Young Writer

A three-stage competition designed to support and encourage development of writing skills

This competition offers participants the chance to express themselves and get creative with the written word.

The Task

To produce a written or typed story in prose entitled, ‘My Happiest Day’. The written entry could be fiction or non-fiction, prose, or a poem, as long as the piece relates to the theme.

The Three Stages of the Competition

Local Heats

Organised by local Rotary clubs. Age group winners of local heats are entered into a district competition.

Local Rotary clubs may be found by using the club finder facility in the dialogue box “Find My Nearest Club” at the top left-hand corner of the Home Page of the Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland website

District Finals

Organised by Rotary districts between January and February. The winners of each are entered into the national final.

National Final

Organised by Rotary. One entry per age group per district, may be submitted by entries to national final, via electronic format by Monday, 29th March 2021 to the Rotary Support Centre. The co-ordinator Bob Tomlinson, can be contacted at young-writer@rotarygbi.org

IMPORTANT RESTRICTIONS TO NOTE: Please note that entries and supporting information sent electronically MUST NOT EXCEED 15Mb per email sent. Emails over this limit will not be received at the Support Centre. Alternative options are to send the nomination and supporting information across several emails or contact Andy Smith, Rotary CDS Team, to organise a file transfer facility.

The dates for Local Heats and district competitions will be determined locally. Interested parties should check dates with their local Rotary club.

Competition Guidelines

Task

To produce a written or typed story in prose entitled, ‘My Happiest Day’. The written entry could be fiction or non-fiction, prose, or a poem, as long as the piece relates to the theme.

Up to maximum of 550 words for prose entries.

Up to a maximum of 40 lines for poetry entries.

No pictures/drawings to be part of the entry.

All entries to be legible. Can be written or typed

Entries should be sent to the Stage organiser by the closing date.

Entries may not be returned unless specifically requested.

Judges

Judges with appropriate skills, appointed by Rotary, will apply the judging criteria below.

Judging Criteria

Judges will consider imagination relative to the subject; the ability to engage interest and to be consistent in the power of argument.

The judges will not enter into any discussion or correspondence regarding their decision; their decision will be final and not subject to any appeal.

Prizes

At all stages of the competition, competitors will receive a certificate of participation.

At the National Final, the winners will receive a vocational experience such as working in a newspaper or publishing environment with a professional practitioner.

More Information