2024 Henrietta Branford Writing Competition opens

The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition, the annual competition for young people which runs in conjunction with the Branford Boase Award, is now open.

The competition aims to find and encourage writers of the future.  Anyone under the age of 19 can enter the competition, which closes on Friday 31st May.

Six winners will receive signed copies of each of the books shortlisted for the 2023 Branford Boase Award and their stories, poems or song lyrics will be published on the Branford Boase Award website.

This year, entrants are invited to write a short story, or a poem, or a set of song lyrics about a character who has 'presence', and something special and different about them. The competition is inspired by 2023 Branford Boase Award winner Christine Pillainayagam's book, Ellie Pillai is Brown, and this line in particular:  'I think you have presence, something special about you. Something different'.

Prue Goodwin, consultant and lecturer in literacy learning and children's literature, will chair the award. Prue says, "Remember, this writing is not a piece of schoolwork, it won't be marked by the judges, just read to be enjoyed. Try to make the final version as original as possible. The theme is there to help you get going, so use it to take your ideas wherever you want. Enjoy writing, and good luck!"

Full entry details are available on the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition website.

About the Branford Boase Award

Now in its 25th year, the Branford Boase Award recognises a debut children's author and their editor and was set up in memory of children's writer Henrietta Branford and her editor, Wendy Boase, editorial director of Walker Books. They both died of cancer in 1999.