Creative Writing Competition and Free Creative Writing Workshop
Keystone Tutors are excited to launch of our very first Creative Writing Competition and we warmly invite young writers aged 5-13 to get involved!
Whether your child is already a passionate storyteller or just beginning their writing journey, this is a wonderful opportunity to develop their imagination, sharpen their writing skills, and gain creative confidence.
Why Enter?
Our Creative Writing Competition is designed to:
- Inspire imagination and creativity
- Provide valuable practice for the creative writing part of the 7+, 8+ and 11+ school entrance exams
- Develop key skills in story planning, vocabulary and expression
- Offer great material for discussion at school interviews
This year's theme is "School", and children can write any story they like on this topic or choose from one of the suggested titles below:
- The Secret Door in the School Library
- The Most Unforgettable School Trip
- My Homework Came to Life
- A School Like No Other
Competition Rules
- Writing must be original and not have been submitted to any other writing competition.
- The story must be written in English prose in response to one of the set themes.
- Entrants may write on their own or with one other person, who must also be within the age limits required by the competition.
- Stories will be judged on creativity, enjoyment, structure, eloquence, and SPAG.
- The use of AI is forbidden at any stage of the process. All entries will be thoroughly screened for the influence of AI and any story found to have been completed with AI will be disqualified.
Maximum length:
500 words for children in Year 1- Year 3 (ages 5-8)
800 words for children in Year 4- Year 8 (ages 9-13)
Entries can be typed or handwritten. Email a typed Word document or a photo of a handwritten story to: enquiries@keystonetutors.com
Prizes
- Winners (1 per age group): £75 Blackwell’s book voucher to spend on books of your choice and a one-to-one Creative Writing Masterclass with a Keystone tutor.
- Runners-up (2 per age group): One-to-one Creative Writing Masterclass with a Keystone tutor.
- Every entry will receive a certificate of participation - a lovely addition to school interview discussions or achievement assemblies!
The deadline falls at the end of the October half-term, but why not make the most of the summer holidays and start putting pen to paper? With fewer school commitments, it is the perfect time for children to explore ideas and ensure their writing skills don’t lapse.
Free Online Creative Writing Workshop – Sunday 14th September
To help get ideas flowing and teach some of the fundamentals of creative writing, we’re offering a free online workshop led by Steph, one of Keystone’s expert creative writing tutors.
Prior to joining Keystone, Steph was a primary school teacher. She has a wealth of experience in working with students in Years 1 to 8. She has tutored over 5,200 hours with Keystone including thousands of hours in 7+, 8+ and 11+ tuition.
The workshops will be tailored to each age group and will cover:
- The elements of a story
- Building on the theme
- Vocabulary building
- Planning and structuring a story
The workshop will be full of useful, engaging activities to spark inspiration and teach the mechanics of story writing.
Workshop timings:
- 10:00–10:30am: For children in Years 1–3 Register here
- 10:30–11:15am: For children in Years 4–8 Register here
Can’t make it live? No problem — the session will be recorded and shared with all who register.