entry form below.

Alternatively, handwritten entries may be posted to:

Young People’s Writing Competition, Tetbury Goods Shed Arts Centre, Old Station Yard, Tetbury, GL8 8EY.

When posting or emailing entries, please don’t forget to include your full name, age, town or village, and a daytime phone number so that we can contact you if needed. This information will only be used in connection with the competition and not shared with anyone.

Deadline

The final deadline for entries is 5pm on Saturday 1st April 2023. Winners will be contacted on Friday 28th April when the winning entries will also be published on www.shed-arts.co.uk.

Ready. Get set. Write!

That’s all there is to entering. Now it’s over to you to uplift, impress and encourage everyone with your entry on the them of “If Only I’d Known!”. We look forward to reading it!

Entry form

  • In case we need to get in touch about your entry. We never share email addresses with anyone. Ever.
  • Use this box if you'd like to tell the judges about yourself and about what inspired you to write your entry.
  • You can attach your entry in any of the following formats docx, doc, odf, txt or pdf
    Accepted file types: doc, docx, odf, txt, pdf, Max. file size: 100 MB.