top of page

The Next Chapter

NWCE is holding our inaugural UK Young Writers Competition - 'The Next Chapter' - as part of our 'Youth For Youth' campaign. Organised by our very own NWCE Youth Board, we aim to empower the next generation of storytellers in the UK.
 

Open to 11-18s across the UK, we want children to freely express their creativity, through the power of words! Whether individually or in groups, the competition invites aspiring storytellers to submit their own original fictional pieces.

 

There are some incredible prizes up for grabs!
Get your story published, win £100, and be honoured at a national awards ceremony!

Here's how to get involved:

 

​

​​

​​

Decide what to write

We’ve decided to give you full creative freedom — you can write about anything you like! Your only limit is your own imagination.

 

Here are a few example genres to get you started but this list is by no means exhaustive. 

 

  • Fantasy
     

  • Science Fiction
     

  • Mystery
     

  • Romance
     

  • Action
     

  • Adventure
     

  • Horror
     

  • Drama


 

Entries should be maximum 3000 words in length.

ynvgjs8d1hm5ax1fuz9q.jpeg

 Fill in the Application Form

 We welcome writers aged 11–18 to participate in this competition. You can enter individually or in groups of up to 5 people.

You’ll be asked to provide in the application form:

  • Your name (and/or your group’s name)
     

  • Contact information
     

  • A short overview of your story idea (optional)
     

You do not need to have finished your story to complete the application form. Just a brief idea or overview is enough.

Once you’ve completed your story, you can submit it later using our manuscript submission form (below).

Start Writing!

It’s time to bring your idea to life! Let your imagination run wild and captivate your audience ( and the judges!) with a story that only you can tell.

​

Writing tips:
Show, don’t tell. Use description, dialogue, and emotion to draw your reader in.
 

Write freely first, edit later. Get your ideas out before worrying about perfection.

 

​

​

✅ Do

​

Write an original story that’s entirely your own.

​

Be creative and try to captivate your reader.

​

Have fun with your writing!

​

​

 

​

🚫 Don’t

​

Don’t plagiarise (copy someone else’s work).

​

Don’t use AI tools (like ChatGPT or others) to write your story.

​

Don’t include real people or personal information in your story.

Submit Manuscript

When your story is complete and ready to share, it’s time to submit your masterpiece!
Use our Manuscript Submission Form below to upload your final story.

Before you submit, please make sure that:

  • Your story is between 1,000 and 2,500 words (maximum 5,000 words).
     

  • Your file is in .docx or .pdf format.
     

  • You’ve double-checked spelling, grammar, and formatting.
     

  • Your story follows our Do’s and Don’ts guidelines.
     

 Entry Fee:


There is a small £5 entry fee per person. This helps us cover administrative costs and fund the competition prizes.

​

 A note from us:


We value effort, and originality over perfection. So don’t second guess yourself before entering.  Our judging panel reads each entry with care and an open mind. So take a deep breath, believe in your story, and send it in. 

bottom of page