Young Norfolk Writing Competition 2021 is open for submissions
The Young Norfolk Writing Competition – the popular annual competition celebrating creative writing in all its forms – is now open for entries from 11 – 18-year-olds living or studying in Norfolk.
The competition is a collaboration between the National Centre for Writing based in Dragon Hall, Norwich and Young Norfolk Arts, supported by Norfolk County Council. It builds on the success of previous years in which over 1,100 young people have participated from over 100 schools and other settings.
Young lovers of writing and reading are encouraged to submit stories, lyrics, narrative for games, graphic stories, poems, spoken word, scripts, podcasts, plays, articles, journalism or essays in written or audio format.
Kasey Challenger, who attends Dereham Sixth Form College, was one of seven winners of the 2020 competition and was also named joint 2020 Young Norfolk Laureate alongside Mathilda Armiger and Ryan Taaffe-Fowle.
Kasey said:
‘The Young Norfolk Writing Competition and laureateship have been an invaluable opportunity that has helped me take steps to grow my confidence and moderate my anxiety. I have been given the chance to meet new people, perform my work, and have learnt a lot about poetry through mentoring – getting to explore new writing styles with really constructive feedback and encouragement that I have never had before. This year has helped me to become a better writer and learn to love what I am writing, as well as giving me the tools to explore the role that writing can play in my life in the future.’
Hear more from 2020’s Young Norfolk Laureates, including snippets from their winning poems, in this promotional video for the competition: https://youtu.be/L1d8ZLWWnmM
The 2021 winners will receive individual prizes, professional mentoring to help take their writing forward, and opportunities to have their work performed and published.
The competition is free to enter and closes at 5pm on Monday 31 May 2021. Entries may be written, audio recorded or in graphic story format.
Victoria Maitland, Programme Officer at the National Centre for Writing said:
‘This competition always showcases the very finest writing that Norfolk has to offer. 2020 was a challenging year to be a young person, but the entries to the competition proved that creativity shines in even the most difficult circumstances. I’m excited to read the entries that 2021 has to offer.’
Lucy Farrant, Director of Young Norfolk Arts said:
‘The Competition is a great chance for the county’s young people to express themselves in their own words using a medium which they enjoy. This opportunity is vitally important at this difficult time and I am really looking forward to reading and hearing the entries. I know there is a wealth of talent out there and I can’t wait for it to be shared.’
Robert Rickard, 14 – 19 Adviser at Norfolk County Council said:
‘More than ever, given world events, we are delighted to help devise and promote this annual competition which nurtures the very best of young people’s creative energy and brings together education settings from right across Norfolk.’
For submission details please see nationalcentreforwriting.org.uk/ynwc/