Competitions and fun things

This page was last updated on 07/06/2021

Looking for something bookish to do? Check out the literary competitions below (make sure you double check the due dates!)

Speak to your librarian Miss Le if you're confused, need any help or if you'd like to suggest a competition to be added here. Please note that you will need your parents/guardians permission to enter these competitions.

Have fun!

Stuck-In Prize for Creative Writing (ends when 200 entries have been received)

The Stuck-In Prize for Creative Writing - Amaze us with your brilliance

For ages 12-14
The topic of this prize is: Using Creativity for Change
You may submit a short story, poem, song, essay, rap or spoken, filmed piece
It may not exceed 1000 words
We are looking for a response which best reflects the topic.
Your submission can be typed, written neatly and scanned or recorded.
Do your best with spelling but it doesn’t have to be perfect – we just want to read something inspiring, positive and creative
This competition will close after the first 200 entries have been received

How do I enter?

Using the form on the website.

Prizes

£50
Publication on our website and socials
1:1 critique with an Oxford English graduate

More information on the website.

Green Jelly Bean Prize (ends when 200 entries have been received)

The Green Jelly Bean prize honours imagination. Let us publish your work.

For ages 9-11
We want you to write your best short story about four friends
They can go anywhere and get up to anything so let your imagination run wild!
Your story should be between 500 and 750 words
You can type it or write it up as neatly as you can and scan it in
Do your best with spelling but it doesn’t have to be perfect – we just want to be wowed by your story!
This competition will close after 200 entries have been received

How do I enter?

Using the form on the website.

Prizes

£30 book voucher from your local bookshop
Your story published on our website
A 1-1 feedback session with an Oxford English graduate on your story.

More information on the website.

National Share A Story (ends 1st and 5th of June 2021)

National Share A Story (celebrated in the month of May)

Short Story Competition (ends 5th June 2021)

"We are thrilled that Kevin Crossley- Holland, Robin Stevens and Michelle Harrison have given us such amazing story starters for our threads of Myths, Magic and Mayhem. Students are invited to choose one strand and finish the story. We look forward to reading the entries!"

How do I enter?

Via the email listed on the poster in the link below

Illustration Competition (ends 1st June 2021)

"Mythical beasts are a large part of our legendary and mythical stories. We want to challenge students to create their own mythical beast- one we may meet in a future story! Have fun and be imaginative and creative!"

How do I enter?

Via the email listed on the poster in the link below

IF Oxford's poetry competition (ends 11th June 2021)

IF Oxford Poetry of Science competition

"Your poem can be in any poetry style you like – (how about a limerick, haiku, acrostic poem, rap or sonnet?). Your poem doesn’t have to rhyme.
Your poem should have something to do with science. It could be about a scientific idea or discovery; a science lesson or experiment; a scientific issue that is important to you; a famous scientist, or just why you love science!
Your poem should be a maximum of 150 words."

How do I enter?

"To submit an individual entry, simply click the yellow ‘Enter NOW!’ button at the top of this page to open the online entry form and submit by the deadline of Friday 11 June 2021."

Prizes

"The winning poem and two runners up from each age category will be performed at a special event at IF Oxford, the science and ideas festival in October 2021 (this may be a virtual event). Winning poems will be published online and in a printed anthology.

Other prizes will include science kits and books.!"

More information on the website.

The Ellis S Hillman Award (ends July 3rd 2021)

The Ellis S Hillman Award

"Write a ‘missing’ chapter for either Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland or Through the Looking-Glass. You can create new characters or re-use existing characters; create new scenarios or use an existing scenario and follow on."