2024-25 Young Writers Competition

General Information for Schools and similar organisations

Communication skills are one of the most sought after and useful skills that young people can demonstrate.  

The Young Writer competition provides an opportunity for the young people of West Fife to put their creative skills to the test. 

Competition Theme 2024-25 – ‘WONDERFUL WATER’ 

The ‘Wonderful Water’ Theme can be interpreted as broadly as the Young Writer wishes and does not need to conform to the dictionary definition. Young people have the widest opportunity to share their creative talents in showing us what this Theme means to them. 

This information can be used in School or at Home for participation in the competition 

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
This competition aims to encourage young people to: 
• be creative
• use their writing skills
• write with imagination and creativity 

TASK  
To produce a handwritten or typed story in prose or poem entitled ‘Wonderful Water. 

The written entry could be fiction or non-fiction, as long as the piece relates to the theme and all entries must be legible.
Prose entries should be up to a maximum 550 words.
Poetry entries should be up to a maximum of 40 lines.
Entries that exceed these maximum numbers will be disqualified.
No pictures and/or drawings are to be part of the entry.
Entries may not be returned unless specifically requested. 

Plagiarism or Close Copied Images 

Plagiarised or 'close-copied' images are not permitted in any competition. It is important that we protect the work of creative individuals. Whilst we are all inspired by the work of others, there is without doubt a grey area where inspiration carries over to close copying. For our competitions 'close copying' is where, to a reasonable person, the submitted entry appears remarkably similar in significant important respects to a body of work created elsewhere. We are looking for original pieces, not copies, which match the theme of the competition. Competitors must not use any apps which produce any part of their submission, if detected the entry will be disqualified. 

AGE GROUPS Junior up to and including10; Intermediate 11 to 13; Senior 14 to 17 years Ages as at 31st August 2024 

Think about your use of vocabulary and language. Have you used powerful verb and adverbs, interesting descriptive adjectives? Make sure you spell check your writing.

JUDGING CRITERIA The judges will consider the imagination relative to the subject, your writing engages the interest of the reader and is consistent in the storyline.
Judges will consider:
• imagination relative to the subject
• the ability to engage interest 
• the ability to be consistent in the power of argument.  

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

DEADLINE FOR ENTRY All entries and entry form to be submitted to Rotary Club by 31st December 2024.
Entry form - available shortly

‘There is something delicious about WRITING the first words of a STORY. You never quite know where they’ll take you.’ BEATRIX POTTER

To arrange submission of entries contact Robert North below the image