This is the News
The Henrietta Branford Writing Competition
Each year there is a special award for the best first novel written for children or young people. It is called the Branford Boase Award in memory of the wonderful children’s author, Henrietta Branford, and her brilliant editor, Wendy Boase, both of whom died tragically young of cancer. Who knows, YOU might one day have your first published novel put in for this award if you decide to write for young people! See www.branfordboaseaward.org.uk
However, in the meantime, if you are 18 or younger you are eligible to enter the Henrietta Branford Writing Competition. Henrietta planned this before her death so that she could honour the up-and-coming generation of writers. That’s YOU!
This year you are being asked to continue an opening paragraph to write a short story not longer than 2,000 words (it needn’t be that long!). The story must be all your own work, but you can get help with spellings and so on if you need that. It’s easier to read if it’s written correctly and if it’s a good story it deserves all the care you can give it.
So, off you go… and enjoy it!
“They were still there when I came back from taking Fred for a walk in the dunes. Two huddled figures on the beach, wearing a school uniform that I did not recognise. They were watching the breakers pound the shore – they weren’t running around or talking or eating, they were just staring at the green-brown sea. And it was weird, I thought, because all the schools around here had broken up a couple of weeks ago. Fred trotted over to say hello and to sniff around. The girl ignored him and turned around to glare at me with dark, accusing eyes, while the boy, who was much bigger, continued to observe the murky waves. Suddenly Fred got spooked and started to growl. I trudged across the sand and grabbed him by the collar but even as I pulled him away he just kept on growling.
It was then, in a flash of recognition, that I saw the boy’s face. I should have obeyed my first instinct and run, run like there was no tomorrow, but I didn’t.
“What you staring at?” snapped the girl.”
Send your finished story no later than 14th June 2008 to ‘HBWC, Glebe House, Church Road, Weobley, Herefordshire. HR4 8SD or by email to youngwriter@enterprise.net and be sure to include your name, your age, your postal address and, if possible an email address. We do not disclose these, but we may need to contact you to tell you that you are one of our six winners.
These six winners will each be invited, together with an accompanying adult, to attend the Branford Boase Award ceremony in London on Wednesday, 9th July 2008 where they will meet authors, publishers, agents and others. They will also receive copies of the books short-listed for the Branford Boase Award.
GOOD LUCK! We look forward to reading your stories - and remember, you can’t win if you don’t have a go!